Colin Firth To Open Eco-Friendly Shop In London

by Michael dEstries November 21, 2007
Categories: People
Tags: colin firth.

Actor Colin Firth is placing the final touches on a new green store in London imaginatively called “Eco”. Set to open next month, it will stock Fairtrade and ethical goods, as well as offering customers the services of environmental experts who can teach them how to make their homes greener. Kind of like a green Home Depot, but not really. From the article,

“I’m no eco hero’, said Firth. ‘I’m doing the shop because I think it’s a good idea. If I’m in a position to say anything, it is because I’m one of the culprits. I’m culpable because I’m a consumer. When you start to think about global warming, Western over-consumption, our energy wastage, it makes you want to improve the negative effects of your complicity in it.

‘The thing is, if you have been given the privileges we have, if you have this many perks, surely you can help out. Rather than being a luvvie with a lofty opinion preaching to people, I prefer to do things, to get involved, put my money where my mouth is and learn along the way.’”

For those of you wondering what a “luvvie” is (like me), here’s the definition: “A luvvie is a rather overexuberant thespian.” Your word of the day, compliments of Firth.

The new “Eco” store will be the actor’s third green business. He also has two ethical cafes in Covent Garden and Notting Hill. Awesome. Now go watch Love Actually. C’mon, you know you want to.

via the lovely femalefirst

About Michael dEstries

Michael has been blogging since 2005 on issues such as sustainability, renewable energy, philanthropy, and healthy living. He regularly contributes to a slew of publications, as well as consulting with companies looking to make an impact using the web and social media. He lives in Ithaca, NY with his family on an apple farm.

View all posts by Michael dEstries →

Barbara Derboven

Dear Colin, dear Livia, we went to visit your store on november 4 (opening day which was announced on internet) and we stood in front of a rather attractive construction site, having a big and joyful laugh. I hope that you launched your store very successfully. Next time in London I will again go to Chiswick to have a closer look.
Season greetings and a big success to your label,
best regards,
Barbara
MARIA TRIVYZA

I MUST CONGRATULATE YOU FOR THE IDEA BUT I MUST STRESS THAT YOU ARE NOT THE FIRST SUCH SHOP. WHEN VISITING GLASGOW, UK, IN THE FALL I SHOPPED AT ENTRADING, A FANTASTIC EFFORT ON ENVIRONMENT. THE SHOP IS RUN BY A DR. JAMES CURRAN AND HIS GREEK WIFE ARTEMIS WITH WHOM, MYSELF BEING ALSO GREEK, HAD A VERY INTERESTING DISCUSSION ABOUT THEIR EFFORTS FOR SUCH A LONG TIME NOW. I UNDERSTAND THAT WITHOUT ANY PUBLICITY OR ‘NAME’ TAGS, THEY ARE ACTUALLY OFFERING TIME AND MONEY TOWARDS THEIR LIFE-LONG GOAL, I.E. SAVING THE ENVIRONMENT. I THEREFORE CONSIDER IT IS NOT FAIR TO DISREGARD THAT AND ADVERTISE YOURSELVES AS THE FIRST, ETC. ETC.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Junko Mitani

Dear Ms. MARIA TRIVYZA,

I have a feeling that you love this Greek couple’s shop very, very much. Whether or not your also being Greek does not have to matter here, though. What is good is always good. I also do not believe Mr. Firth was intending to somehow take all the glory himself, or to somehow overshadow his predecessors. For all I know, he could have simply been unaware that he was not, in fact, the first in anything here. He is just someone who wanted to open up shop and see how it goes. Of course, in a long run, he can maybe look up to this couple and learn some lessons. Shopowners belonging to more or less the same line of work should stick together and help each other. It might improve them both in the end. Give Mr. Firth some credit. He could have opened up strip clubs or live houses or a pet store selling exotic animals from lands afar. Instead, he opened up this incredible Eco shop. Let’s cerebrate that fact, first.
MARIA TRIVYZA

THANKS FOR YOUR REPLY. I APPRECIATE TAKING THE TIME TO REPLY TO MY MESSAGE AND I ENJOYED YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR. BRAVO!

OF COURSE I CELEBRATE WITH YOU THE FACT OF THIS SHOP’S OPENING AND WISH MR. FIRTH ALL THE GOOD LUCK!!! MY ONLY COMMENT WAS ABOUT ADVERTISING AS “THE FIRST ECO-SHOP”. I WILL DEFINITELY DROP-BY ON MY NEXT LONDON VISIT.

REGARDS FROM ATHENS, GREECE…
http://www.mzuribeads.org Kirstie MacLean

Hi, please check us out, we are looking for markets, and help set up an online shop. We sell are a women’s group who sell fantastic Ugandan jewelry made from USED MAGAZINES!
Mzuribeads x
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http://www.LuxuryFairCraft.net Lukardis von Studnitz

eco and fair trade are important so anyone contributing to this is making a difference. my contribution is my on-line webshop http://www.LuxuryFairCraft.com I hope to open a show room in Germany soon and perhaps one day my products can also be sold at Colin Firth’s store in London and elsewhere
caroline

I expect the products will be out of the price range of us ordinary people – it is a shame that these places are being opened in such wealthy areas, a more mixed area like Islington would have lower rents and attract a more mixed clientele.
I expect that it is about assuaging the guilt of the 4WD owners, and the like, rather than any real move towards sustainable consumerism. I have no strong opinion on Firth doing it, I just suspect that it is about making money as much as being ‘eco’.
http://www.kandygs.lk Anuradha Yahampath

We are producers of handwoven all natural products (curtains, cushion covers, bed linen and table linen) from Sri Lanka. Our manufacturing process is ethical; We do not exploit the environment or our people who are involved in making.
If interested in meeting with us please contact
http://www.hfcontemporaryart.com Helga Fox

Delighted to hear Colin Firth is opening his new eco friendly store.

I am a retired teacher, now artists manager (albeit unpaid) of some of the finest young artists in the world. We have eco-friendly projects in the arts. Exhibiting currently in a group show and in January at the London Art Fair, Islington Business Centre and at Lauderdale House.

Perhaps Colin would be interested in finding great affordable art on our webpage http://www.hfcontemporaryart.com

With our best wishes,

Helga Fox and artists:
Christoph Schmidberger, LA
Richard Batty, London
Glory Charles, London/Antigua
Nicholas Socrates, Jersey/Barcelona
Helen Steele, Dublin
Hermann Nitsch, Vienna
Alessandro Rinaldi, Boulogna
Martino Caridi, Salerno
Vincenzo Balsamo, Rome
Paul Marks, London
Jens Reulecke, Berlin
a.o.
http://www.hfcontemporaryart.com Helga Fox

Please convey my above message to Colin Firth.

Thank you,

Helga Fox and artists
HF Contemporary Art
info@hfcontemporaryart.com
http://www.hfcontemporaryart.com
http://www.hfcontemporaryart.com Helga Fox

Thank you