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Rumpl: A World With Better Blankets

Always excited to discover a new brand and get to know how it all started.

The Story Behind Rumpl

On a surf and ski trip through California, their founders were sleeping in a van, several miles up a dirt road near a secret hot spring. They awoke the next morning in subzero temperatures with a car that wouldn’t start. Far outside of cell reception, and confronted with an impossibly long walk into town, they decided to bundle up in their sleeping bags and drink whiskey while they waited for someone else to show up.

Minutes turned to hours, and in that time the conversation took an unexpected turn to the subject of bedding. Cozy and warm in their sleeping bags, the two acknowledged how much better the materials felt and performed than what was on their beds back home. A resolve was made to create a “sleeping bag blanket” and the idea for the first Rumpl product was born.

Returning from the trip and borrowing a sewing machine, the first Rumpl “Puffy” blankets were hand sewn in a cramped San Francisco apartment. After several months using the blankets, the two realized they had stumbled on to an idea much grander than just a sleeping bag blanket. The materials typically found in everyday blankets hadn’t evolved in hundreds of years—the entire category wasn’t utilizing any of the material innovation that was taking place in apparel, outdoor gear, and activewear. The Rumpl brand was born

Weatherproof, durable, and cozy blankets made with the same technical materials used in premium outdoor gear and activewear.

After turning to Kickstarter, getting funded in less than 24 hours, and ultimately hitting more than 10x the original campaign goal, they realized that others wanted more from an everyday blanket. Since that initial Kickstarter success, Rumpl has grown from a single home made ‘sleeping bag blanket’ to a whole line of blankets and technical comfort products that redefine the category.

3 Puffy Blankets To Choose From

Watch their founder and CEO, Wylie, explain more in the above video.

Also, Rumple has just announced a distribution agreement with Unify Brand Partnerships, a distributor in the United Kingdom known for representing pivotal brands within the lifestyle, sport and outdoor categories.

Their Value

Rumpl believes the blanket you use every day deserves the same attention to detail as a sleeping bag you might use ten times a year. In 2019, the brand completely redesigned their core line of blankets to only use 100% post-consumer recycled materials. They’re now recycling over 5 million discarded plastic bottles through their supply chain every year. 

They’re also donating 1% of all revenue to environmental non-profits, as well as being members of the freshman cohort of brands that are certified as climate neutral.


About Rumpl

In their own words: “One of our brand’s core values is to “Look To The Future Responsibly,” and consider that value in every business decision we make. In 2019, we completely redesigned our core line of blankets to use only 100% post-consumer recycled materials. We’re now recycling over 5 million discarded plastic bottles through our supply chain every year. We’re also proud to be a member of 1% For The Planet, which means we donate 1% of all revenue to environmental non-profits. And finally, we’re members of the freshman cohort of brands that are certified Climate Neutral. This means that beginning in 2020, and every year thereafter, we’ll be offsetting 100% of our company’s carbon footprint by purchasing offset credits.”

Visit www.rumpl.com

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Sunglasses For The Heat Wave

Avalan Orange Sunglasses by Layoners | T-Shirt by boohooMAN

Is it too late to buy some sunglasses in September? Definitely not!

I was lucky to try out some of the Layoners sunglasses and I was not disappointed. They are really an amazing value for money as the prices are below £50. Also, they are very comfy to wear as their frame is really light.

Lightweight frames with flexible handles and polarised lenses

All of this is included when you buy a pair!

What else?

There is a large collection to choose from.

Browse sunglasses for men


About Layoners

In their own words: ‘Straight from the runways of Milano to the streets of New York. Layoners brings the perfect mix of refined haute couture and hottest street style trends. Thick oversized frames, retro shapes and futuristic silhouettes have dominated this season, and we’re glad to feature them in our collections’.

Shop sunglasses on www.layoners.com

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An Afternoon At Blenheim Palace

Maurizio Cattelan’s controversial exhibition at Blenheim Palace – Victory is Not an Option just closed his doors; however, I was lucky to visit it!

The Italian art prankster redecorated Winston Churchill’s birthplace with an 18-carat loo, some gigantic union jacks, a taxidermy horse hanging from the ceiling, and Hitler on his knees.

18 works from Cattelan were displayed throughout the 18th century Palace.

The Great Court

A great walkaway, pictured above, of British Union Jacks flags leads up to the Palace, welcoming you on arrival.

Posing in the Great Court. Brogue boots by Grenson, Cargo trousers by ASOS, White shirt by M&S, Sling bag by Chrome
Sling bag by Chrome
Sunglasses by RayBan / Sweatshirt by Champion / Denim by Primark and Trainers by Nike

Luckily, I couldn’t have been more blessed by the great weather conditions to enjoy the handsome gardens.

A view from ‘outside’ the Palace

Maurizio Cattelan’s exhibition inside the Palace

Below a couple of selection of works from Cattelan. An exhibition which is not for the faint-hearted.

Clockwise: Taxidermy horse in the Red Drawing Room; Unusual self portrait in the Green Drawing Room; Adolf hitler in the Long Library.

