The Best Things To See And Do In Edinburgh

The Scottish capital is the second most visited city in the UK (after London) and it’s obvious why. Edinburgh writer Alexander McCall Smith said “this is a city of shifting light, of changing skies, of sudden vistas. A city so beautiful it breaks the heart again and again.” Indeed it would be difficult to find more dramatic views than those you encounter upon emerging from Waverley train station. In one direction green rolling hills extend upwards to the looming Edinburgh Castle while in the other direction is Arthur’s Seat, a grass covered extinct volcano. And of course in addition to the magnificent views and architecture, this city is well known for the Edinburgh International Festival of performing arts and the Fringe festival, the world's largest annual international arts festival.

The Balmoral has 187 guest rooms including twenty suites designed by Olga Polizzi to evoke Scotland’s heritage and landscape, with a colour palette of blues and greys along with bespoke Balmoral tartan. Of the twenty individually styled suites, The Bowes-Lyon suite named after former patron of The Balmoral, The Queen Mother, is one of the most impressive. With its unusual layout and large, porthole-style windows overlooking Princes street, the suite features lovely green velvet sofas, leafy drapes and cushions from Glaswegian brand, Timorous Beasties in the spacious lounge. The hotel’s food and drink offering is excellent too from Alain Roux’s Brasserie Prince for breakfast and all day dining to the opulent Palm Court for afternoon tea to Number One, the Michelin-starred restaurant for fine dining and Scotch, the whisky bar serving over 500 kinds of Scottish whisky.

How Slow Fashion Is Fast-Tracking Sustainability

Today's consumers, especially us millennials, are increasingly concerned and influenced by companies' records and initiatives around sustainability. Whether it is because they follow #sinnfluencers on social media or because of the growing understanding that climate change is a real threat to human in the near future, this has manifested itself in the fashion industry with a new trend towards 'slow fashion'.

Now more than ever, consumers are curious about where their clothes were made and under what conditions. The slow fashion movement promises to be the opposite of the fast fashion trend (inexpensive clothing produced rapidly by mass-market retailers in response to the latest trends) by delivering sustainably procured and produced clothing to mindful consumers. Instead of never-ending sale offerings due to rapidly changing trends, slow fashion items are designed to be sustainable, functional, durable and stylish.

A sustainable fashion product is made in an environmental and social friendly manner along the supply chain. From the initial design of sustainable products using ethically sourced raw material, production through sustainable manufacturing processes, and delivered through green distribution, and retailing channels.

First, as already explained in another blog of mine “Sustainable Design: The Key To Unlocking A Sustainable Future”, design determines the ecological footprint of the whole product lifecycle. Fashion designers can therefore help to significantly reduce the environmental impact of products by making sure that they change the way they design their clothes, by taking into account the environmental impact early in the product design.

Eco-material production is the fundamental part in a sustainable fashion supply chain. Cotton, as a renewable resource, is the main material for apparel production. However, chemicals and pesticides are largely used in the traditional ways to grow cotton. Sustainable fashion products are often made by organic fabrics, which are produced using less water and harmful chemicals. Organic cotton therefore is grown without using pesticides or synthetic fertilizers, which could reduce the negative impact on the environment.

Apparel manufacturing often takes place in countries with low labor costs. However, in those countries, the awareness of environment and human rights are often less developed. Therefore, it is important to promote the importance of fair working conditions and environmental performance, especially when working with various suppliers all around the world.

Producing carbon emission is inevitable in distribution. However, by designing a more efficient transportation system, the amount of carbon emission in distribution can be minimized. For example, to engage with sustainable product design which can make container shipping less harmful to the environment.

Some retail brands have already launched clothing collection initiatives to promote sustainable concept in ethical consumers in retailing. Consumers can return old apparel products and in return, they can get a coupon for their next purchase. All collected used apparel and textiles are then optimally recycled according to their condition. Moreover, within an up-cycling process, some textiles and fabrics are reprocessed and used to create commercial products for example.

According to a Greenpeace survey conducted in 2015, every fifth garment is never worn. This makes a total of one billion unworn garments – if you include rarely worn items, you even get a total of two billion "wardrobe corpses". Many people then sort out clothes again within a year – after all they have to keep up with the trend, don't they?!

In my opinion, this is mostly the result of fast fashion. If more clothing businesses follow the idea of slow fashion, and more people start reflecting their buying habits, we can make a big step toward a world run better.

Download the IDC report “Leveraging Your Intelligent Digital Supply Chain” to find out how an end-to-end digital supply chain – from design and planning to manufacturing, logistics, and operations – helps businesses to increase sustainability.

