Providing a zero-waste platform for today’s change-makers and angry young things; Hit & Run puts society under the microscope, and you need to check it out.

It’s setting out to take the slogan tee / sweater into the next decade at a time when there are so many issues that need discussing in the world.

Slogan t-shirts have reflected political and social discord for the last half century. Angry, determined young activists, designers and artists have used them to communicate deep and profound messages in a few simple words or pictures. They set out, often very successfully, to bring about social change. Some of the slogans and the issues they represent become part of the national psyche; most notably those designed by Katharine Hamnett in the 1980s.

Hit & Run; is a platform designed to give a voice to designers, artists and causes. It promotes expression and cultural awareness, but in a way that ensures a minimal environmental impact.

Every collection is designed by someone who wants to make a difference and to inspire others with their message. All are exclusive to Hit & Run*, including works from emerging artists and more established names such as Matthew Miller, Jake Chapman, Pam Hogg, Elizabeth Ilsley, Kyle De’Volle, as well as partnerships with i-D and the RCA.

T-shirts and sweaters on the site explore themes including LGBTQ+ rights, gender and race issues, female sexual exploitation, capitalism and consumerism, popular culture, as well as shining an introspective light on the fashion and art world. The results are often tongue-in-cheek, witty, unapologetic (and uncensored!)… but always creative. The webpage reads less as a fashion e-commerce site, more an art gallery. You’ll find yourself browsing in a way you’ve not done before – so many voices and each of them communicated so uniquely.

Hit & Run was created by Mickey Ellis in 2020, as the antithesis to what he saw as a creatively barren and environmentally devastating fast-fashion industry, which he had worked in himself at the start of his career. Staunchly anti-fast fashion, the ethos of Hit & Run is that no one visiting the site needs new clothes. Everything is made to order, fair trade, and produced in organic cotton or recycled polyester. All designs are digitally printed using non-toxic ink, nothing is screen printed as the chemicals used are highly toxic and there’s zero plastic packaging.

With many of us embarking on camping staycations this summer, perhaps for the first time, Dirk Fehse CEO of PaulCamper (see above), Europe’s largest online platform for motorhome and campervan sharing, has collated some of his top tips targeted at assisting those new to, or less familiar with, camping.

Which motorhome you can drive – If you passed your test before 1 January 1997 you can drive a motorhome up to 7500kg on your B+C1 licence. If you passed after 1 January 1997, you can drive a motorhome up to 3500kg on your B (car) licence. To drive a heavier motorhome, you must take a C1 test.

Speed limits – Motorhomes with an unladen weight of more than 3050kg are restricted to 30mph in built up areas, 50mph on single roads, 60mph on dual carriageways and 70mph on motorways.

Picking the campervan or motorhome that is right for you – PaulCamper has a range of cool, quirky, fun and affordable campervans and motorhomes with summer rental availability starting from £100. Simply browse the selection and decide whether you want something more traditional with the cool quirks that offers; or whether you want something brand new with all the mod cons. We have a perfect campervan option for every budget, style and size.

Picking the best campsite for you – When choosing somewhere to stay, it’s important to make the right decision, being unhappy with a campsite choice could possibly ruin a trip. Start by considering your needs; a family with two teenagers will need a different set up to those with under 10’s, as will a couple or a group comprising of just adults. Budget is also another important consideration – sometimes a stay of seven nights or more can earn an extra night for free. I’d also recommend joining the UK’s major touring clubs – The Camping and Caravanning Club and the Caravan and Motorhome Club. Having access to their 4,500 sites, you’re bound to find one in your favourite area.

Loading your van – Heavy items should be stowed as close to the floor as possible. With only lightweight items being stored in overhead lockers. Trust me, it hurts when things move mid trip and hit you on the head! If there is a rear storage area do not exceed the manufacturers weight. Your owner can advise you of this before you set off.

Navigating narrow streets – Firstly, don’t panic! Ask one of your fellow travellers to stand in front of the van, far enough away to clearly see along both sides up to the top corner edges. They can then guide you taking any protuberances into account. If solo, simply ask a passer-by to help, they’re usually more than willing…

Changing a gas bottle – Gas fittings have a reverse thread so you undo the connections by turning the nut clockwise – this may seem counterintuitive. Simply ensure the gas bottle is turned off at the top tap and remove the pigtail pipe. It is normal to smell a small amount of gas at this stage but if the bottle is turned off, this is perfectly normal. Finally screw the plastic stopper into the bottle’s brad threat to protect it and help prevent minor leaks. When retightening the pigtail nut on the gas cylinder, ensure it is only hand tightened since overtightening may result in damage to the threads.

