Wretched Excess Dept: Sting's Christmas Hamper
by Bonnie Alter, London on 12.20.07
It's the rock and roll establishment's gift of choice: a wicker Christmas hamper filled with products from Sting's personal organic farm in Wiltshire. There are only one hundred of them, with products lovingly chosen by his wife, Trudie Styler, and they are flying off the shelves. For £140 ($300US) each hamper contains organic christmas cake, blackcurrant jam, raspberry jam, gooseberry mint and sage jelly, beetroot chutney and a chocolate coin. There is also a bottle of champagne, cassis, and some candles. Styler has been running an organic farm for 15 years, and is delighted with the success of the venture. She says, "I've always been a big advocate of local shopping and what could be more local than your own backyard?" (read country estate with staff to match).
Who wants them? Everyone--Sharon Osbourne took away "a number", and record executives have snapped them up to give as presents to Katie Melua, amongst others.
Of course, this is small potatoes compared to the ultimate christmas hamper for $53,576 at Fortnum & Mason. It will be delivered by horse and cart and contains goodies including a tin of Beluga caviar, enough foie gras for 25 people, 3 precious bottles of wine and two pairs of cashmere socks in pink and grey. :: Evening Standard
The farm is located in Wiltshire, not Champagne. Therefore Champagne cannot be produced from grape's grown on Sting's farm. I am also shocked that cocoa beans grow in England, but perhaps they do.
Generally your "Wretched Excess" articles are jaw-dropping, and there is some crime against humanity being created that is fundamentally wrong.
Would you help me to understand what is wrong with a celebrity making baskets of goods he grew himself and is selling to other rich people? I would agree its foolish, but wretched? I should hope that if I ever possess a fraction of their wealth that I could buy a gift basket without getting the evil eye.
I agree with Esmaeil,
If the eco-elite wish to grow and sell to their friends, as long as it harm none, where's the problem?
How is this any different than artist/designers selling to rich people products they make themselves?
Now, if Sting had a legion of foreign slaves creating these baskets in mass quantities to ship overseas to Targets and Walmarts everywhere....then I'd complain.
I agree with Esmaeil,
If the eco-elite wish to grow and sell to their friends, as long as it harm none, where's the problem?
How is this any different than artist/designers selling to rich people products they make themselves?
Now, if Sting had a legion of foreign slaves creating these baskets in mass quantities to ship overseas to Targets and Walmarts everywhere....then I'd complain.
What is "wreched" about this?
Actually, champagne, when not capitalized, generally just refers to sparkling wine. When it is capitalized it refers to sparkling wine from the region of Champagne. It might not be completely correct, but it's been accepted through use.
And you know what? If Sting and Trudie bring more awareness to the importance of eating locally grown foods, more power to them. And I really doubt they're pocketing the proceeds--that's pocket change to them. More likely it's going to a charity, so, even better. Not wretched.