KulaMag Issue Three

Issue #3

LIFESTYLE & SUSTAINABILITY

BRIGHTON’S GOT TALENT

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S N O T H G I R B #

T N E L A T T O G S

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Welcome back to KulaMag and the third edition of inspiring stimulation to your prefrontal cortex, bringing you a fresh and positive perspective on the world through art, food and direct engagement with people making a difference. While everyone else in media is losing their shit, we’re getting busy with local talent and businesses in and around Brighton. To practice what we preach we’ve handed the editor role over to one of our newest recruits, Sharna Waid, who is previewing her soon to be released publication Eggplant within these pages.

This special takeover will feature a preview of the conversations had between Eggplant and a range of talented trailblazers who have a common passion for creating positive social and environmental change.

Hear stories from Loop Loop, Liv & Dom, Bahookie Wear, Artbox Cafe, A Tribe Called Veg, and more.

In addition we have a visual overload of talented local artists this month alongside highlighting some fantastic ethical businesses including Slake Spirits, Old Tree Brewery and Slow Garments. Also look out for the fantastically talented and engaging Natalie Gumede, a mouth-watering photo-shoot with Luisa Christie around Brighton and some amazing musical talent from Noisy and others.

For the record, we are an entirely not-for-profit organisation with every penny raised going into promoting those doing things ethically and well, while highlighting those that choose to do otherwise and encouraging them to change. If what we do strikes a chord you can make a donation on our website, we have no shareholders so every penny goes into production.

Never afraid of calling out corruption, greed and incompetence right up to and including No10 Downing Street, we’re building a collective of likeminded individuals and businesses to promote change and help stem the destruction of our environment for future generations.

Our team is rapidly expanding with new, enthusiastic talent but we’re always on the lookout for fresh perspective, great stories or content, so please get involved and join us on the journey to effect real change. If you love what we do please visit our website for further content, future plans and access to our shop, where featured art and limited prints can be purchased with the proceeds shared with the artists along with printed copies of our magazine.

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Follow us on Social Media for news, events, takeovers and fresh content and stay in touch/subscribe for really big upcoming announcements regarding our latest exciting projects, KulaTV and KulaHeros.

Stay safe, stay positive and keep looking forward. Later x

mark Avery Founder of Kula mag

THE TEAM

WELCOME TO KULA MAG!

_ Mark Avery Editor _ Sharna Waid Guest Editor _ Christina Andrews Editor & Graphic Design _ Bryony Cottam Content Creation

Get Involved: info@kulamag.com www.kulamag.com @kula_mag

_ Charlotte Lillington Social Media _ Libby Wells Content Creation _ Sara Gennat Graphic Design _ Claire Johnson Graphic Design

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CONTRIBUTORS: _ J Taylor _ Laura Backeberg _ Tula Parker ­ _ Rachel Underwood _ Clare Maria Wood _ Ellamae Stratham _ Loop Loop _ Liv & Dom _ Horace Art _ Nik The Brush _ Ben Gore _ Rat Betty _ Bahookie Wear _ Slow Garments _ Ayten Gasson _ Noisy _ The Go! Team _ Mike Dicks _ Fez Sibande _ Natalie Gumede _ Canna Queen _ Luisa Christie _ The Real Junk Food Project _ Artbox _ Compost Club _ Slake Spirits _ A Tribe Called Veg _ Chiara Siatra

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AUGUST 2020 — ­ CONTENTS Brightons got talent......................................................................2 Editorial............................................................................................4 The team............................................................................................5 Contents............................................................................................6 Call to Arms.....................................................................................8 State Of The Art-ist.......................................................................10 Ellamae Statham..........................................................................12 Loop Loop.........................................................................................14 Liv&Dom............................................................................................16 Worthing Mural ‘Back In The Game’............................................18 Nik The Brush...................................................................................19 Ben GorE...........................................................................................20 Rat Betty.........................................................................................24 Bahookie Wear................................................................................26 Slow Garments..............................................................................27 Ayten Gasson..................................................................................28 Noisy.................................................................................................30 The Go! Team....................................................................................32 Follow The Money..........................................................................35 The Forgotten 3 Million...............................................................38 Anti-Racist Environmentalism...................................................40 Natalie Gumede..............................................................................44 ‘Qwabe’ by Natalie Gumede..........................................................47 ‘March On Racism’ by Natalie Gumede........................................47 Canna Queen....................................................................................48 Luisa-Christie’s ‘Pick of the best’ Vegan Food Spots...............50 The Real Junk Food Project........................................................52 Old Tree Brewery’s Compost Club.............................................54 Artbox.............................................................................................56 slake spirits...................................................................................58 A Tribe Called Veg..........................................................................60 Chiara Siatta Pastry Chef............................................................61 Seitan In Satay Sauce....................................................................64 Savoury Muffins............................................................................65 Coffee & Walnut Cake....................................................................66 Cantucci...........................................................................................67 Slake Gin Fitz...................................................................................68 Bee’s Knees Cocktail......................................................................69 Kula Heroes.....................................................................................70

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Photo by @brighton.streets

Call to Arms Welcome to edition three of Kula Mag, which is all about local talent. I’m Sharna, the editor of Eggplant, a new zine in town (created from a ‘Lockdown passion project’) that promotes remarkable individuals and businesses doing remarkable things for the planet.

I’m extremely proud to be involved in this special takeover because Kula and I have a shared passion and that is shining a light on the immense dedication, ethics, talent and creativity that makes Brighton such a wonderful place to call home.

We hope the stories and visuals within these pages not only inspire, but show what can be achieved when we collaborate and lift each other up, especially in turbulent times. So with that being said, if you would like to get involved in any future issues, please do get in touch because we’re ready to disrupt, inspire change, and expand the Kula family in Brighton and beyond.

SEE YOU SOON

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Get Involved: info@kulamag.com www.kulamag.com @kula_mag

BE PART OF THE

MOVEMENT

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LAURA BACKEBERG Laura Backeberg moved to Brighton to study about seven years ago and never left.

“There are so many creative people here, and art classes and clubs to join.”

She has experimented with printmaking, painting, sculpture and event decoration.

“The city itself is a great inspiration: I love how nature, the countryside, the sea and the jumble of the city, with its graffiti and noise, all come together.” She used to feel torn between traditional and digital mediums but has recently embraced her favourite parts of each. @laura_backeberg

RACHEL UNDERWOOD

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Self-taught artist from Brighton, Rachel Underwood has dabbled in a range of artforms from silversmithing and headwear to watercolour painting and lino printing. In 2019, one of her crystal bridal crowns was featured in the best-selling book ‘Rock n Roll Bride: The Ultimate Guide for Alternative Brides’ by Kat Williams (published by Ryland, Peters & Small).

Her blog, yourownbeautifullife.com, is dedicated to helping people to become strong and positive whilst living with anxiety, through a mixture of her drawings and writing. Her current painting style is dreamy and abstract, using watercolour techniques and inks. Her latest collection of work was used as the backdrop to a bridal shoot and will be published by Rock n Roll Bride magazine in September.

Rachel’s inspirations include storm clouds, lightening, galaxies, nebulas and ocean waves.

You can buy her art though her Instagram page @your.own.beautiful.life or via her Etsy shop etsy.com/uk/shop/YourOwnBeautifulLife.

TULA PARKER

Tula Parker started drawing on a trip to Tanzania in 1997, as a way to capture the people she met, and learn their names.

It has been quite a meandering journey for her since then; DJing, teaching yoga, a daughter, an Art foundation, a bit of an Art degree, and a film that played at the Tate Britain and the Brighton Museum.

She draws people, and is interested in ambiguity. ‘What you see, what it means, what you assume, and what might, might not be going on…’ She loves lines, and often draws without looking at the paper as a way to abstract the image. ‘I like pushing a continuous line as far as it will go, and the space I leave is as important as what I draw.’