Changing a chemical toilet – One job no one enjoys. Always empty at a dedicated disposal point, unlock the cassette locker, and open the hatch, you can then nip the yellow or orange handles together with the grey grip to release the cassette. The orange grip doubles as an extending handle, so you can wheel the cassette. At your disposal location, twist the fill/empty nozzle and remove the cap. I recommend putting the cap well away from your disposal location, so you don’t run the risk of having to fish it out! Next, press the orange vacuum-release button on the cassette and pour your contents into your disposal point. Rinse the cassette with water and before replacing it add diluted blue or green cassette chemical.

Obtaining fresh water – You should be mindful of payload rules and considering that I recommend driving with your fresh-water tank around 20% full. You can fill it up as soon as you arrive and before you pitch up. Some sites have their own water connections but at most sites the supply is in a central location that isn’t always accessible. You will need to have a long hose which should be a ‘food grade’ hose – many garden hoses are not. Ask the owner to show you the location of the van’s freshwater filter point before you depart and don’t make a common error of mistaking it for the fuel point. Ask other campers for help if you need it – many will be seasoned and more than happy to help.

Changing a puncture – Most importantly keep calm and check all passengers are safe: ensure you wear high visibility vests and move as far from the road as possible. If you are unable to continue your journey, inform the owner, then call the 24-hour breakdown assistance helpline. You will find the number in the top right corner of your PaulCamper handover report and they will send a breakdown recovery service to assist you.

Commenting on his experiences and tips CEO Dirk Fehse said; “Camping is such an exciting way to explore the country and I hope my tips will assure those new to camping so they can feel confident in renting with PaulCamper to roam this summer. We have a diverse range of motorhomes and campervans available for summer staycations and all of our owners will be happy to share any tips or knowledge. I wish all of our summer campers, whether seasoned or new to the experience. Happy camping !”

GYM+COFFEE is an Irish athleisure  and lifestyle brand with a focus on building a sense of Community. They believe in facilitating fun things to do, an awesome crew to do things with and quality gear to do things in.

Since its inception in 2017, it has been producing high-quality, Irish-designed clothing offered through its e-commerce platforms in Europe, the UK, North America, Australia + New Zealand, as well as through its 7 retail Clubhouses in Ireland and the UK.

In 2020, it launched its first collection of sustainable athleisure products and continues to broaden its positive impact through partnerships with organisations, like, One Tree Planted, where it has committed to planting 50,000 trees to help with global reforestation efforts. With its Waste2Wear project it offers award-winning sustainable products, like, its carry-bags made from recycled materials and via social initiatives with partners, like, The Sanctuary Runners, it works with refugees and asylum seekers living in Ireland’s Direct Provision system.

It recently launched its latest limited-edition collection from sustainably sourced materials. The Kinetic Capsule, made up of three hero items, offers high-performance fabric suitable for the toughest of physical challenges.

Fusing innovation in design and eco-friendly fabric composition, the collection is produced using the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), the largest cotton sustainability programme in the world. They ensure the fibre is grown in a way that protects and restores the environment, while also improving farmers’ livelihoods. The Better Cotton is combined with recycled polyamide which is certified to the Global Recycling Standards.

Choosing a manufacturer closer to home, Gym+Coffee partnered with the Valérius hub located in Portugal for their industry leading commitments to reducing their impact on the environment.  With initiatives such as textile waste recycling, electricity generation from renewable energy sources and chemical free processes across their supply chain, the supplier has proven that sustainability is at the heart of their strategy.

It joins the Amárach range in the sustainable product offering from the brand which is made of up to 100% recycled materials.

Gym+Coffee co-founder Diarmuid McSweeney said, “We’re thrilled to have worked with the industry innovators Valérius to bring these designs to life and look forward to working more closely with them in the future. From recycled wood fittings in stores, to our partnership with One Tree Planted, to fully compostable packaging, we are committed to contributing positively to the planet in all areas of the business. Our short-term goal for the end of 2021, is to have minimum of 30% of our entire range be sustainably made or made from recycled materials.”

