Eastlife Spring 2021

A Scent of Calm
The past 12 months has been stressful for most of us, but a Suffolk
business, launched during the first lockdown, is providing the perfect
antidote. Botanical Forrest, created by Clare Forrest, offers a selection
of candles and wax melts made in small batches using 100 per cent
plant-based soy wax.
Inspired by the beauty of Suffolk’s nature, in particular its woodlands
and coastline, each candle is infused with a premium fragrance and
essential oil. Once lit the candle fills the home with a relaxing scent
which lasts long after the flame has been blown out, a sign of true
craftsmanship and excellence.
The products are poured by hand, and in addition to their eco
credentials, Clare has collaborated with local businesses including
web designers, photographers and local artisans.
Botanical Forrest will be giving back to the community through a
partnership with Work For Good, donating 10 per cent of sales from
their spring rose fragrance to Suffolk Mind, until the end of April.
www.botanicalforrest.co.uk
The Perfect Present
If you’re stuck for a gift idea for Mother’s Day, look no further than
vintage jewellery brand, Trinkets27.
Created at the end of summer 2020, Trinkets27, a Saffron Walden
business, is another delight to come out of lockdown. Each piece
of ornate and beautiful vintage jewellery is carefully curated and
reworked to give it a new life. The brands ethos is committed to
extending the life of jewellery already in existence and giving it a new
home. The jewellery is sourced as locally as possible with charms most
often Victorian, and costume jewellery dating to back to the 1950s.
Shoppers can pick up colourful handmade friendship necklaces,
simple layering chains, vintage charms, earrings and rings, ranging
from £9 to £55. It’s a great place to shop for gifts. The only problem is
you may want to keep it all for yourself! www.trinkets27.com
Oxwash Arrives in
Cambridge
Oxwash, a sustainable laundry delivery
service has launched in Cambridge
covering postcodes CB1 to CB5, and
most recently, extending the service to
CB24.
Lines of Lowestoft
Local artist and designer, Mickey
Gibbons, has independently published
a book of his Lowestoft sketches. A
tribute to his father, Peter Gibbons,
the designer returned to Lowestoft to
visit his father’s favourite locations in
his MK1 Ford Transit campervan. In
the wake of his father’s death, Mickey
curated 48 drawings centred around
a discontinued Ordnance Survey map
of the area. The colourful sketches are
interesting and beautifully illustrated.
The book titled ‘Sheet 137 Lowestoft’
and published by The Leiston Press, is
priced £25 and available to purchase at
www.mickeygibbons.com/store
Switched On
A lighting brand has been launched by
a small team of creatives, based in West
Bergholt, Essex.
Designed by David Lam and crafted
by Julie Lam, the lights are fashioned
locally using traditional skills to make
chic, neutral lighting, that embodies a
mindful approach.
The beautiful collection of stylish,
organic porcelain lights launched online
in February.
View the collection at
www.lam-lighting.co.uk
The service operates a sustainable wet
cleaning facility using only water and
biodegradable detergents, avoiding
harmful chemicals usually required for
dry cleaning. It uses a fleet of electric
cargo bikes to return your laundry. It
aims to reduce CO2 emissions, save
water and remove plastic waste from its
network.
An 8kg bag of mixed items to be
washed, dried and folded is priced
£14.95, and based on a 48-hour
turnaround. The company has seen
growth due to the pandemic and
now operates in London, Oxford and
Cambridge. Get £5 off your first order
with the code ‘EASTLIFE’, valid until 30
April 21. www.oxwash.com
9