She also works in watercolour and a mix of media. This work is more fluid and suggestive, and the beauty of fashion illustration is a big influence, alongside music, dancing and cinema.

Her work is currently showing at The Conclave Gallery in Brighton. @tulaparker.artist / @tulaparker.yoga

Clare Maria Wood creates semi-abstract paintings inspired by the transient nature of light throughout the seasons.

She moved to Hove a couple of years ago and walks along to coast daily with her dog, Poppy. Clare exhibits around the UK and has been active in the Artist Support Pledge on Instagram. During lockdown Clare created a body of work inspired by the notion of ‘Hope’. Clare says ‘Although my life hasn’t changed dramatically during lockdown I have been moved by the compassion and support of my local community. My latest series “Hope’ is about marking this moment, for as artists that is what we can do; watch, listen and respond so that we remember.

Clare is about to launch her latest collection for Artist Support Pledge via Instagram and on her website in the next few days. In November Clare will host her first Artist Open House in Hove. She is also showing her quirky prints in a group collagraph exhibition at Leeds Craft And Design Gallery and you can see her paintings at Linton 59 in Cambridge and Bils & Rye in Harrogate. @clare.m.wood_painting

STATHA

Eggplant’s cover artist Ellamae Statham is best known for her bright and eclectic concepts that are full of colour and magic. Ellamae takes inspiration from people and the planet - interweaving themes of the climate crisis, identity, female empowerment, and mental health. Find out more about the artist in this special Eggplant takeover: Where do you get your inspiration from?

It depends on what concept I’m working with but I get inspiration from pinterest, instagram and even TV shows. My biggest inspiration however usually stems from my own experiences, thoughts and emotions and the conversations I have with friends about selfdoubt, the environment and how we should treat ourselves. I like to create work that is inspiring and empowering and draws people into another world. I love creating scenes that are full of colour and magic.

I also take inspiration from nature, plants, flowers, the universe and whimsical characters in fairy tales - but also just everyday people, particularly women.

Why do you think it’s important to use art as a form of activism?

All different artists have different styles and different opinions. One piece might grab someone’s attention more than another. So if it’s a collective of people with different types of art work, it will reach out to people in

different ways. When something is written or someone is speaking on the TV about an important issue, it can be quite overwhelming and so some people don’t necessarily connect with it. But art can connect with people on such a deeper level. That’s why I do it, it actually motivates me to learn more because I teach myself more about climate issues when I set myself a project. There’s still so much more I want to learn and do for the environment though.

As well as environment activist art, what else does your art represent?

As well as environmental activist work, my feminist activism comes from promoting self love.

We do live in a patriarchal society and there is so much that needs to change, and so it’s so important for women to look out for each other, which is why I create a lot of female empowerment illustrations. We get a lot of conflicting messages, but in the end of it, if you truly love yourself the way you are, we have the potential to do so much.

My ‘Look after our home - Mother Nature’ illustration is one of my most popular pieces, probably because it’s a simpler way of showing a contemporary woman loving the planet (nurturing it with one of the biggest representations of love - a hug). I chose a woman in the illustration again because I think on some level the climate crisis is a feminist issue. So If we stand up for climate justice, we stand up for women too. That’s why I think my work represents both - together and separately.

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“ But art can connect with people on such a deeper level.

That’s why I do it, it actually motivates me to learn more because I teach myself more about climate issues when I set myself a project.”

What are your plans for the rest of the year?

I want to carry on producing work that inspires and impacts people in a positive way. I want to build my instagram following, carry on with private commissions and hopefully become a full time illustrator in Brighton. @ellamaestatham www.ellamaestatham.com

With a love for permaculture and the environment, Brighton local Sophie Bresnahan started up Loop Loop - providing hand painted plantable wildflower cards for every occasion. Now with a strong range under her belt and stockists all over the country, the genius concept and unique designs are winning the hearts of eco gift-givers everywhere. Eggplant caught up with Sophie to find out more about her inspirations and future plans for the brand.

What inspired you to start Loop Loop?

Like most twenty-somethings, I spent a number of years trying to figure out what I really wanted to do with my life. I tried loads of different things, and even tried to live in London for a bit, but it was a very anxiety filled place for me. To break the 9-5 cycle, I decided to go travelling to Asia, South America and Australia. It was during this time that I started to notice the state the world was in, in terms of pollution and climate change. For a while I also stayed in Portugal on an organic farm, because I thought the world needed more farmers, and it was here that I realised all I wanted to do was make things in a sustainable way - and maintain that guilt free feeling of being on the farm. The big thing that shifted my perception was staying on a permaculture research institute in Australia where I first learnt about closed loop systems and its benefits to sustainability. It was also in Australia that I first learnt about the possibilities of working with seeded paper.

“Businesses are not run how they should be. Currently, for many

organisations, profit is the most important thing. They should run with a triple bottom line which takes into consideration people, profit and planet. And that is the b-corporation model that I think every business should attire to in 2020. So it was really important for me to do that when starting Loop Loop.”

What was a breakthrough moment for you starting up the brand?

My breakthrough moment for me was right at the beginning when I realised I could print on seeded paper. There was a lot of trial and error, like trying to find the right printer. So when it finally worked, it felt amazing. Although it was early on, It was such a positive moment. Also the first shop I sold my cards to - which was Harriets of Hove - was a pivotal moment in the business.

What have been the benefits of starting a sustainable business?

One of the benefits is meeting lovely people - as you don’t really get arseholes in this industry.

Generally it’s a lot of amazing women doing wonderful things

for the planet, which I’m so glad to be a part of. I also get to do something I love everyday, which is painting with watercolours, liaising with retailers and interacting with my amazing customers on social media.

What are the future plans for Loop Loop?

Creating cards was only meant to be the start of the product range but they have been so successful that I haven’t had time to focus on anything else. But I’m really keen to branch into new materials and products overall - obviously keeping with the ethos of looping old materials into something new.

So watch this space!

@think_looplop www.looploop.co.uk

“ For a while I also stayed in Portugal on an organic farm, because I thought the world needed more farmers, and it was here that I realised all I wanted to do was make things in a sustainable way - and maintain that guilt free feeling of being on the farm.�

Photograph by @annastarmer

Can you tell us more about the sustainability side to the business?

Sustainability has always been something we’ve had in the back of our minds, I think when we were starting out we were more focused on just getting the business to work at all rather than the sustainability of it. Having a very small business makes keeping it sustainable a lot easier.

Only in the past couple of years have we had the time to think about it and the means to execute it. The making process itself is fairly sustainable, we have a small kiln that we always fill right to the brim to conserve as much energy as possible. We’ve also started recycling clay - we were admittedly a bit late to the party with this (before we were lazy and threw away dry clay...for shame!).

Why in your opinion is it important to support a circular economy and upcycled products?

The amount of new stuff, often badly made in the world always blows our minds, it’s disgusting and unnecessary. Shopping second-hand is really satisfying and it’s something most can afford to do with charity shops and eBay. We’re aware that it can be a luxury for the middle/ upper classes to be able to support some eco friendly businesses, like specially curated vintage shops for example.

Identical twins, ceramicists, and illustrators Liv and Dom have taken Instagram by storm with their contemporary naked lady incense holders, candlesticks, prints and jewellery. With their passion for second hand furniture and sustainability, this creative Lewes based duo tells us more about the inspiration behind their unique upcycled lamps.

But I think if you can afford to, you really should not be over-buying anything new! The more we support sustainable ventures, the more others will follow suit and more sustainable businesses will pop up. Over time they’ll become less niche and hopefully more affordable, slowly making them more accessible for all.

What inspired you to start designing on upcycled lamps?

