Hennes & Mauritz and Brick Lane Bikes

This was solely intended as a joke referring to my perception that BLB over charge for second hand goods.

A lot of shops "overcharge" for 2nd hand goods. Its service. In the the base of BLB its part of their fashion concept.

Edward, I appreciate your sensitivity to the wider context. Perhaps a historic racial sentiment subliminally and inadvertently informed my choice of humour, in which case I apologise.

OK. Accepted.

And to the H&M line. At least from the photos, its hard to see what's special. Neither terribly hip nor functional. Zara had, I think, more fun looking "track/fixed bicycle themed" shirts, sweats and pants this year in their kiddie department. The materials and cuts, of course, were all wrong--- a lot of cotton, shirts were cut straight (rather than long in the rear), pants also cut straight etc.

H&M calls their stuff "sustainable" 'cause they use "organic cotton" for their shirts and pants and "recycled polyester" (recycled PET bottles) for their jackets. Cotton is, unfortunately, (and I won't start to talk about some of the sustainability issues that are posed even by organic rainfed cotton) ill-suited as its hydrophilic. soaking up water and sweat. A wet shirt combined with the wind from cycling is never a good combination. Wool and wool-mix would be the right combination but, of course, its more expensive.. and that's too where H&M enter into the non-sustainable mix, selling cheaper grade clothing by the bag full.. and those "recycled polyester" shell jackets.. probably coated and thus destined for a land fill..