Prom Dresses

Highlights From Paris Fashion Week

Now that the dust has settled on Paris Fashion Week, let us look back on the collections that gave us a lot to talk about.

One of the most breathtaking shows of the season was Dries Van Noten's. For the spring 2020 season he has partnered with Christian Lacroix, who was the king of 80's fashion. With a tandem made of designers who are not afraid of colors and prints, the collection was exuberant, joyful and loaded with fanciful ideas.

There were the poufs and feathers we've come to associate with Lacroix, however, these were tempered with Van Noten's hand. Sweatshirts were paired with ruffled trousers and silk skirts, tank tops were worn with beribboned tailored pants. There was a shocking pink opera-style coat worn on top of gold shorts. And as a finale, a bride in a white tank and jeans under a gauzy dress with sprays of asymmetric ruffles and feathers.

Pierpoalo Piccioli's collection for Valentino was a masterful study in elegant restraint. While he has shown us plenty of times what he can do with fabric and embellishment, this time he was most successful when he did away with ornamentation. He instead chose to explore what he can do with a white shirt: turning it into feather festooned blouse or a smart tunic or a shirt dress with exaggerated sleeves or finished with a tiered ruffled tulle skirt. It was simply sublime.

At Givenchy, Clair Waight Keller wrestled between the minimalism of the 90s and the shapes of the 70s. There were plenty of tailored pieces including dresses and skirts in sumptuous leather and a gorgeous and sleek cream elongated blazer. But the sudden introduction of Liberty-like floral prints via turtleneck blouses and dresses were a bit discordant with the stronger minimalist pieces.

At Saint Laurent, the light show that opened the runway parade sort of eclipsed the clothes which was, like in past collections, filled with peasant style dresses and rocker chic short get ups. The saving grace was the permutations of the tuxedo look that closed the show (albeit a little too many and too self-indulgent).

At Hedi Slimane's Celine, the runway could have been a sequel to the Saint Laurent fashion show because there were the same gold peasant style dresses and the knee-high boots and the 70's inflected jackets.

At Chanel, variations of tweed ensembles sashayed up and down a set made to look like a Parisian rooftop. The clothes could have used a bit more energy but I suppose the Chanel client likes to stick to the tried and tested.

Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen gave tour de force of a collection that showed what a creative mind can do. Her exploration of shape and mix of materials made for a collection that finely threaded fantasy and practicality.

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Searching For The South Of France In A Plate? Look No Further

There is a restaurant in the South of France that’s worth a detour. Truth be told, it’s worth the entire journey.

Château Saint-Martin Trencavel, a diminutive castle boasting a 12thcentury tower, stands only a few minutes’ drive from the walled fortress of Carcassonne in a garden filled with flowers and ancient stone fountains. In the winter, its old- fashioned dining room feels cozy and warm, but in the summer, a moment on the shaded terrace near the century-old wisteria brings to mind a Merchant Ivory set.

The meal starts with an innocent-looking puff pastry twist coiled around hints of olive and thyme flowers, an equal blend of buttery innocence and strong, salty kick. By the time you come back to reality, you have devoured most of them and your partner is staring at you with eyes that growl, “We have a whole meal coming and you’ve downed all the bread.” Best to sip the local bubbly Blanquette de Limoux and call it a day.

The hardest decision of that day is, without doubt, whether to order a cassoulet or not. After all, the magical mythical stew is a winter dish, but how can you arrive at the source of all things cassoulet and not order it? The chef, Jean-Claude Rodriguez, is the founder of the Universal Academy of Cassoulet, a group of chefs, restaurateurs, vintners and food lovers dedicated to saving the authentic cassoulet. Rodriguez has spent most of his life perfecting the right ratio of beans to garlic to onions to duck confit to sausage to bouquet garni. And that’s without even mentioning the fresh herbs he picks at a location he won't divulge, somewhere in the Montagne Noire.  Festklänningar

Kremlin Does Couture: Russia Creates The Fashion Fund

Russians say that if things are slow to start, you must proceed with "seven-mile steps". This popular expression applies to Russian fashion, as well. Since I began covering its emerging industry almost 15 years ago, there have been several breakthrough developments in Russia to strengthen the local market and its creative future. Just five years ago, news focused on the exodus of international fashion retailers and talk of "import substitution" in all areas, including apparel and accessories. Last year saw the arrival of FashionNet, a unique comprehensive program in partnership with National Technology Initiative. Earlier this year Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Russia launched Global Talents Initiative, another bid to secure its position as a viable front-row platform for emergent fashion talent. There is also the Fashion Futurum Accelerator for domestic rising stars. The latest "seven-mile step" is the boldest, yet.