We caught up with award winning men’s hairdresser, Toni & Guy’s Jim Shaw(above) to spill the beans if what hair styles we should be considering ????

With us now out of lockdown, we have noticed a surge in men embracing their longer hair and coming into the salon for a trim or to have their long hair styled rather than a complete revamp with a lot of length being cut off.

For 2021 it’s all about modernizing these longer hairstyles and also informing male clients to be aware of the extra TLC their long hair will require between appointments. Below are my three top modern long hairstyles for 2021 that we will see male client’s requesting in salons and barbershops and hair products we can suggest to clients to keep their long locks looking their very best and healthy at all times in between appointments.

Long curls and enhanced natural textures – embracing the hairs natural texture is going to be very popular this year and we will see a lot of men loving their natural waves and curls. Giving your long haired curly clients a blunt trim will help accentuate the curls and enable them to be more manageable, as well free from frizz and flyaways, which are common with these hair types. To further keep curls and natural waves looking their best at home, smooth and healthy in appearance, styling is key. It’s essential to recommend that curly haired clients in particular use a styling product such as a lotion, serum or light paste and distribute this through their hair with their fingers, giving the curls a more polished look and more body to their hair. This hairstyle also looks great when the curls are brushed out and some texturising product is applied to give the hair softness yet a lot of body and movement.

The modern mullet – the mullet is a hairstyle that is becoming back on trend for both men and woman in 2021. We’ve seen many celebrities sport this look and wearing the mullet more choppy in texture to give it a modern appearance. For 2021 this style looks more contemporary and best when worn a little bit shorter on the top and even shorter on sides but blended together seamlessly. This gives the hair a different texture and allows the client to be able to style theirhair in a number of different ways. The versatility of this haircut is one of the best things about it – the client can wear it slicked back with a gel or serum or they can use a texturising spray or mattifying product to give the style added texture and body. With this hairstyle maintenance is key and it will require regular trips to the salon to keep the fade looking its best. This hairstyle also looks great worn natural, so a great recommendation for clients is to spray some leave in conditioner into their hair and leave to air dry to provide the hair with nourishment and keep the longer section of their hair looking its best and free from split ends.

Bowl cut – the bowl cut is back for 2021 but with a fresh approach – longer and thicker in appearance. This is great for men who love a more retro inspired haircut and who like wearing their hair more sleek and smooth in appearance that natural and textured. This hairstyle is also great for framing the face and showing off facial features and is a particularly good hairstyle for showing off colour if your client likes to opt for bolder and dimensional hair colours. With this haircut it’s important that clients are using a good quality shampoo and conditioner to keep their hair smooth and shiny, as well as regular hair masks to keep split ends at bay and hair free from damage.

Jeffery-West was established back in 1987 and were best known for their quirky rock and roll inspired styles, which is no coincidence their fans include Noel Gallagher and Paul Weller.

Jeffery-West’s Co-founder Guy West has years of fun memories in some of the most legendary UK nightclubs and having lived for almost 18 months mostly in lockdown in our sweatpants, many of us are having big nostalgia for the halcyon days of dressing up with friends, hitting the dance floor (or field!) and having fun! So, in anticipation of nightclubs re-opening, Jeffery-West have launched its ‘Nightclubbing’ collection of six limited styles, paying homage to iconic British nightclubs and club nights from the 50’s to present day. The Blitz, The Saint, The Wag, The Hacienda, The Roxy and The Flamingo all bear the names of the iconic clubs and club nights on the soles.

The 70’s Playboy at Tramp; the Blitz Kid Dandy; the Wag club Soul Boy; the Hacienda Raver, most iconic fashion trends over the past decades have been born on the dance floors of legendary nightclubs.

In fact, whilst listening to the radio during the March 2020 lockdown, Guy heard two popular DJs discussing things they would not miss if they were to disappear when normality resumed. To Guy’s shock their main target was nightclubbing.

Having been inspired by, worked with and had years of fun memories in some of the most legendary nightclubs, these comments astounded Guy.

“I could not believe it! Vehemently disagreeing with them, I started to remember all the fan- tastic times spent in clubs and the incredible people I have met, many of whom have become lifelong friends. With these thoughts in mind, we decided to design an Homage collection for this significant part of our cultural history.”