What I'd like to teach my child from the beginning

In collaboration with Der karierte Hund

Sustainable choice in the kitchen: knitted kitchen towel (gifted by Der karierte Hund)

Our son is three months old. Although I´m aware he doesn’t understand everything that is going on around him yet, I believe it´s never too early to start being a role model. I have never been keen on the whole ‘you have to do this and that’ approach, even during my previous teaching career. The method I prefer is a tender one. It is one where I keep in mind that my actions, as well as the way I speak, can influence my child’s behaviour. Of course, only time will tell if my beliefs are in line with my son’s, but I can do my best to set an example. I can guide and show him one way of living by sticking to my values. The proof is my own upbringing. Not everything I was taught back then is necessarily how I choose to live today, but there are certain things I do because I already noticed them in my childhood. There is one nursery run in particular that I will never forget. Our house was close to the nursery building, so it was easy to walk there. On the way we saw rubbish in the street. My mum explained that leaving rubbish out like that would harm the environment. It was just one comment, but it had a big impact on my future attitude towards recycling. That is why I think it is important to remember that what I say and do may potentially have the same effect on my son. No matter if it’s how I treat other people or myself, the way I express my beliefs and opinions, my appreciation for my surroundings or the way I consume. It all starts at home: my relationship with my husband and how we live our life. What I would like my son to see and learn is that we are kind and respectful towards each other. I would like him to remember that we stand up for equality, that we care about our environment and make sustainable choices. The thought of him growing up knowing that he can grow his own food, support farmers and local artisans as well as make choices that could lead to the environment being harmed less, comforts me. As I said, I don’t want him to know these things because I conditioned or forced him to believe them. I’d like him to be aware of his choices because he sees his parents living by their values, making their owns decisions.

Words: Katharina Geissler-Evans

Images: Benjamin & Katharina Geissler-Evans

Der karierte Hund is a German online shop that focuses on Scandinavian design and sustainable living. Their selection is carefully chosen based on how and where individual products are made.

Deutsche Version

Sustainable choices in the kitchen - knitted dish cloth, organic soap & hand lotion (all items gifted by Der karierte Hund)

I pay attention to what companies I support: The plaid and kelim cushion cover are from labels who make a positive difference. The elephant is made from 100% organic cotton (All items were gifted by Der karierte Hund)

I try to reduce rubbish by using an eco lunch box, a flask and fabric napkins (all items gifted by Der karierte Hund)

What we need more of: a sustainble fashion directory

More This. Less That. is a curated directory aiming to make people aware of brands that make a positive difference. I had the chance to speak to the founders, Katherine and Rachel.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do.

Hi! We’re Katherine and Rachael, the founders of More This. Less That. a curated ethical directory that seeks to unite people with brands that care. We met the modern way (via Instagram) and bonded over a shared passion for slower, more ethical and sustainable living. We both currently live in London, working in digital marketing and social media.

When did you decide to launch ‘More This.Less That’ and why?

Together and individually, we started to come across a lot of independent and ethical businesses both on and offline that we felt deserved to have their story heard by a wider audience. We wanted to set up More This. Less That. so that we could bring all of these brands together, making it easier for consumers to find and support them. We had the idea back in 2017 but as both of us have full-time jobs it took a while to get it off the ground. But, the long wait and the setbacks definitely made the end result all the more worthwhile! And, completely unintentionally, it feels like we’ve managed to launch at a really relevant time - the discussion around shopping and living more ethically really seems to have hit the mainstream in the past few weeks, which is great to see.

What are your favourite brands on ‘More This.Less That’ and why?

It’s so hard to pick favourites, we really love them all, which is why we chose to include them. A few good favourites for cosying up at home would be Essence & Alchemy who make beautiful natural and refillable candles from British rapeseed wax, a cosy woolen jumper from Babaa Knitwear, and linen blankets and throws from Luks Linen. For those who enjoy embracing the wild British weather, Finisterre are great for outdoor kits as well as inspirational stories.

How do you source new brands?

The brands we launched with were all ones that we’d found on Instagram or heard of through word of mouth. It’s important to us that people know the brands on the site are curated by us, and that we only include brands who we feel provide enough information about their ethical practices. As we grow we’re really keen to hear about new brands from both customers and owners alike, and to get a real conversation going within our growing community.

What benefits do you see in ethical living?

Asking where our things come from encourages us to consider what we’re buying and to appreciate what we have. We live in a fast-paced world of constant communication, real-time content and next-day delivery, and we’ve been conditioned into always wanting what’s new and wanting it now. By putting more thought into what we’re buying, it encourages us to slow down and takes us away from this endless spending cycle. Switching off and immersing ourselves in nature compliments this, we’re big fans of getting outdoors as much as possible. Ethical living isn’t just better for the planet it’s better for our personal health too.

What would you recommend to someone who would like to start living a more ethical life?

Not to feel overwhelmed but to make small changes wherever you can. We really believe that we vote with our pound so buying less and buying better, but also supporting local businesses when you can, switching to an environmentally friendly energy supplier, buying food that isn’t wrapped in plastic wherever possible, taking public transport. And start those necessary conversations to encourage friends and family - sometimes those close to us are the hardest to convince of change.

What’s next for ‘More This.Less That’?

Growing the directory! Keep an eye out as we’ll be adding some great new brands every month. We’ve also got some bigger projects in mind for the new year that we’re excited to work on. We don’t want the site to just be a shopping portal. We want to create a platform that fuels connections that are deeper and more meaningful than the current ‘business to consumer’ relationship.

Where can people find you?

We’re most active on Instagram but you can also find us on Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook.

How would the two of you describe a perfect heiter (cheerful) moment?

Rachael: A bright and blustery walk followed by a cosy evening with candles, wine and a big bowl of pasta.

Katherine: Swimming in the sea, no matter the weather, followed by a hot coffee and pastry to warm up.

Image: More This. Less That.

Interview: Katharina Geissler-Evans, heiter magazine