Earlier this month, a historic meeting took place at St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, a power-brokering geopolitical event under the auspices of the Russian President Vladimir Putin. There was a panel dedicated to support and development of the Russian fashion industry featuring several key players. It was an opportunity to check how well the reforms have done so far and to set further ambitious milestones. Denis Manturov, minister of trade and industry, noted that international fashion corporations like Inditex have already opened production lines in Russia and rely on Russian workforce and manufacturing knowhow as part of their global supply chain.

Recently, Russian Export Center had negotiated a tariff-free deal for Russian clothing manufacturers enabling them to import textiles and accessories without taxation if they intend to use them for exportable products. Anton Siluanov, first deputy prime minister of Russia, confirmed the government’s commitment to the sector. "We see Russian products becoming more and more popular around the world year after year." Several projects have already contributed to the growing prestige of Russian design beyond the iconic traditions of Fabergé. Editor-in-chief of Harper's Bazaar Russia, Daria Veledeeva, remarked that pursuit of "global domination" was "a romantic illusion" for most brands and encouraged local designers to cultivate domestic clientele, which can ensure the brand’s sustainability in the long run.

State police investigate video sharing at Taos High

New Mexico State Police is handling the investigation which involves a number of students who allegedly shared a sexually explicit video of a female student. Charges could range from misdemeanors to felonies pending the results of the ongoing investigation. State police picked up the investigation after Taos Police determined no crime was committed at the time of the complaint.

"No charges have been filed," said State Police Lieutenant Mark Soriano. "This is still an active investigation and no information is available."

High school students nationwide have been affected by or participated in "sexting," sharing explicit images, video or words over cellphones. A 2018 study conducted by the Journal of the American Medical Association found sexting is an increasingly common trend among teens across the United States. The study also found that one in eight teens have forwarded or have had a "sext" forwarded without consent.

The Taos High School incident began in the fall of 2018, when a female student sent an explicit video to a male student she was in a relationship with via a private phone message. That message was then spread to a number of students via cellphones in January 2019, which resulted in the suspension of the girl who sent the original video, according to people familiar with the situation. It is unknown if any of the students involved in sharing the video were suspended or disciplined.

The girl was suspended due to violation of school policy, according to school officials.

According to the parents of the student who made the video, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, their child's suspension was served and the investigation is no longer focused around their daughter.

Taos Police Chief David Trujillo said his officers made an initial information report about the incident on Jan. 15.

"We made a determination that a crime had not yet been committed," said Trujillo in a recent interview. "As time went by and as the case developed, then a crime may have occurred."

At that point, Taos Police officials said they could only confirm the video had been shared between the girl and one other male student. However, prior to police involvement, the video was brought to the attention of the staff at Taos High School, which prompted the suspension of the student who made it.

State police then took over the case at the request of the girl's parents on Jan. 16 and discovered the video had been shared to other students.

How Hora Skin Care is Bringing CBD Into Mainstream Beauty Products

Now thanks to the farm bill CBD is finding its way into everything from coffee to capsules that promise to improve your memory. It's also making an appearance in beauty products. Beyond just lotions and serums to combat inflammation, a number of companies are creating skin care products that bring CBD into your daily beauty routine. One of those companies is Hora Skin Care, a California company with a line of CBD skin care products that hydrate, protect, and regenerate skin.

"CBD is an anti-inflammatory. Eczema, pimples, and rosacea, they're all irritations. So it's going to help to calm all those while continuing to work," says Samantha Czubiak, founder of Hora Skin Care.

Czubiak started formulating the products when she was in her mid-20s. She had started to have breakouts, and tried every single product sold at her local CVS to no avail.


"Every night I was concocting little things in my hands and trying to see if my skin needed to be like a little bit brighter the next day or if I need some kind of pimple or had a breakout if I was dry… so it got a little overwhelming and my counter was a disaster. And I thought, 'Wouldn't it be so nice if all these were combined into one product?" Czubiak paired her knowledge of skin care products with what she knew about CBD, and Hora Beauty was formed.

She says that regularly using a CBD-based skin care product can have a number of benefits, including clear skin and a reduced number of breakouts.

"There's a ton of antioxidants as well. It's got more antioxidants than Vitamin C. So it's a good one to keep pumping in the skin," Czubiak says.

Starbucks Might Be The First Big Chain To Launch Cannabis-Infused Drinks, According to Analysts

Starbucks might potentially end up being the first big chain to launch a line of cannabis-infused drinks, or at least that's what analysts think.