Visiting Charleston house a few years ago, seeing the bold creativity and thriftiness in action all over the house is what first got us interested in the idea of painting furniture. Liv painted a couple of things for our house but we were too busy frantically trying to make our ceramics practice successful to really get into it. The first lampshade we sold on our website was bought in a local charity shop, originally intended for Liv’s bedroom but the reception it received on Instagram surprised us and we haven’t looked back, It’s become a big part of our work now. We buy almost all our furniture second hand and there are so many lampshades out there waiting to be transformed.

What has been highlight so far?

a

business

When we moved into our house in Lewes with a studio and bought our first kiln (we actually tried to buy a

second hand one for economical reasons, but it was a bit of a disaster).

Another highlight would have to be our week residency in the gorgeous boutique hotel Cass Mae in Portugal!

We hadn't been on holiday abroad for years so it was especially lovely. Other highlights have been collaborating with Whistles/Trekstock on some charity tees, and the Netflix TV series, Sex Education.

Do you have any future plans for the brand?

This is difficult, we're not really planners beyond the next few months. I think our business as it is now works perfectly for us and we don't have many plans to change it beyond just making new pieces each month. We're going to be working on a furniture upcycling project with a close friend/fellow artist soon which we're looking forward to!

Obviously growing the brand into something bigger is in the back of our minds but we have no desire to turn it into a big company with lots of employees making heaps of money, even if it remains sustainable. @livanddom www.livanddom.com

Written by Bryony Cottam

Just a few weeks ago, a huge streetlong mural appeared on Worthing’s Portland Road. It’s a road described

by Andy Sparsis, who owns the local Fat Greek Taverna, as being neglected and used only for delivery trucks and parking, despite being in the centre of town.

So when the council closed the road to cars to aid social distancing, Andy (supported by the council and Time for Worthing) commissioned a new artwork by local artist Horace that he hoped would lift the spirits of the community. The mural, which reads “Back in the Game” has since breathed new life into the street attracting other creatives as well as the curious public.

With the project now attracting attention from the Guinness Book of Records for its claim as the biggest in the UK, we caught up with Horace and Andy to ask how they made it.

What led to the creation of the mural?

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Andy: In a way, the reason we’ve made it is to be provocational, it’s to say, “it’s on! We’re claiming this area!” So that’s what it’s about; being loud and saying this is a public area, it doesn’t belong to cars, it doesn’t belong to businesses, it belongs to the public. And the best way to do that is by making a 40ft mural that’s in your face.

Horace: Yeah, I got a message from Andy saying: Portland Road’s closed, do you want to paint it? I said: Yeah, but good luck getting permission from the council, you’ve no chance of that! But Andy knows the right people. And I was happy to get on board - it’s not very often someone asks you to paint a whole road!

The finished street mural is 50m long. What was the process for making a piece of art of this size?

Horace: We started it at night, it’s a lot easier to work in the evenings. It’s really difficult to say how many hours it took because we had different amounts of people working on it at different times. But it was a lot of work.

What’s the appeal of using graffiti to promote positive change?

Horace: I think street art has got a lot of potential, more than other art forms, to send a message. Not all graffiti has one, but I think it’s good if it’s got some sort of a message.

Even if it’s just trying to cheer you up a bit, however small it is. I think that, because of its accessibility and because it’s edgier, it’s just one of the only really exciting forms of art.

What has been the reaction from the public?

Andy: The response from the public has been huge. It’s attracted all sorts of groups, from a dance academy to local people that have got their own blogs. And they’re just really proud, I’ve actually been shocked how much art and culture has created a sense of pride in the people who live in the town.

And what’s happened now is that Worthing Borough Council have turned round and said it’s never going to be a road again, it’s now a public area. And that’s down to lobbying from us and, of course, the street art.

What exciting projects do you have coming up?

Horace: I’ve got a big project coming out in Worthing quite soon - doing some work with an NHS charity to paint a mural in the hospital.

Andy: We’re also looking at running a Worthing street art festival, sometime around February - March, and just keep things going around here. Because people have realised they actually enjoy this kind of art and this kind of culture, and there’s now the space for it. @horace_art Funded by Andy Sparsis Proto Restaurant Group

@brightonsnapper

NIK THE

Written by Bryony Cottam

Open your eyes on an average British highstreet and just try to guess where you are. It’s hard; you could be on any number of cookie-cutter streets full of giant multinational chain shops. Or, worse, rows of betting shops and bingo halls - sign of the slow death of town centres.

Nik is a sign painter. It’s a skilled craft, with a long history, which uses techniques like gold leafing, or inlaying mother of pearl. Although he specialises in glass work, he often works with just a brush and a mahl stick, and has created some of the most iconic shop fronts in the city.

To find out more about sign painting, the Kula team visited Nik's studio at the Phoenix art centre in Brighton. It looks just how you'd want an artist's studio to look: tins streaked with paint precariously stacked on every surface and little glimpses of works-in-progress hidden among the tools and the paint rollers. Nik pulls out a striking blue and gold leaf sign, painted onto square glass upcycled from a TV cabinet, saying that he likes to salvage materials to turn into art.

Sometimes he makes the tools he needs too, and he shows us a tall, heavy duty peg board - used like an easel - that would look at home in a bouldering gym. He describes his work as “bold and bright and ‘KAPOW’” and says his favourite and most bling-est piece is a recently made, 3 metre long sign on jewel-coloured gilded glass, with mother of pearl and gold filigree - done for Skin Candy Tattoo Studio.

“ There’s times when I’m up some scaffold, I’ve got a coffee and the radio’s going and I’m painting a beautiful sign, the sun’s out and I can see people at desks. And I think, I love what I do.”

Nik loves his work and it’s easy to see why. That said, working out in all weathers can bring its challenges, like sun-induced painters neck (like truckers elbow), or getting your hands frozen stuck to your mahl stick and paint brush.

“Those times I think, Christ, I wish I worked in an office,” Nik says with a laugh. “No - I haven’t thought that!” He describes himself as a grafter, and says that’s always helped him get new commissions.

"My job ethos is if you turn up when you say you’re going to turn up and you do a good job then you’ll always have work."

These days, sign painters face stiff competition from computer designed and cut signs - even clipart. But traditional painting and hand lettering is having a bit of a resurgence. Nik adds that his hands won’t let him paint forever, something many artists will understand, but he hopes to teach when that time comes.

But for a long time yet he’ll be painting signs and murals around Brighton where he loves to work. Compared to other towns, where even sign fonts have to be approved by the local council, Brighton seems to turn a blind eye, happy instead for the city to look more artistic and beautiful.

"It's that sort of freedom where you don’t have to keep checking or colouring in between the lines.

You can go outside the lines a bit.

That’s what I love about Brighton.” @nikthebrush

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But in Brighton, where the streets are full of independents, every shop front is eye-catchingly different. There’s the cutout waitress in her '40s maid-like outfit outside That Little Tea Shop in the Lanes, the Alice in Wonderlandstyle mural above the Mad Hatters hat shop on Trafalgar Street, the gilded windows of Digs interior designers and the peep-board characters outside the North Laines Cornish Pasty Shop. The one thing they all have in common?

They were all painted by Nik the Brush.

Ben Gore is a multimedia artist based in Brighton.

Originally starting his career as a photographer, he has since gone on to experiment with a variety of mediums from collage to illustration or bootleg toys.

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Written by Sharna Waid

Ben’s work is playful and inspired by everything from classic cartoons to futurist science fiction. His work often blends pop culture with traditional art styles, for example his casting of rappers into the characters of the Tarot for his Hip Hop Tarot, or his action figure recreation of the Devoured Son from Goya’s infamous painting Saturn Devouring His Son. In 2015, he founded a small arts publisher, Blue Monday Press, that he uses to publish and sell his work. He regularly hosts group exhibitions as Blue Monday Press around the country, and aims to use the brand as a platform to help emerging illustrators get published and exhibited through various collaborative projects he initiates.

