Spain Spottings. Zebra Striping. Lush's Dodgy Tribute.
It's a week of exclusively Euro quick takes.
From London (Mia)
I find this move by Lush Cosmetics incredibly irksome– and I’m not alone. Let’s rewind it back. The Body Shop– a pioneer in ethical beauty that championed sustainability, cruelty-free practices, and social activism under Anita Roddick’s visionary leadership– has a legacy that runs deep, with products beloved by generations. So, when news broke of the company’s financial turbulence last year, many mourned what seemed to be the end of a brand that changed the industry forever. For those of us who came of age in the 90s, nothing comes close to the feeling of slicking on the Mango Body Butter after a bath, or illicitly dousing yourself in White Musk before school. Then there’s Lush. The comparatively newer kid on the block (1995 vs. The Body Shop’s 1976), Lush was similarly renowned for its ethical stance and soon became TBS’s primary rival. So I was surprised to see that Lush recently launched a new collection called The Lush Version, which is being marketed as a tribute to The Body Shop’s “greatest hits.” The line, pitched as “a celebration of Roddick’s legacy” (I call BS), includes products developed during Lush CEO Mark Constantine’s own time as a R&D resource and primary supplier to The Body Shop (Roddick later bought out his company for £9m in 1991). Is this a celebration of a shared history, as Constantine posits, or a rather unethical strategic appropriation of The Body Shop’s iconic products for profit? Knowing that Constantine helped create a back catalogue of products that found fame and fortune elsewhere (aka The Body Shop), it feels like an attempt to resolve some sort of personal vendetta. Lush has long been lauded for innovation, but this launch feels less like blazing new trails and more like raiding someone else’s. What’s more, The Body Shop isn’t a defunct brand—it’s actively being revived, making Lush’s decision to “dust off” its cherished hero products seem premature at best, exploitative at worst. For a brand supposedly built on creativity and ethics, the choice to lean on borrowed brilliance feels like a major misstep.
My Millennial/Gen X pals are embracing ‘zebra striping’—alternating between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks on a night out. It’s an easy way to balance fun with moderation and avoid next-day regret (make that utter anguish for those of us over 40). With Gen Z leaning toward abstinence, this mindful drinking trend is fuelled by a wellness-first mindset and the increase of premium non-alc options like craft sodas and zero-proof cocktails. The rise of mid-proof spirits—which hover around 10-30% ABV—is a welcome addition to the movement, helping to provide balance to the ‘all or nothing’ mentality. My favourite is Sommaroy on ice with a splash of tonic.
Energizer is powering peace of mind. With its new 3-in-1 Child Shield safety system, the power solutions company is tackling the serious risk coin cell batteries pose to children. The innovation combines child-resistant packaging, a bitter coating to deter ingestion and the world’s first blue dye that stains saliva on contact– making incidents easier to detect and respond to. True to its brand, Energizer goes beyond performance to anticipate real-world risks with a smart, proactive product design.
I’ve changed my mind about this recent release from Heinz. Unveiled to much controversy, Spaghetti Carbonara (which is priced at £2 and the brand’s first pasta launch in a decade) is intended to offer a shortcut on the notoriously difficult-to-cook recipe. The offering is a response to Gen Z-ers not having confidence in their cooking skills, says the brand, and appeals to those who would rather open a tin than endure the finicky drama of sauce splitting. The ingredient list skips the traditional egg and includes the decidedly non-traditional cornflour, cheese powder and garlic flavouring…but, hey, what did you expect? Foodies and chefs may be miffed and, sure, my first reaction was ugh, but I bet Heinz will have the last laugh: for younger shoppers, students, and time-poor shoppers, this will be a game-changer.
From Madrid y Barcelona (Ellen)
I spent the holidays in Spain and naturally had my radar up for good brand finds— mainly things I found particularly interesting and potential nods to where the US market should and could go. Here’s a glimpse inside my Notes app.
Open eco experimentation: Goop introduced its fancy, $200 leggings-clad audience to the Madrid-born brand Ecoalf back in 2022 as an eco-conscious Euro puffer maker (emphasis on “Euro” and, therefore, chic to most Americans). Little did Gwyn share about the depths of the brand’s fashion portfolio and eco-forward business model, but— whoa— talk about next-level! Across numerous screens at the Madrid flagship store, I got schooled on the environmental ills of the conventional fashion industry and how, in response and revolt, Ecoalf is turning plastics and waste into stylish and functional fashions… and evidently profits too. The driving force behind Ecoalf’s success seems to be their humility. They’re not afraid of being matched or outdone when it comes to making fashion more circular and sustainable and will partner with students, creators, critics, and competitors to advance eco-fashion further and faster.
Similar humility in the face of our planet’s struggles was echoed by Barcelona-based fashion brand Munich with the launch of their vegan and aspirationally low-to-no impact sneaker sub-brand, Duuo. The self-proclaimed maker of “empathy shoes” implored on their storefront window:
Storefront windows and message at duuo, El Born neighborhood in Barcelona, Spain, Jan 2025. Respect. To me, this kind of modest messaging is way more inviting and motivating than the heroism expressed by many leading US eco brands.
Ultra-premium fast-casual: The hot spot we spotted all over Spain was a place called Honest Greens. At first glance, you’d probably mistake it for a Sweetgreen, (similar logo) but the Spanish “Real Food” chain only resembles that kind of American pedestrian dining in name and “it” neighborhood ubiquity. In contrast, HG offers a premium quick-serve experience like I’ve never had in the States— downright delicious 9-12€ ($10-13) counter-ordered meals brought to your table on sleek earthenware with freshly dressed greens and the literal best bread (the HG experience puts California-based Erewhon to shame!). Everything was freshly prepared and sit-down restaurant quality— a mix of hot and cold, crispy and crunchy, sweet and spicy, all thoughtfully plated. I’m embarrassed to admit we went twice after having our fill of croquettes, paella and Rioja elsewhere.
Good fat glory. Speaking of Spain’s food scene, my travel companions would be appalled if I didn’t mention the olive oil. Ohhhhh, the olive oil. If simple cuisine in Italy tastes better because their tomatoes are actually better (grown in Italy’s uniquely magnificent tomato-breeding soil and climate), then simple cuisine in Spain tastes better because their olives— and therefore their olive oil— are just superior (another reason to go Graza!). And they know it! All over Spain, Honest Greens included, restaurants celebrated the sole use of Spanish olive oil to prepare their food. (And I guarantee it wasn’t to please RFK).
Honest Green’s stated commitment to olive oil; image courtesy of HG website. Effortless and accessible bro-codification. I’m obviously not a dude, but I know a few, and I’m frequently stunned by the amount of work they put into curating their own individual version of “bro-ness” here in the States (“Read this, shop that, get your workout on here and your hair styled here.”). No wonder it’s so often haphazardly executed. But in Barcelona, I came across two spots that seem to make it easy: the supposed celeb-frequented barber shop x tattoo parlor x gym Elijah and the mid-market “lifestyle curator” BLAW. I’ll admit, Elijah gave me some serious GTL vibes (although instead of “gym, tan, laundry,” its patrons might be thinking “gym, tattoo, look”), but the place was crawling with guys of all ages and sizes. BLAW was the same— crammed with dudes— and guess what? Not a wife or girlfriend in sight! It was immediately clear as to why. The store was segmented into sections, each with a complete head-to-toe look (hat, backpack, and shoes included) already assembled. #girlfriendnotneeded.
BLAW curated racks at their flagship store, Barcelona, Spain, Jan 2025.
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