As the lockdown continues, there’s plenty of activity going on within The Royal Exchange’s community of brands and boutiques this month, designed to keep your imagination alive and spirits lifted. From classes, tutorials and performances – live streamed directly into your living room – to stories about innovation and craftsmanship as well as luxury treats for you and your home, let us help you fill the month of May with things to look forward to.

FUTURE/CRAFT

Our Future/Craft campaign continues into May with a series of inspiring long-read stories that explore the innovative attitudes that keep The Royal Exchange brands at the top of their game. Read about Bremont’s journey to revive the British watchmaking industry here, and how Boodles is constantly pushing the boundaries of design to create ever-more marvellous pieces of jewellery here. We’re also excited to reveal the second artwork in our specially commissioned series of 3D illustrations by digital artists XK Studio, which explores the theme of modern luxury. Follow the series on Instagram @theroyalexchange #XKxTRE

GET VIRTUAL

As we’ve all adapted to our home-based bubbles, the versatility of virtual activities has become increasingly apparent. Any initial concerns about boredom have been swiftly replaced with packed schedules of online social gatherings, classes and events that have left us spoiled for choice. Whether you are looking to improve your wellbeing, develop new knowledge or enjoy a little escapism, The Royal Exchange retailers have an enticing array of virtual events for you to take part in.

If you need a little guidance to improve your work-life balance then why not join one of Bamford’s wellbeing sessions. With a full timetable of daily classes, you can enjoy a variety of yoga practices, power pilates, breathwork and holistic healing classes, at various times throughout the day. Each session lasts for one hour and costs £9. Bolster your wellbeing programme with a full day virtual wellness retreat on Saturday 9th May. The programme costs £25 and will take place from 9am to 4pm, with breaks for tea and lunch. Bamford’s team of wellness practitioners will take you on restorative journey to encourage strength, energy, nourishment and peace. For further information and to book a place for any of the sessions visit bamford.com.

For anyone missing the thrill of seeing a live band play, Mulberry’s My Local series is continuing its programme of Instagram Live digital gigs, which also features DJ sets and live cooking tutorials. These live streamed events are free to all, but Mulberry is asking audiences to consider making a donation to the Mulberry Coronavirus Appeal, in support of the National Emergencies Trust. So far the appeal has raised more than £75,000 for the local support groups and UK charities supported by the trust. To see the programme of upcoming My Local events visit mulberry.com.

Tiffany & Co. has launched a new Instagram Live series called T Time, which will take place every Thursday at 8.30pm GMT (3.30pm EST). Friends of the iconic jewellery house will take over the brand’s instagram to talk, teach, tell stories and answer questions. To find out who’ll be hosting this week’s session, and to take part, simply follow @tiffanyandco on the app.

Photography professionals and enthusiasts alike will discover new skills by taking part in a Leica Akademie session. From free webinars to bespoke personal tuition, take time to improve your artistic and technical capabilities. To the view the full programme and book a place visit store.leica-camera.com.

For an indulgent treat, take part in a private virtual chocolate tasting hosted by Rococo Chocolates. The artisan chocolatiers will send a selection of confectionery to your home and then, at a time that suits you, Rococo’s head chocolatier will talk you through the selection during a video call that will help you to discover the full flavour profile within each piece. The experience can also be arranged to include friends and family members based at different households. To enquire about organising a private tasting, email experiences@rococochocolates.com

With our homes becoming our sanctuary more than ever before, now is a good time to revive your interiors with some new home decor. A simple way to breathe new life into familiar spaces is with some new artwork, and Castle Fine Art can help you to select the perfect piece to complement your home and personality. Enjoy a private viewing with a Castle Fine Art consultant via FaceTime or Skype, who will then handpick recommendations to meet your tastes and preferences. Register your interest for this service by visiting castlefineart.com.

THE POWER OF SCENT

Able to calm, sooth, revitalise, invigorate and energise, fragrance has the power to influence our mood and evoke the ambience of other times and places. A new limited-edition collection from Jo Malone London will bring the uplifting scents of spring blooms into your home with two new colognes – Yuja and Waterlily – introduced to the brand’s beloved blossoms collection: Silk Blossom, Osmanthus Blossom and Orange Blossom, with the latter also available as a special edition home candle and diffuser. jomalone.com

Bamford also expands its home fragrance offering this month, with new Willow Diffusers, available accompanied by Fig Leaf, Rosemary or Incense scented essential oils. The sustainably sourced willow reeds rest elegantly in an apothecary style bottle that will make a beautiful edition to your home, as well as imbuing it with the fragrance of your choosing. bamford.com

HELP FOR HEROES

British watchmakers Bremont has released a special edition bracelet to raise funds for Food4Heroes, which delivers locally made fresh, healthy and nutritious food to NHS workers. The initiative not only helps to keep NHS staff healthy and sustained, it is also helping to keep chefs, catering companies and restaurants around the country trading. The Bremont Food4Heroes bracelet costs £35, with 100 per cent of profits donated to the initiative. Add your support to the cause by purchasing one for yourself or as a gift for another. bremont.com

In addition to its Coronavirus Appeal initiatives to raise funds for the National Emergencies Trust, Mulberry has been producing reusable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust. The gowns are being made from a fluid-resistant, washable material that is inline with government-issued guidelines, and enables them to be laundered and reused safely, multiple times. The brand aims to produce more than 8,000 gowns at its Somerset factories in the coming weeks. Mulberry is also supplying large quantities of fabric, pre-cut to pattern, to its local ‘Scrub Hub’ in Bristol, where community volunteers stitch the pieces together to make scrubs for NHS staff.

THAT’S A WRAP

Hermès iconic silk scarves come in so many colours and patterns that it can be hard to choose. Now, a new technical innovation has enabled a different version of the same design to be printed on each side of the same scarf, meaning you get two looks for the price of one. The Hermès Double Face Scarf 90 is crafted from lightweight, 100 per cent silk and four different designs are available, offering a stylish way to keep yourself covered and protected while out and about. hermes.com

Keep up to date with news and special online offers from The Royal Exchange retailers by following us on Instagram @theroyalexchange and Twitter @rexshopper