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Channel Sea Blues is a collection of photographs, shot around the south coast of England and beyond, by Brighton based artist Ben Gore. In a time in which borders have become such an important issue politically, the book is built around passing delicate moments sprinkled across the shoreline and the feeling of living on the edge of land and sea.

The third photobook by Ben, which follows on from his previous works Second Adolescence and Goodbye, Blue Monday, wonders about the individual experiences of those found at the seaside and the mood of the seaside itself. When collected, these unconnected glimpses into life by the beach create a portrait of the place and the people to be found there.

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Channel Sea Blues is available to buy on www.bluemondaypress.com

@basedgore

From chunky feet necklaces to grinning teeth rings, Rat Betty is a unique independent jewellery brand, designed and handmade in Brighton by Millie Hand.

Inspired by the weirdness of the human form - and details within popular culture and art - Rat Betty came about as a concept once Millie began designing pieces she’d ‘always wanted to wear, but never been able to find’. We caught up with Millie to tell us about the Rat Betty story, how she is making the brand ethical and sustainable, and what’s next.

Written by Sharna Waid

What first led you in the direction of making jewelery?

A full ceramics class! I joined a council run evening course in Hammersmith when I was working in London, it was mostly for unemployed people to gain skills, but if you paid a small fee you could also attend. I signed up for the ceramics class but it was full so I chose jewellery instead. I was okay with this, I’d felt for ages I could never find the jewellery I wanted to wear and if I did it cost five quid and went green after two wears so this was an opportunity to kit myself out and make jewellery that I wanted to wear.

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What inspires your creativity when coming up with your unique designs for Rat Betty?

A whole host of things, the crying eyes ring was inspired by an image of Jesus, the sexy legs necklace was from a mannequin for tights, and the exposed brain

from a scene in Kill Bill. I think a lot of the pieces seem like they could be illustrations, and so I do a lot of idea sketching to see how stuff could work. I also like using existing pieces to build around the nose to fit between the eyes and the teeth for example. With casted pieces, everything begins as wax, so I like moulding and testing and seeing what comes out.

What makes the brand ethical and sustainable?

Rat Betty is registered with the Fairtrade Goldsmith scheme.

The silver and gold used for all cast pieces is Fairtrade. The Fairtrade Gold Standard is an internationally recognised marker of best-practice for workers’ rights and environmental protection ensuring miners are paid fairly for their livelihood and are able to carry out their work safely. All elements of the postage and packaging are recycled and

@kcw.design_

recyclable from the parcel tape to the stickers to the envelopes to the business cards. Our postage boxes and tissue paper are biodegradable. Rat Betty also only works with precious metals such as silver and gold, this does not include gold plating (where a thin layer of gold is coated over a cheaper base metal) which doesn't last and people often end up throwing it away when the coating fades. Rat Betty pieces should last a lifetime and then some.

It seems like the brand is growing fast, what has been a highlight so far?

I would say it was early in 2020 when I saw more regular orders coming in. I felt so encouraged, like I could really imagine this being my job. I enjoy hearing from people who love the designs, sometimes they will tell me why the piece spoke to them and the stories are always so lovely. One

RAT BETTY RAT BETTY RAT BETTY RAT RAT RAT RAT RAT BETTY RAT BETTY

customer bought a brain pendant after recovering from brain surgery for example. There have been loads of lovely moments like that. Being able to make ideas come to life and have people want to wear them is so rewarding.

Do you have any future plans for Rat Betty?

I’m hoping to continue to grow the business, to the point where I can employ a team. Whilst growing I want to continue to find ways to improve sustainability.

For example, offsetting carbon emissions from postage or finding greener sources of power. There is always room for improvement and I love hearing ideas on what can be improved. From a design perspective, I want to continue making unusual pieces that make people feel good. As far as experimentation goes, I would like to work with ethically sourced stones and gems.

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@Ratbetty www.ratbetty.com/

Written by Andrea Kilgour

Brighton based artist / designer / costumier / stylist and maker Andrea Kilgour creates custom, handmade upcycled fashion and accessories for any occasion or adventure. Andrea shares her story of starting up Bahookie Wear and why unique upcycling is the future of fashion.

Bahookie wear is a clothing and headwear label specialising in up-cycled and custommade items. After working a variety of jobs, mainly in retail, some casual pub, club work and vintage market stalls, I knew I wanted to work for myself.

In the beginning I made pieces of clothing as presents for friends and family. Then some friends started commissioning me and even asked me to style them for weddings and events. I looked around charity shops for some gems, and with the person in mind - It also helps that I have a large collection of clothing and accessories at home to choose from. I have always enjoyed the hustle and bustle of markets, charity shops, and I love foraging - I have a good eye for it. Second hand items and clothing seem so magical to me - they have a story to tell. Using old clothes for sampling started out as a necessity due to budget, but then I started adapting them.

I began using whatever scrap fabric l could get my hands on from street treasures, airplane blankets to boxer shorts (for the elastic waistbands). I soon learnt

that damaged clothing or pieces of broken jewellery can always be reborn!

I also began to do some theatrical per forming jobs on the side anything that involved dressing up.

This was a great networking opportunity and good fun. I started to meet some performers that were looking for something specific.

After a casual consultation, ideas came to me and I started creating bespoke and tailored pieces to suit their performing needs. I enjoy working closely with my clients on commissions, using my unique knowledge and experience to help make their dream or vision a reality.

I have a lot of plans for the future of the business. Collaborations are something I would like to explore more of now I have found my feet. Bahookie Wear also has some exciting headwear and accessory projects in the making. I would love to travel with the business gaining more experience from other countries and cultures, perfecting my skills while continuing to come up with

exciting ways to repurpose items.

I will be tapping into reworking classic knitwear jumpers for Christmas and want to get back into embroidery and print work too.

Above all, I want my designs to emanate my love of vintage fabrics and textiles. I want it to be comfortable and inspire confidence. That feeling of wearing something unique and tailored to you, whilst being sustainable, is priceless.

Upcycled items are original and one of a kind - so dare to be different. @Bahookiewear

Written by Bryony Cottam

‘Fast fashion is old fashion’ Tiffany Wallace, owner of Eastbourne label Slow Garments, is passionate about sharing the dirty secrets of the garment industry that millionaire CEOs try to hide.

Sustainability is fast becoming a fashion trend, but Slow Garments isn’t afraid to challenge its customers to do better via its Instagram stories asking when the focus will turn to ethical fashion. Tiffany wants to encourage a higher demand for ethical garments and to inspire her customers to have the confidence to ask for them.

“If you’re going to start a clothing business or buy your next fashion piece, your first priority should be asking who made your clothes and what they’re made from.”

Fast fashion, she says, can never be environmentally friendly for sure.

“It’s not sustainable, no matter how fast fashion labels paint it, because they’re mass produced. And it’s going towards the profits of the business, and feeding the million or billionaire CEO at the top.”

Where Slow Garments stands out is in its total transparency, in everything from the fabric to the packaging and the time spent cutting and sewing. Customers can see what’s involved in the cost - a swimwear thong takes 30 minutes to cut, sew and package, and that’s all reflected in the price.

“I want to push forward that you can have ethically made, sustainably sourced clothes, and give the customer the whole story behind the garment. Not like fast fashion where it comes through the door and you don’t know where it’s from, who made it, or what it’s made from.”

Tiffany says the future of Slow Garments is more textiles and more designs - and not just swimwear.

She’s keen to keep innovating but, more than just that, she wants to teach schools and colleges about sustainable and ethical fashion, about how fast fashion can impact the planet, and how anyone could be the next innovator.

She asks everyone to support the #PAYUP petition, for the garment workers who have not been paid due to the cancelled orders from fast fashion brands as a result of Covid-19. She also thinks that the response to Covid-19 - the surge in support of local businesses and more sustainable and ethical products - is here to stay. We certainly hope so!

