Dear Reader,

OK, bear with me, I'm about to blow your mind by letting you know that C&TH had a pivotal role in the birth of the World’s First Zero-Waste Banana Denim Capsule. Yes, you read that right: a denim collection has been made with banana waste (banana waste!) and we were there from the beginning. It tickles me pink to have played matchmaker to two astonishing brands – DEPLOY and Acacia29 – as part of our Future Icons intiative, which celebrates and rewards businesses whose mission is to create truly ethical products or truly ethical supply chains. Acacia29 is behind the groundbreaking fibre technology that transforms banana tree trunks – which are usually burned – into spinnable yarn, and DEPLOY is the world's highest scoring fashion B Corp. Together, they've created something astonishing – and, most importantly, eminently wearable. Next time you see me, I'll be in banana.

Lucy Cleland
Editorial Director

Staying In

Reset your nervous system

You might not know it exists, but the vagus nerve is responsible for a whole host of functions in the body – from controlling your heart rate to aiding digestion and influencing mood. And recently, the internal messenger has made its way into the limelight. Vagus nerve stimulation is one of this year’s emerging wellness trends, offering benefits including boosting stress response, lowering inflammation and improving your sleep. We’ve seen an influx of tech specifically designed to regulate the nervous system, like Neurosonic’s Serene, a reclining chair which uses low-frequency vibrations to guide the body into a calmer state (£4,390). There’s also Yōjō, a non-invasive earpiece which uses gentle electrical pulses to incite the body’s natural rest-and-digest response (£399 for an annual subscription). But you don’t have to shell out on shiny products to activate the vagus nerve: deep breathing, tapping, chanting and cold water exposure can all offer similar effects.

Read Nonesuch by Francis Spufford

In 2016, award-winning non-fiction writer Francis Spufford turned into a novelist. His debut, Golden Hill (2016), won the Costa First Novel Award as well as three other book prizes. Its successor, Light Perpetual (2021), was longlisted for the Booker. And now he’s back with Nonesuch, a dazzling wartime fantasy centring on an ambitious woman tasked with conquering an occult plot by time-traveling fascists, all backdropped by the chaos of the London Blitz. Why fantasy? ‘I’ve been a devoted reader of fantasy since childhood, when the Chronicles of Narnia represented a kind of “essence of book” to me,’ Spufford told our book reviewer Belinda Bamber. ‘I love the way fantasy opens the space of possibility. There are some stories – some aspects of our shared world, wonderful and terrible – that only fantasy can do justice to. Reinventing the Blitz as a fantasy isn’t a way of taking the Blitz less seriously. It’s a way of bringing out something that was really there.’ Read the full interview here.

Going Out

Book a Greek island getaway

With its crystal-clear waters, charming tavernas and archaeological wonders, Crete is the quintessential Greek getaway you’ve been yearning for. But where to stay on the island? Enter Giannoulis Hotels & Resorts: a family-run collection of five beachside hotels and two villa properties with plenty to offer all types of traveller. Looking for a romantic couples destination? Head to adults-only hotel Giannoulis Grand Bay Beach Resort for poolside cocktails, leisurely lunches and strolls around the nearby village of Kolymbari. If you’re holidaying with an active family in tow, consider Giannoulis Cavo Spada Luxury Sports & Leisure Resort – home to a lagoon-style swimming pool, kids’ club and extensive sports facilities including tennis courts, beach volleyball and bicycles. If privacy is high on your agenda, book a stay at Giannoulis Ele Villas: two thoughtfully designed twin properties boasting unparalleled views of the Cretan Sea with space for up to six guests, featuring large verandas, swimming pools, landscaped gardens and private sunbeds on the beach. Find more Cretan travel inspiration here or book direct with giannoulishotels.com

See the Tracey Emin exhibition

Just opened at the Tate Modern is a landmark exhibition spanning 40 years of Tracey Emin’s provocative career. Titled A Second Life, the show will present Emin’s career-defining works (including her famous unmade bed) alongside never-before-exhibited material to celebrate her ongoing legacy of raw and confessional art. ‘It is hard to exaggerate not just how important an artist she is, but how much she has done for the arts in this country,’ writes former culture minister Ed Vaizey, who struck up an unlikely friendship with Emin after being seated next to her at an event. ‘She is a global brand for Britain, but closer to home she has invested hugely in her home town of Margate, building artists’ studios, a gallery, and supporting young artists.’ He adds: ‘Dame Tracey has only let me down once. She promised to make me a neon for my office when I became a minister. Instead, she gave one to David Cameron. She’s a smart cookie.’ 27 Feb – 31 August 2026, tate.org.uk

Join our reader event

Experience the design world through the lens of an editor. Join Carole Annett, C&TH’s interiors editor, for an exclusive tour of the Design Emporium Collective. This newly curated space on the Fifth Floor of the Design Centre is a haven for the curious shopper. With an ability to spot design treasures, discover pieces you won't find anywhere else and learn some fascinating stories behind their creation. 9 March, 2-2.45pm, book here

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Staying in Forever…

Property Of The Week

Dating back to 1674, this pastel pink Barbados estate has received many starry visitors over the years. Transformed from a home, to a Government House to, most recently, a gallery and events space, everybody from Prince Harry and Prince Edward to Helen Mirren and Cliff Richard has visited this slice of Caribbean paradise.

On the market for $1,595,000, onecaribbeanestates.com

Competition Time

1. Win a trip to Whatley Manor in the Cotswolds, including spa treatments

2. Win a Wodar boiling water tap worth £1,499

3. Win a five-night stay at Shandrani Beachcomber Resort & Spa, Mauritius

Psssst…

On the hunt for a new job? New Belgravia members’ club The Pembroke is looking for a butter sommelier, as spotted on an advertisement in Country Life Magazine and shared on LinkedIn. The candidate will be responsible for curating the club’s butter assortment – and, naturally, they’ll need a ‘deep love for and understanding of butter’ as well as ‘an encyclopedic knowledge of toast’.