I love it when couples are so gosh darn cute that you could vomit. Jamie and Doug (from Married at First Sight, for those of you who don’t know), Faith and Timmy, David and Victoria. What are their secrets? How is it possible they are so damn happy all the time? Unfortunately, none of their publicists got back to me. Luckily, the secrets of happy couples are very universal, and can be applied to anyone from Bangkok to Boston.

Happy harmonious relationships are not about fireworks and roses every day. After all, life isn’t an episode of The Bachelor. Relationships come with more ups and downs than a roller coaster sometimes, but if you focus on building your relationship every day, rather than just on the big occasions (birthdays, anniversaries, Valentine’s Day), you’ll have enough glue to stay together. Imagine a building made just of the main pillars with none of the filler material like concrete or walls. It would fall apart like a game of Jenga. (I’m really working on those analogies).

Even if you are in a happy relationship, it doesn’t hurt to keep use some of these tips to keep the home fires burning. After all it’s all the little things that count.

They’re Touchy-Feely
I’m not talking about swapping spit or making out at a bar (I actually saw this once). Think more holding hands and sliding your arm around their waist. It’s been said that this makes couples happier.

They Put Their Phones Away
I know it’s hard, but sometimes you have to stop checking your emails, Facebook and Instagram for five seconds so that you can actually connect. You know, like, with another human being and stuff. You can comment on each other’s posts at work, like everyone else.

They Say “I Love You” often than usual
An “I love you” once a day keeps the divorce lawyer away. At least, that’s what I always say. It’s not enough to assume your partner knows you love them. You’ve got to say it! Affection comes in many forms, and words are one of them.

They Sleep Together
No, you horn dog, I’m not talking about doing the deed (although that’s important, too). I’m talking about going to sleep together. Cuddling up next to the person you love is essential for bonding. It’s OK to stay up late some nights, but if you spend most of your evenings by the computer or the boob tube while your partner is sleeping, you’re killing your relationship softly.

They Communicate
Which means no nagging, nit-picking or otherwise being a pain in the arse. Couples with harmonious relationships talk to each other when they have beef. They don’t trade barbs. If you’re upset about something, don’t keep it in. You’ll just end up blowing like a pressure cooker.

They Have Shared Interests
He may not share your love of gardening and you may not understand his obsession with Monday Night Football, but you should share common interests and activities that are fun for the both of you — and make a routine out of them. For you guys, it could be walking dogs at the animal shelter. Or trivia. Or canning tomatoes.

They Say “Thank You”
It’s really the little things that make all the difference, and couples who thank each other show that they appreciate one another and value their relationship. It’s not just about being polite — saying “thank you” more can actually boost relationship happiness.

By : Chantal D.

By : Chantal D

Fashion World will have to produce fashion which can be appreciated and is sustainable because mare production should not become our goal

“Sustainability brands are products and services that are branded to signify a special added value in terms of environmental and social benefits to the customer and thus enable the differentiation from competitors” (Belz F., Peattie K. (2009) : Sustainability Marketing: A Global perspective. John Wiley & Sons.)

Sustainability and Fashion:

Sustainability is slightly different to just being green. It is the development of the consciousness towards the entire ecosystem in which exists. In our world of Fashion, we have seen the evolution of so many trends: right from the glittering Great Gatsby’s era in the 1920s which became further liberated by Coco Chanel, to the 1940s trend elevated by Katherine Hepburn in her masculine shirt and loose fitting trousers racing to the 1950s Pencil Skirt introduce by Christian Dior into the decade of the 1970s which saw experimentation and non-conformity. Fashion always speak the language of the political, social and cultural times of an era.

A wise saying goes “We do not inherit our Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children”. Today, this is our language and we need to raise our consciousness towards it. The trend towards development of cheap as well as fast fashion has seen dangerous trends towards causing massive environmentally destructive practices in the producing countries as well as economic enslavement of so many people. Whilst one may argue that it has given jobs to many across the globe, one cannot deny the fact of huge wastage caused across the producing countries as well as the receiving countries. This level of pollution directly and indirectly affects the health of all the living beings across the globe. We need to pause and think if it is worth to build great buildings and destroy our ability to source good clean drinking water.

Moving Towards Sustainable Fashion:

Producing more is no solution at all. With so many financial options available in today’s times, designing desirable products that lasts for long without contributing to the wastage that our precious Earth is facing and allowing people to contribute through their skills that sustains the art and culture of their place is the way forward. This is our language today and our Fashion Fraternity will speak this language. Of course one challenge is how do we bring this form of awareness to all those across the globe?

I fathom we take the age old approach of:

Storytelling: Let the design convey this story of sustenance and its importance. Design is used as a tool to convey such messages.

Encouraging art in all forms: Art in schools, colleges, should be re-enforced. Children should be brought out to the open and made aware of the fun in being one with nature.

Creating opportunities for us all to help in our neighbor activities: programmers such as Social service activities has to be highlighted in the news. It will allow children and parents who have something to contribute appreciate the village art and will increase potential sales of such art forms. Once they appreciate they become part of our fashion world since we have raised these awareness.

Magazines and other media should look out to cover such opportunities and present such activities to the world.

The world today needs to bring forth Sustainable Fashion to the front. With combined efforts of all stakeholders we can truly give back a wonderful world to our children.

By Michelle Alles

Tymeron Carvalho, or ‘Tymo’ as he is known amongst his friends, is every lady’s eye candy but sorry, he’s taken. Tymeron has been in a committed relationship with his partner, Andre Estefan for a very long time together, the two of them are just perfection.

Tymeron is no stranger to the world of fashion, having started his career at 16 years of age, when he appeared in his first TV commercial. Twelve years later, he has come a long way and amassed a tremendous amount of experience, not just by walking the ramp for many of Sri Lanka’s top designers, but by bagging the main title for Best Model of The World 2013 along with three mini titles, Mr Friendship, Best National Costume and Best Runway Model. In 2016, he won a special award for Asia’s Best Fashion Model at Fashion Asia awards and he was placed in the top 6 out of 39 countries at the Mr Supranational Asia 2018 pageant last year. Tymeron’s not one to rest on his laurels; as a creative and talented individual, his fashion evolution saw his designing outfits for Miss Universe Sri Lanka and Miss World Sri Lanka since 2012 and his breath-taking designs have wowed audiences on many a fashion ramp in Colombo.

Tymeron has recently been working on a few projects – some of which he can’t reveal yet – but that’s all the more reason to get curious and ‘stalk’ his social media for more details. He sat down with us to answer (and avoid!) some of our nosy questions.

What is the most important thing that you’d want people to know about you?

I would want people to know (and most people close to me already do! that I am disciplined, hardworking and persistent.

Did you have an early interest in fashion, or was it something that came later?

Yes, I had an interest in fashion from my childhood days. When I would draw pictures, I remember drawing only pictures of brides in their dresses and sarees. I would also dress up all my Virgin Mary statues with brocade fabric (I’m sure she didn’t mind it at all! and this passion for it kept, and will keep on growing.

What have you learned so far about being creative and an entrepreneur?

I have learned that I have to set my own timelines and own boundaries to excel in my creativity and be what I want myself to be. In addition, self-discipline provides inner strength and confidence which allows me to take decisions in a calm and composed manner.
Cont..

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