@slowgarments

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Tiffany has always been into fashion and used to cut up clothing often bought from ASOS - to make cropped tops or trousers, adding little sewing details. She’d always wanted to start some sort of clothing business, but it was learning about the exploitation of garment workers - their unscrupulously low wages, poor working conditions and subjection to sexual harassment, and the tragic Rana Plaza collapse in Dhaka in 2013 which caused over 1,000 deaths - that sparked the concern for ethical fashion.

This lifelong love of sewing, entwined with her ethical values and a sustainable outlook on life, led to the launch of Slow Garments in January on preloved shopping app, Depop. The brand specialises in gorgeously handmade swimwear in bold colours and clean designs - all made from recycled fabrics made from fishing nets that have been recovered from beaches and the ocean. Her customers rave about their quality, comfort and style proof that you can still look good and feel good when buying ethically sourced clothing.

Written by Christina Andrews

Ethically made lingerie, designed and hand made on the shop floor.

Not something we come across much these days is it? But Ayten Roberts, founder of luxury lingerie label Ayten Gasson, is committed to keeping traditional sewing skills alive and reinforcing the importance of using sustainable fabrics and ethical manufacturing.

Whilst more and more high street chains push for quick turn around, mass produced, cheaply and poorly made products, Ayten is fighting the tide, producing the only way she knows how – using high quality fabrics, finished properly and made to last!

Growing up surrounded by a family of makers and designers, from the age of 5 Ayten would earn her pocket money by cutting up fabrics and turning the loops for her mother who worked as seamstress for Arcadia. She then went on to study at St Martins as well as working at high street chain ‘knickerbox’ lingerie on busy Oxford Street, where her passion for creating quality, timeless pieces was reinforced.

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“I remember feeling so frustrated because there would be these beautiful designs coming through but they were made in the cheapest synthetic fabrics and polyester lace trims. People would try them on and say they were itchy and I didn’t like trying to sell something to someone when I knew the quality wasn’t there.”

With the hope of landing a job in the textile industry upon graduation but being left disheartened when she couldn’t find anything in the UK, Ayten decided to start her own business, with the promise

of supporting as many UK based businesses, highlighting the best of the UK textile industry and showcasing that bit of history. Even now, 15 years later, she is still using some of the same suppliers as when she began.

Starting out 15 years ago from her mums spare room and building up her label through trade shows, she gradually earned herself a spot at Topshop Oxford Street, Fenwick’s in London, Selfridges and other independent boutiques around the world.

In 2016 Ayten Gasson opened their first boutique on Bath Street, Brighton which combines elements of a studio and a shop, giving customers a fully transparent, personal and customised experience, which sadly is becoming harder to come by these days with everything turning to online shopping.

“ When something’s built to last and you look after it, you’ll use it forever”

Alongside its finished pieces, you can expect to find wooden crates filled with vintage lace from the 60s & 70s, silk on the table, patterns hanging up, “its my dream studio and I absolutely love it” Ayten Roberts says. Minor alterations can be made in the shop, styles are customised to suite the customers needs and products are made to last – not like that £5 Primark bra that comes apart and needs chucking away after a couple of washes!

“When somethings built to last and you look after it, you’ll use it forever”

Ayten Gasson prides itself on using heritage and sustainable fabrics such as peace silk, eco viscose,

organic cotton and bamboo, constantly updating and quality checking where and who they have been sourced from, to be able to provide that information back to its customers. Where possible, Ayten also sources vintage lace and upcycles fabrics found at antique markets and in Nottingham, historically the centre of the world’s lace industry.

Any left over scraps of material are used either to create smaller products such as eye masks or are donated to local schools to use for craft projects. All packaging is either recyclable or biodegradable. Even her sewing machines are either eco machines using lower power consumption or her favourite – a second hand machine gifted by her mother 20 years ago.

Every area of their production, from start to finish has been carefully considered with a real concern for the footprint and the products life cycle.

“So much more needs to be done, and I want to at least do my bit and make sure my pieces are ethically made, zero waste” Ayten’s plans for the future include getting a bigger studio and retail space to be able to stock other local independent brands alongside hers, bringing up local designers and accommodating all of her customers wants and needs. Though right now, due to the uncertainties of Covid, she is staying put and can be contacted for appointment only services.

It was an absolute pleasure to meet with such a humble, courteous designer and a fine example of how passion, hard work and good ethics can form the basis of a successful and sustainable business. @aytengasson www.aytengasson.com

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NOISY T A H IS W

Formed on the south coast of England in Worthing, these local boys with a ‘skate park-induced friendship’ have created a sound of hip hop, D&B, and the eternal swagger of the Happy Mondays rolled into one intoxicating whole.

Comprised of singer/rapper Cody, guitarist Connor and producer-guitarist Spencer, blasting some Noisy with a beer in hand is the best way to start your weekend.

How did you guys first get into music - have you got musical families/backgrounds?

From our parents playing music at home to being bought a guitar for Christmas to skipping between MTV and Kerrang after school. It all makes you wanna dive into that world more and more.

Music has always been the main part of all of our lives

How would you describe Noisy’s sound?

Cody - I’d say NOISY sounds like a crazy Friday night on the town, you’ve got a day off work in the morning so there’s no holding back. I don’t think we ever knew what we wanted NOISY to sound like, it was more of a happy accident that we decided to roll with.

How did the Brighton (Sussex) music scene help shape your growth?

Brighton’s always been a special place for us and although we have only had a chance to gig it once, we’ve taken a lot of inspiration from it. I think the fact it has so many small independent venues makes it such a good place for a band to grow. We can’t wait to get back and play some Brighton shows as they are always nuts.

What are your favourite songs on the album and why?

Cody - ‘Put A Record On’.

I’ve always just had a proper vibe for that song. It’s the track I play my friends when they ask to hear a new NOISY tune and it’s the track I shout about the most when people are just discovering NOISY. Do you have anything exciting you're working on right now that you can share with us?

We’ve had this next EP done for a while to be honest! So we’re trying to work out what we want to do next musically, there’s a lot of songs flying about the camp but we’re still trying to decide the right move for us next. Whatever it is though, is going to be massive.

How would you describe Brighton in 3 words?

Lost My Head @theworldnoisy

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What were your musical influences growing up?

Cody - One of the first records I ever bought was Gorillaz - Demon Days, which quickly became my favourite album and it still is one to this day. I also listened to a lot of The Prodigy as my dad had a few of their records. As I started growing up I veered off a bit to more heavier bands as well as listening to artists like Pendulum and Enter Shikari. I just loved the power and the way their music could make you wanna go crazy, I wanted to create that. Now i’m into

so much different stuff, don’t think I’ve ever just been stuck to one genre. I’d get bored too quickly.

Brighton-based band The Go! Team are back with a big new boisterous single, and the announcement of a sixth album, delivering a joyful burst of sound that acts as an antidote to 2020.

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Written by Bryony Cottam

We sat down (virtually) with the man behind the music, Ian Parton, to talk about the inspiration behind the team’s infectiously positive music.

the idea of the pop song, in the purest way, the classic song idea. I guess part of me is driven by that, the idea for the perfect song, and this never ending quest.

For anyone who doesn't yet know The Go! Team, how would you describe your sound?

The idea when I first started 15 years ago was quite self-indulgent in a way. I was ramming together my favourite things, almost like my brain melted down into a sound.

I saw no reason why I couldn’t have white noise next to cute stuff, mixing black and white music, and distortion and recorders, and blaring trumpets and Bollywood strings, and old school hip hop.

So it’s basically all the shit I’m into, kinda rammed together, if that makes sense!

The Go! Team has been described as 'cheerleaders' and a 'community project' - do you have a particular mission or something you want your music to say?

