The UK is in the grip of the coldest winter in years and in recent weeks heavy snowfalls have blanketed much of the country. Even London had about a foot of the white stuff last week – the heaviest snowfall in two decades – and there’s no sign of it warming up any time soon. Meanwhile, in North America, you’re set for another six weeks of winter – at least according to Punxsutawney Phil.

Why not rug up with one of these beautiful artisanal woolen scarves? The wool is sourced from Britain, the yarns are spun in a specialist wool mill in Cornwall and then woven by artisan weavers in Wales. The company, Blacker Designs, started in 1991 and uses traditional methods on a commercial scale.

From the website:

Wool and other natural fibres are sustainable, high performance raw materials providing warmth, insulation and comfort. We believe it is wrong to use oil-based or high energy alternatives, particularly when such a wonderful resource is finding it difficult to pay its way.

When good design is used, these fibres can be turned into classic, elegant and hard-wearing products that reward those who value and care for them. We believe in creating things to last.

The company recycles most of the waste it produces and tries to keep the remainder to a minimum. By buying British wool, they are supporting local farmers and thus helping to protect the UK countryside from encroaching urbanization.

The scarves come in three main yarns – alpaca, Shetland and Jacob wool with mohair – and some of the special edition scarves also contain Tussah silk (which means the silkworms are not killed). The company claims that all the scarves are soft to the skin and you can either go for natural greys and browns, or bright candy-colours instead. They also have a lovely range of throws and blankets – and knitting yarns for the craft enthusiast.

Stepney Green Park, London

Whether or not you’re planning a flight to a faraway land (carbon credited, of course), the Voyager Shawl offers a dose of the exotic. I can’t afford to “buy now” over at Travelocity, but I can at least imagine myself zipping along a charming coastal road on my Vespa – Positano, perhaps? – wrapped in the Voyager Shawl.

Useful as a wrap, shawl or coverup, you get even more in the case of this crafty and colorful version. The two pockets make it handy for the farmers’ market (holds the grocery list) and the reading nook alike (stows the glasses).

The subtle jacquard pattern and boho color combo pushes the Voyager to the verge of hippie, but there’s plenty of chic to keep it cool. It measures 83″L by 18″W, so wrap it around twice for extra warmth. You can find it at VivaTerra, on sale, for $118.

Back in August, we found a soft pillow that made a strong statement about caring for the earth, created with the universal recycling logo. It sat inside gently reminding family and friends to be mindful of such things as sorting trash, keeping your house at a moderate temperature, and buying local.

The iconic design is back and yours to wear all winter long so you can preach the same statement outside. Like the pillow, both gloves and scarves are made from leftover material collected from apparel and upholstery factories that would otherwise be, well, trash. One size fits most adults. Made in the USA. Scarf and mittens are each $20.

Legend has it there was a time when you could move through the fashion boutiques, Murano shops and cafes of San Marcos Square without battling monstrous crowds. Friends of mine even speak of walking right into the Duomo, right on in. No sweating a one-hour line.

But these days, the main island of the famous Grand Canal is as packed as Disneyland in July, heaving with tour groups fresh off cruise ships and trains, eager to look, but not to buy.

While the spastic market hasn’t exactly curbed travel to Venice, it has greatly affected spending. Cutting back is how we mend our broken economy and certainly in line with efforts to create a more sustainable green planet. But it spells disaster to vendors entirely dependent upon the tourist trade. And boy, are they steamed.

In one charming negozio I visited off the square, a weathered bleach-blonde Italian woman was holding her head in agony and sighing as visitors examined her delicate blown glass perfume bottles and animals.

“Is it all right to touch these?” I inquired, meekly, pawing an adorable mini glass fish bowl with itty-bitty glass goldfish.

“Please do, madam,” she replied. “Please, go ahead and break something. It’s the only way I’ll make some money today.”

I burst out laughing at her remark but the bizarre attitude I encountered in a fashion boutique called Pignaton wasn’t so funny. A brunette saleswoman in her late 20s shadowed me at a furious pace, refolding Missoni sweaters and scarves I had touched, muttering naughty Italian words under her breath, words I hadn’t learned in my San Francisco summer class.

“Look, I have to touch when I shop,” I explained to my shadow,  thinking an Italian, of all people, would get that shopping is a highly tactile experience.

After all, I had done plenty of heavy petting in the Furla stores of Rome and Florence before parting with euros for purple leather wallets, zipper-front gloves, patent clutch bags and ruffled scarves. In fact, I thought my mother and I had made quite a dent in Italy’s suffering economy with our hands-on approach to shopping.

“Sure, that’s what you Americans always say, but in Italy we don’t have to touch, we don’t have to touch, we aren’t like that,” she barked at me, red-faced.

Speaking of touched! I feared if I didn’t leave the shop immediately the hostile merchant might attack me with a Versace borsa. Guess she sized me up as one of those tourists who unfold but don’t buy. (Boy was she wrong. I even refold if you give me a minuto.)

Yet I have to sympathize with these merchants. They’re bombarded daily with internationals asking what items cost and seeking directions (the square is a virtual maze of alleys and crannies).

A darling woman named Liliana I met at a Murano glass factory told me she moved to Lido Island to escape the hordes and their incessant questions. Before that she had escaped Romania by coming to Venice to make money and be with all of the nice people.

While the euro to dollar exchange rate has improved to 1.35 (it was 1.60 last spring), the falling dollar has really hurt the Italian economy (see my earlier post on the Italian recession). The most visible bruises are in Venice where everything depends upon filling those gondolas tethered in the lagoon.

Before my recent  trip, I swore I would limit purchases to souvenirs for my kids because Italian prices are so darn high.  But I couldn’t resist the stunning accessories calling to me from store windows. When I returned home I found the items at Furla cost more here than in Italy and wished I had bought more. But clearly, I was one of the few toting shopping bags around the square.

A news report in PINR  warned the dramatic drop in consumer spending in Italy would add insult to the injury in other key fields where the country has lagged behind. These include scientific research, high-tech innovation and labor productivity.

According to the report, another disappointment is “the lack of strategy to reduce the country’s alarming energy dependence.”

All of it adds up to a crisis that could have retailers hanging permanent chiuso signs on their doors. While heavy hitters Gucci, Pucci and Armani might be able to withstand the drought (despite their outrageous, museum-like prices on goods), small vendors like Pignaton seem to be dying of thirst with no bottle of Brunello in sight.

I love using small accessories to create a look that is pulled together and chic. Something as simple as a scarf can elevate your style, add feminine charm, and is a cinch to do.

This organic scarf from Edun is made with love, but also sends a mindful message with script lyrics emblazoned across the eco-friendly fabric. 

With words written by Rainer Maria Rilke, one of the great modern lyricists of Germany, the scarf explains that objects are only that. This scarf a sweet reminder to focus on inner contentment instead of the thrill of acquiring ever more material possessions. The scarf is a timeless accessory, and this one will never go out of style. This scarf also makes a gift to cherish, as women of all ages can enjoy the message. $70 at Edun Online.

Image: Edun