The gardens

The Palace is set in two thousand acres of parkland and formal gardens and as generation follows generation, successive Dukes have introduced their personal touch by each adding new styles and layers of beauty to the landscape.

Learn more about the exhibition >> Maurizio Cattelan at Blenheim Palace

About Blenheim Palace

A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987, Blenheim Palace attracts close to a million visitors a year from all over the world. The Palace was a gift from Queen Anne to the 1st Duke of Marlborough, following his decisive victory over the French at the Battle of Blenheim in 1704.

The Palace, which took almost thirty years to reach completion, was designed by Sir John Vanbrugh to function not only as a private house, but also a monument, castle, and citadel; a testament of England’s supremacy over the French in a blaze of architectural glory that would rival Versailles. 

Steeped in British history, the Palace is also famous as the birthplace of the distinguished wartime Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill, who was himself a member of the family and descendant of the 1st Duke. Handed down through successive generations, the Palace today continues to be privately owned and is the official seat of the current and 12th Duke of Marlborough.

Visit Blenheim Palace

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The DISTRICT_LX2 Watch-by adidas

This has not been easy to pick up a watch from adidas new collection. It has a lot to offer and it is also very versatile. There’s no theme, apart from the adidas logo that is being used for all the models. From a sport to a dapper model, there is a watch for everyone.

Even though adidas is a sport brand, I decided to go for the model pictured above: the DISTRICT_LX2.

To quote adidas: “Reflecting on past iconic designs, the DISTRICT_LX2 pays homage to a time before while adapting towards the new enduring style of what will come next. Consider this approach past meets present in timeless proper form where less is, in fact, always more”.

The combination of olive, brown leather and rose gold really works and makes a it special. The perfect accessory if you are wearing some brown leather shoes and a brown belt. Yes, every details matters!

Full Specifications

Movement: Japanese Quartz Movement / Band: Premium Horween Leather Strap, 20mm Width /Case: Stainless Steel, with hardened mineral crystal / Watchater Rating: 50 meter / 5 ATM

Verdict

I actually really like it, and I am happy to have gone for the rose gold (a first for me)! The watch also feels solid and and it’s no too light (adding to the robustness feeling). The leather strap is thick and, I am sure, will age beautifully. A few scratch marks will make it look even better.

A very nice addition to any man’s watch collection!

The watch is laid in a thick cardboard box

Other adidas watches

If you are not a big fan of the DISTRICT_LX2, you will have other choices. See below a few from their collection:

Pictured left: the ARCHIVE MR2. In adidas own words: “Inspired by the past but always looking toward the future.”

Warranty

The adidas watch is covered by adidas limited warranty against defects in materials and workmanship for a period of two (2) years after original purchase.

£130 RRP. Shop at www.adidaswatches.com.

Shop the full range of adidas watches on www.adidaswatches.com

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Gate-8: A Luggage Everyone Should Own

It’s not very often that we test luggage -as we tend to find them a bit boring- however with this one we were excited to do so. So, why did we want to try out this luggage?

Because it has it all! (Explanation below with one picture).

The Spin MATE Plus, at 40L capacity and featured here, is compliant with easyJet’s and British Airways’ hand baggage restrictions. So this makes it a very attractive piece to own.
I was really happy to brag with this new piece of luggage as it is really smooth to operate: it just slides effortlessly on floors.

3 things we really liked:

1/ The design: simple, yet elegant. Refined, yet robust.

2/ The “2-in-1”: a single bag that can become two. Its 2-in-1 design makes it the perfect bag for easyJet’s single bag policy. Travel from home-to-gate with the single bag and when on board, zip off the laptop backpack, keeping your tech and valuables close by throughout your journey.

3/ The practicality: it has it all. Several external pockets and well thought inside.

What the inside looks like

Inside the luggage: Clothes by Luke1977, sandals by Teva, and grooming products by Manual

The perfect 4-wheel drive

The cabin bag designed to make your journey as hassle-free as possible. The 4-wheel, 360° spinner rotates in the palm of your hand, with no struggle to change direction.

Long story short, this luggage has been going through airports, train and tube stations not to mention on several types of pavements. And it never let me down.

Gate-8 range’s defining features include:

. Zip-off laptop bag – keep your valuables & tech to hand through the flight, travel light to your next meeting, bring onboard easyJet
. For all airlines – our luggage is sized to comply with most major airlines’ hand baggage policies (yes, we even have a bag for Ryanair), giving you the confidence you can bring it onboard
. Built to last – made from extra-durable materials that have been tested by airline crew standards, protected by a 5 year warranty.

On arrival leave the main bag in your hotel room and travel light with the zip-off backpack if you wish to.

What else?

Built to last it is protected by a 5 year warranty, this sturdy cabin bag will stay by your side for years to come.

Where to shop

Shop at www.gate8-luggage.co.uk

About GATE8

GATE8 specialise in designing the world’s most functional travel cabin bags and travel accessories. As seasoned travellers, they know the pain points and are obsessed about using clever smart design to make travel hassle-free as possible. Be it by helping one to avoid baggage check-in, keeping one tech and valuables secure or arriving with a suit that is ready-to-wear, each detail and feature has been carefully designed and tested to make one life easier, stress free and convenient.