I’ve never been a fan of really overtly message-y lyrics, but I think there’s always been something quite utopian about The Go! Team band. For me it’s like a universe that might not necessarily exist, but it’s certainly multicultural, it’s quite idealistic. I’m imagining people getting on, I’m imagining socialism and technicolour and creativity - basically the good things in life, without tipping into saccharin or being cutesy or kitsch. It’s always been a balancing act, but for me it’s quite genuine. It’s almost like an escape into a parallel way that things could be.

What’s been your inspiration?

In the outset I think the city of New York was subconsciously a big deal for me. It encapsulated everything that I was into, just the feel you know? It’s like the sound was the city, in a strange kind of way.

I think there’s still a recognisable Go! Team sound, but it’s evolved.

I’ve always been obsessed with

Could you tell us a little about the live band members?

The line up’s changed over the few years, but me, Ninja and Sam have been the core since the beginning.

I love the idea of male and female

bands, so that was kind of a big deal for me, to have an equal split.

Ninja is just something else, she’s one of the great frontwomen, I think ever. That’s what she does, that’s where she comes alive, it’s what she was meant to do. She’s evolved into this force of nature on stage. And we’re all kinda going for it in different ways on stage.

We’re all quite different people but, I think visually, the image of us all going mental in our own way makes us interesting.

How are you working around the Covid restrictions and what are your plans for the rest of the year?

Two of the band members have just had kids, so basically we’ve got two Go! Team babies going on at the minute. In that sense, we wouldn’t have been touring this year anyway. Meanwhile I’ve been thrashing away with album six. So, amazingly, it hasn’t really impacted us. The album would have been out quicker, that’s for sure, but it’s allowing me to just fuck around with it and make it better.

The Go! Team’s next album will be out in spring 2021, the new single Cookie Scene is out now. @itsthegoteam

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Written by Mark Avery Illustrated by Mike Dicks

“Follow the Money” has been a mantra for law enforcement agencies, lawyers and investigative journalists for a century but arguably, never has it been so clear a signpost to the widespread corruption and nepotism now underway inside Government.

Let’s be very clear, illegal and immoral practices perpetrated in Westminster are hardly new, or indeed reserved to the Tory Party; previous scandals involving MP’s expenses, cash for questions and disclosure of interests have infected the credibility of all parties over the last two decades, but the latest examples exhibited by this Government are so eye-wateringly large and damaging that they beggar belief.

Its been highlighted many times in the past, that our current form of Governance and voting actively encourages corruption. Donors to political parties have come up with ever more devious methods to keep millions flowing into political party coffers while keeping them off the radar. MP’s and particularly Ministers, are lobbied daily by thinktanks, quangos and more recently, charitable trusts, who attempt to sway Government policy and standards to suit their funders. They do this with cash, and they are allowed to do it by the recipients of that cash.

Let’s have a look at a few: At the height of the pandemic the Government sent out a call for private businesses to help with the supply of PPE and famously, ventilators.

Experts in the field set about trying to contact Government Departments and their own MP’s offering assistance, surely a story to make everyone feel proud of British grit and ingenuity?

Nah, unfortunately Ministers saw this as a cracking opportunity of funnelling millions from our rapidly depleting COVID response fund into their mates pockets. They handed out contracts, without any credible tender or due diligence processes, to companies that had been formed specifically to siphon public funds into private investment accounts. One such contract for between £150-£180 million has been deemed by the NHS to be wholly unsafe, after the face-masks provided were shown to be potentially dangerous to medical staff.

So while Ministers were busy leading the clapping for NHS staff they were awarding millions to a hastily formed company whose Director advised the Government on………..you guessed it, procurement and trade. Another firm, a pest control company with no expertise in PPE supply with £18k in assets were awarded a PPE supply contract of £108 million while a biscuit and coffee supplier got another £108 million for vital protective equipment for our medical staff by googling Alibaba and ordering unseen and untested products from China!

More on these stories can be found here https:// goodlawproject. org/news/the-ppefiasco/ please try to support them and the Doctors currently taking direct legal action against the Government.

Are you as pissed off about this as us? Over £350m that wasn’t even advertised on the Government tender portal, let alone the side of a big red bus, was handed to companies which failed to meet any usual form of pre-qualification or due diligence to supply equipment to protect the hero’s in the NHS. Predictably large swathes of the PPE have proved to be unusable or have failed to materialise

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Don’t kid yourselves, this Government are nothing like the free marketeer Conservatives they make out to be, they are an insular and protectionist bunch of profiteers backed by cash donors who cherry-pick contracts before any of us get to see them.

Planning rules, environmental law and food standards are trashed as long as the price is right, it’s not even

covert; this Government is even using the current pandemic as justification for handing billions to their friends to supply PPE and data services which don’t even fucking work.

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at all, and unbelievably, after failing to get the NHS to accept some of the non-compliant face-masks, one of the companies is now trying to sell them to Care Homes. As if it wasn’t enough for Ministers to transfer 25,000 of our old and vulnerable family members into Care Homes without COVID screening, they are now being offered sub-standard protective equipment; little wonder that 20,000 of our nearest and dearest have died in U.K. Care Homes of COVID-19 since April, they didn’t stand a chance.

fight against COVID-19 by mid-May alongside Public Health England’s phone and web based contact tracing with thousands of tracers following up reports of infections. The Government told us that £300 million had been set aside for the system which was modelled on successful low energy Bluetooth technology employed by Australia, Norway and Singapore. The BBC reported on the 14th May that the goals of the system were;

Any Government of any reasonably developed country in the world would look at this debacle and hang their heads in shame but no, not here, this equates to no more than a single, really shit juggler as the warm up act for the main, Clown Car event, let’s talk about Test, Track and Trace...

Track how and where the virus is spreading

In early May the Government announced a ‘world beating’ test, track and trace app was being trialled on the isle of Wight, then be rolled out across the country, identifying anyone an infected person has come into contact with and allowing them to order a COVID testing kit. Health Secretary, Matt Hancock told us that it would be ready to lead the

Test people to uncover the virus

Trace those infected The problem was it was all nonsense, despite being warned by Apple and Google that a centralised system wouldn’t work, the Government spent £11.8 million on an app including £6.5 million with one private company, this despite it never being capable of working on Apple phones and only 40% efficient on Android. By the end of May it was clear that their plans for a coordinated system digital lay in tatters and Test, Track and Trace was replaced by Track and Trace, as they had no idea who to test and the

app was dropped. A new app under development with help from Apple and Google is currently being tested but according to Government “is unlikely to be ready before winter” so a full 8 months will have been wasted while people continue to die.

Not content with this debacle, the Government then set about awarding huge contracts for Track and Trace to private companies directly linked to the Conservative Party. One of these companies, Serco, was handed a £45.8 million contract for track and trace despite being fined £1 million for non-compliance on another recent Government contract, this following a £19 million fine levied in 2010 as part of a settlement with the Serious Fraud Office. In total Serco have hoovered up over a billion Pounds in Government contracts (also known as our money) between 2019 and 2020. The Serco Chief Executive is Rupert Soames, brother of Tory MP Nicolas, and the junior Health Minister, Edward Argar is a former Serco lobbyist. With the health of the nation at stake, the Government pinned its hopes on private companies to protect us and yet again that fell flat on its face.

The current Government is awarding billions in public contracts to private companies without due diligence, process or control, they are using the pandemic to justify bypassing

public procurement rules and then appointing their friends and family to oversee the disastrous delivery. Step forward Ms Dido Harding, currently being confirmed as Head of National Institute for Health Protection; you may remember her as the leading the Test, Track and Trace debacle detailed above after previously overseeing the largest data breach ever as CEO of TalkTalk, incurring a fine of £400,000 and losing the company over £60 million. By some staggering coincidence she is married to Conservative MP John Penrose, who lobbied for the NHS to be scrapped and run by...yep, you guessed it, private companies!

If you’re pissed off about this, don’t sit back and take it, make your voice heard and join us and others such as https://bylinetimes.com/ and https://www.opendemocracy.net/ en/ in spreading the word.