Cowan released a 100-page document detailing its analysis of the CBD market on Monday. The group thinks that CBD will reach $16 billion in retail sales by 2025 and that we're likely to see cannabis, specifically, CBD, make its way into other products down the line well, Yahoo Finance reports.

"The dynamics are fluid, likely delaying adoption from major coffee players like Starbucks in the near term," Cowan analyst Andrew Charles wrote in the report. "Should the regulation of CBD oil as an additive to food/beverage change or craft/independent coffee shops find a way to comply with the existing regulation, we could envision Starbucks ultimately piloting the ingredient."



While it's certainly a possibility, that vision might not be in Starbucks' roadmap for the time being. Speaking with a reporter from CNBC last month, Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson said that while it's paying attention to the trend, right now adding cannabis to Starbucks' menu isn't currently in the company's plans.

Should the company decide to include cannabis in its drinks it would likely run into a number of roadblocks. Commercial CBD is still in its infant stages, with states and regulators still trying to understand how to appropriately regulate its use.

Troubling Trends Towards Artificial Intelligence Governance

This is an age of artificial intelligence (AI) driven automation and autonomous machines. The increasing ubiquity and rapidly expanding potential of self-improving, self-replicating, autonomous intelligent machines has spurred a massive automation driven transformation of human ecosystems in cyberspace, geospace and space (CGS). As seen across nations, there is already a growing trend towards increasingly entrusting complex decision processes to these rapidly evolving AI systems. From granting parole to diagnosing diseases, college admissions to job interviews, managing trades to granting credits, autonomous vehicles to autonomous weapons, the rapidly evolving AI systems are increasingly being adopted by individuals and entities across nations: its government, industries, organizations and academia (NGIOA).

Individually and collectively, the promise and perils of these evolving AI systems are raising serious concerns for the accuracy, fairness, transparency, trust, ethics, privacy and security of the future of humanity -- prompting calls for regulation of artificial intelligence design, development and deployment.

While the fear of any disruptive technology, technological transformation, and its associated changes giving rise to calls for the governments to regulate new technologies in a responsible manner are nothing new, regulating a technology like artificial intelligence is an entirely different kind of challenge. This is because while AI can be transparent, transformative, democratized,  and easily distributed, it also touches every sector of global economy and can even put the security of the entire future of humanity at risk. There is no doubt that artificial intelligence has the potential to be misused or that it can behave in unpredictable and harmful ways towards humanity—so much so that entire human civilization could be at risk.


While there has been some -- much-needed -- focus on the role of ethics, privacy and morals in this debate, security, which is equally significant, is often completely ignored. That brings us to an important question: Are ethics and privacy guidelines enough to regulate AI? We need to not only make AI transparent, accountable and fair, but we need to also create a focus on its security risks.

Liam Charles’ recipe for vegan rum and raisin sponge cake

The start of the year means it's time to try something new. This cake is perfect for vegan January. A lot of people might think vegan food is boring, lacks flavour and that the ingredients are difficult to source. But, trust me, it's so easy, and if you follow the right recipe – er, like this one – it's going to be super tasty. Don't tell your mates this cake is vegan, and see if they pick up on it.

Soak the raisins in rum overnight. The next day, heat the oven to 180C (170C fan)/375F/gas 5. Grease and line four 20cm sandwich tins.

Put the sugar, oil and vanilla in a large bowl and beat with an electric whisk or a stand mixer with a beater attachment for two minutes until well combined. Mix the yoghurt and vinegar together in a separate bowl, then add this to the mixture and beat for a further two minutes. Add the dry ingredients and whisk until smooth, then gently fold in the rum-soaked raisins. Divide the mixture equally between the tins, and bake for 25 minutes, or until springy to the touch. Cool on a wire rack.

To make the buttercream, beat the soy butter with an electric mixer for a couple of minutes until smooth. Sieve the icing sugar in a separate bowl and add to the soy butter in two stages, beating well between each addition. Add the vanilla and a splash of soy milk to loosen if too thick. Divide between two bowls and set aside.

Once the cakes have cooled, use a sharp knife to trim the tops to level them off. On a board slightly bigger than your sponges, spread a small amount of buttercream and place the first layer of sponge on it. Spread a good dollop of buttercream on top then place another sponge on it. Repeat with the other sponges, but add the last one upside down. Spread a thin layer of buttercream with a palette knife over the whole cake to seal in the crumbs. Refrigerate for at least an hour.

Divide the second bowl of buttercream into two bowls. Colour one with the green food colouring, the other with the yellow, mixing in well. Apply the coloured buttercreams alternately around the cake, smoothing with a palette knife, to create a marbled effect. Any remaining buttercream can be used to pipe kisses around the top.