Together we can make a difference, holding those in power to account and making our voices heard in demanding better. You can subscribe on our website at https:// www.kulamag.com/ or even better, get involved in telling real stories of injustice or deceit by joining the team.

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To date only 46% of contacts are traced by Serco and the other private provider, Sitel, this is compared to 98% achieved by local systems set up by underfunded local authorities and boroughs; Sir David King, Former Chief Scientific Officer and founder of SAGE (Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies) stated “The Government made a disastrous mistake giving contact tracing to a firm with no healthcare expertise”. Now what would compel the Government to award these huge contracts to poor performing companies with no expertise?

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Brighton is built on hospitality and the arts, its eclectic, vibrant and unique and its people are fiercely proud and protective of its place in British culture. It is a melting pot of ideas and innovation, creating a magnet for artists and entrepreneurs alike. Before COVID struck, creative businesses and food outlets were thriving, space for new premises was at a premium and every evening the city would be packed with people enjoying the sheer diversity of the bars, restaurants, shows and events.

I remember looking at the unfolding pandemic in March and thinking to myself, the U.K. must have a fantastic contingency plan in place because the Government as the Prime Minister were so relaxed about it. I remembered a conversation with a colleague, confirming that a flu pandemic readiness plan was regularly undertaken by Public Health England and the Government. I saw Matt Hancock and Boris Johnson on the TV chuckling away at journalists questions about how ready we were to fight a pandemic, insisting that we were the best prepared “in the world” and that Johnson had toured a hospital shaking hands with everyone, including those infected. There was no need to learn lessons from the rest of the world, just wash your hands. Little did I know that all the pandemic readiness plans

undertaken from 2010 to 2017 showed us to be wholly unprepared but were deliberately ignored by Government.

Then the shit hit the fan; people were dying in the hundreds as the infection ran out of control across the country.

Hospitals in danger of running out of beds shovelled thousands of the elderly and infirm, untested, into Care Homes killing most of them. Far too late the Government locked down the country and sent out a rallying call to businesses for ventilators, PPE, body bags, and volunteers. They erected temporary mortuaries and relaxed planning to allow more space in cemeteries. A call went out for retired doctors and nurses to come forward after acute wards and clinics were transferred to respond to COVID admissions.

This didn’t feel like we were prepared, it felt like blind panic and now, looking back with the highest death rates in Europe along with the deepest recession, that’s exactly what it was.

The financial support packages were also rushed out without any form of pre-planning and it took significant pressure from within the Tory party to include small businesses and the selfemployed in those support packages, but there was a gaping hole. The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak overlooked over 3 million individual cases, and

Written by Mark Avery

to his eternal shame, he continues to ignore those currently excluded from the Government’s Covid-19 support packages which include people in between jobs or who started new jobs after 19 March, newly self-employed, self-employed with profits above £50k or low profits along with new parents on parental leave, freelancers on short term PAYE and Directors of SME’s who pay themselves through dividends.

Soon the support for all self-employed and those on furlough will be withdrawn, at the same time COVID rates are rising with the Government insisting all is well and we should be cramming back onto public transport and cramped offices to support the e c o n o m y.

It feels like Groundhog Day; the imbeciles in control are the same ones who’s failed policies killed thousands and plunged us into an unprecedented recession so why would we trust them? The answer is we don’t, support for the Government and in particular Hancock and Johnson has plummeted, so as with any other populist administration, they’re desperate for a way out. We can provide that by applying collective pressure on Government with a unified voice. We will be supporting local businesses in getting back to work safely and showcasing the guys

who refuse to be beaten by the virus or the incompetence of politicians. We’ll support the businesses and start-ups who adopt green policies and ethical practises as a point of principle and make it part of their business plans, procurement policies and recruitment strategies. Together with guys like https://www.excludeduk.org/ excluded-uk-an-inclusive-alliancefor-the-excluded we can exert real pressure on Government through protest and legal challenge to force change.

Every month we will be showcasing the best of Brighton, working alongside them to help create a vibrant and sustainable “new normal” for the city and for those who work and live here.

We do this by highlighting the great and good while shining a light on the exploiters and green-washers. Shortly we will be launching Kula Hero’s a list of local businesses doing great things along with a Freelancers page providing a platform for the best of Brighton. If you want to get involved, work with us or show off what you do get in touch, we’d love to hear from you at https://www.kulamag.com/

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Brighton is home to thousands of these guys who in the majority of cases have received nothing in Government support. Journalist and presenter Martin Lewis and Brighton Pavilion MP, Caroline Lucas recently delivered a huge petition to Downing Street, backed by over 200 MP’s, on behalf of those left behind but the Government has chosen to ignore them. Due to the type of businesses and the entrepreneurial nature of the city, Brighton continues to be impacted heavily by this unfair and deeply worrying approach.

Little wonder that hundreds of small businesses will never recover from this and will close while the innovative entrepreneurs who created them leave in their droves to set up again in countries where they feel engaged

and appreciated, taking the jobs they created with them. This is nothing short of a tragedy.

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Recently there has been a lot more content on social media about anti-racism - something that existed BEFORE the past few months and the Black Lives Matter movement. While it’s amazing to see so many more people engaging with this content, it’s so important to acknowledge how long this fight has been fought. Fez Sibande from Sustainable Sundayz talks about inequalities faced by BIPOC regarding the environment.

Anti-racism is something that intersects all aspects of life as many elements of society perpetuate racism and inequalities that disadvantage marginalised people, environmentalism being one. As a Black woman, and as an activist, I have developed this resource to inform people on a few ways to be actively anti-racist within their environmentalism. While this isn’t and should not be my responsibility, I feel it is important to make the content you want to see, and my own distaste for a lot of sustainability and environmentalist blogging and social media content is often due to how whitewashed these areas are...

How does this affect environmentalism?

There is a correlation between climate change and disenfranchised Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC). BIPOC are more likely to be negatively impacted by climate change at a disproportionate rate than their white counterparts.

Therefore, environmentalists need to prioritise anti-racism within their fight for environmental justice.

While the inequalities faced by BIPOC regarding the environment are multifaceted, I'll just focus on a few that are particularly topical.

Black and Indigenous people of colour and environmentalism The term indigenous is used to describe communities globally who are native to a particular land or space. Indigenous communities are often marginalised in environmental circles and in a lot of mainstream media. And this, in spite of some of their cultural and spiritual practices often being appropriated (particularly within the sustainability/ environmentalist community, a few examples being elements of yoga and burning sage). These perceptions of indigenous people and the appropriations of their culture are rooted in colonialism.

As BIPOC are more likely to be affected by environmental injustice and climate change, they should be given a seat at the table in global discussions surrounding climate change, the environment and how to sustain it.

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Globally, many BIPOC rely on agriculture, fishing and farming to sustain their communities. However, due to climate change, many of these means are being diminished.

Plants not being able to be grown and harvested, overfishing, natural disasters developing as a result of climate change such as floods forming due to melting ice; these are all effecting BIPOC globally. Many

scandals involving large corporations fail to make headlines and businesses continue to cut corners at the expense of the environment and Black and Indigenous communities.

The relationship between racialised inequality and the environment has historically been informed by goods and labour and this continues to marginalise and disenfranchise these communities all over the world. There are many young BIPOC fighting for environmental justice, but the media sure do love to only show Greta Thunberg.

Another area that deserves exploring when looking at anti-racist environmentalism is fast fashion.

Fast fashion, racism and colonialism.

The (fast) fashion industry and supply chain is built on a colonial model.

The exchange of goods and labour from POC in struggling economies to bigger ones is something we have seen for centuries and evolves over time to a more ‘guilt-free’, palatable version of itself. With ethical clothes being so expensive it’s almost like people have no choice but to buy into this toxic colonial system. It’s as if the system is built to oppress BIPOC… oh wait it is, and the sooner we all acknowledge this the quicker we can dismantle it.

Women of Colour are overrepresented as garment workers and these Black and Brown women are exploited for their labour in the name of consumerism. Capitalism is racist, therefore it benefits from the oppression of people of colour.

To be anti-racist you must be anticapitalist which is extremely difficult within our consumerist society. With large brands still refusing to pay garment workers due to COVID-19, this is not only a fight for workers' rights but a call for racial equality.

The appropriation of Black culture is present in (fast) fashion as well and the exploitation of Black people.

Brands such as FashionNova have

Be intersectional in you LGBTQ + BIPOC LIVES MATTER.

BIPOC WITH DISABILITIES LIVES MATTER.

BLACK AND INDIGENOUS WOMENS LIVES MATTER.

been called-out for stealing concepts from Black designers and profiting from this (something that happens regularly to Black creatives). To be anti-racist you must understand the aspects of Black culture that become appropriated. You can still appreciate and enjoy Black culture while being an ally to Black people.

How to make you environmentalism anti-racist Diversify your feed: Follow more POC and other marginalised folk, doing this will expose you to a different world view and show you other people’s experiences.

A few activists of colour you should follow are in my follow list at the end!

“ Special shout out to Aja Barber a MUST FOLLOW activist.”

Shop from Black-owned business: There are many Black and Brown Depoppers, Independent designers/brands and owners who you could shop from. Again, check that follow list out.

Stop shopping fast fashion: Fast fashion brands rely on the exploitation of people of colour. One way to be actively anti-racist is by boycotting these brands and trying to shop more ethically. While this can be expensive and not everyone can afford to do this even cutting down or only allowing yourself to buy a few items over a long period of time would dent these brands if enough people did it. Also, use your social media to call these brands out. It's an effective way to bring light to their racist and colonial model. #PAYUP #WHOMADEMYCLOTHES

Understand that BIPOC are at more direct risk from climate change and environmental injustice: While climate anxiety is very real for many people (regardless of where you live) understand that BIPOC may feel climate anxiety and trauma at a far greater extent. In many ways, they may have more to lose (homes, livelihood etc) due to climate change and the privilege of living somewhere where the effects of climate change are less extreme or disruptive is something to consider as an environmentalist. Think about the different ways you can help these communities without perpetuating that white saviour narrative. Some helpful things could be; donating to charities & organisations, signing petitions, campaigning for change, researching different things affecting different communities and sharing what you know.

Try and make your platform more inclusive for BIPOC: If you are currently running a platform, whether you’re a small sustainable clothing brand, yoga studio, sustainability blog or just someone with an insta account, you are responsible for ensuring your content is accessible and inclusive. Gal-dem critiqued Extinction Rebellion for being for the white middle-class climate activist and Kelechnekoff has continued to speak out about the whitewashing of yoga studios. Listen to BIPOC if they are saying they don’t feel included.

Actively seek out ways that you can make people feel more comfortable with the spaces you’re creating; hire more people of colour (and welcome them into your workforce), give opportunities to models of colour, use inclusive language, ask questions and more importantly, LISTEN, LEARN AND GROW. Research anti-racism and environmentalism: If you want to find out more do some research, even

simple google searches to learn terms and keep yourself informed will help. The more information you expose yourself to, the better versed you’ll become. It’s important to listen to BIPOC and a range of different people in different places to gain a more well-rounded view of the issues at hand.

Acknowledge the colonialism and capitalism in environmentalism: The smaller developing countries are already doing more to combat climate change than larger western ones. Remember that the richest countries, companies and communities have a bigger carbon footprint, yet the most marginalised communities are suffering as a result. We need to decolonise this movement and remove power from the west and distribute it within the communities that are affected the most.

We don’t need white saviours, we need people who are actively antiracist: Do not turn your anti-racism into a good deed. BIPOC do not need saving, we need equal rights and opportunities which can only be done when people are actively anti-racist. Volunteering to help BIPOC for some type of extracurricular CV building experiences is what I'm talking about. Be genuine and selfless about helping BIPOC communities.

Follow list: Aja Barber, Autumn Peltier, @Aghajidaze, @fulanivegan and @toritsui @selenasshop @sookisookivintage @thegrungedoll @ayefooro @dizziaklondon @hanger_inc @ohpecci @liberttyr0se @bighair.

Written by Fez Sibande @sustainablesundayz

BLACK AND INDIGENOUS SEX WORKERS LIVES MATTER.

BLACK AND INDIGENOUS MUSLIMS LIVES MATTER.

ALL BLACK AND INDIGENOUS LIVES MATTER.

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ur environmentalism:

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As I gaze upon Libby Wells' incredible painting of me, it feels like I'm looking back in time.

She had initially reached out to me to discuss sharing some of my poetry around the subject of Black Lives Matter with Kula, but since sending some photographs of myself to her, I had radically changed my hair. The person reflected back no longer felt like me.

I dare say 2020 has had that effect on many of us. I moved to Hove just two weeks before official lockdown began; I was looking for a fresh start after nearly 20 years spent in London. As an actor, I had had a great 2019, following a not so great three years prior. I was looking forward to plugging into the local community, and the possibility of further work and travel opportunities. I was feeling hopeful!

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Six months later I'm ever more hopeful, but for reasons greater than leaving the capital, my horizon has shifted dramatically. Covid-19 provided the same adjustment in perspective that my seafront walk did on our 'daily hour' of exercise!

Oil painting by Libby Wells @libbywellstattoo Photography used as reference by Clare Walsh @clarewalshimagewalshimage

The performing arts industry closed down in its entirety, which in the context of so many people losing their lives was a side issue, but the prospect of losing my livelihood was terrifying, nonetheless.

I knew only one friend in Hove in those strange weeks in March and April, so every interaction outside

But with no work for the forseeable future and the normality we once knew turned on its head (perhaps never to return), came the invitation to assess what was important to us.

What we could let go of. What we could do better in future if only that future was guaranteed. The chance to look within was laid out in front of us.

me had gone through wasn't still happening to the same degree at least. That occupying white spaces, speaking into them, allowing oneself to be seen and absorbing all the abuse which came with it had at least helped move the needle on young people's experiences today.

The purging of pain and sharing of all too familiar stories online showed me how wrong I was. Children are still being bullied at school. Black people still fear for their safety on a regular basis, often in the hands of the systems that should be in place to protect them. On a socio-economic level, the opportunities afforded to white people are still not present.

And then, in May, George Floyd was murdered in the United States. As if any of us could forget, the date of May 25th will be forever seared in my mind, as it is also my deceased father's birthday.

For lots of white people already feeling the collective human trauma of COVID, The Black Lives Matter movement provided a much needed awakening at a point they were receptive to it.

that was limited, but felt meaningful.

The kindness of Eamon and Lou at Kernel of Hove made me feel like I was very much part of the town, and will have me returning to spend too much money on lovely vegan fare for years to come!

I had naively, or rather desperately, hoped that this trauma wasn't being experienced by the next generation after me; that what I and so many other millions of people before

“ For black people and POC, a lifelong wound was ripped open. We had managed the wound through enforced resilience, and soothed it through connecting with our communities, but never before had there been an opportunity to heal.”

In my career, I have most often taken the stage as the villain. If not the villain, then the cold, somewhat sinister, and always ‘strong female’ character. There are benefits to this.

My scenes are often more action packed than if I were perceived as the ‘girl next door.’ But from entering the industry in my late teens, I struggled to book more than one small job a year until I stepped into my first role as a ‘baddie.’ I was always the token, or one of maybe two to three non white people in a cast, and never with my own storyline. Once I had my break, aged 27, playing a female domestic abuser to a male partner for two years in Coronation Street, the perception of me as an actor was set. I was told by more than one white person in power that I was expressly cast in ‘villainous’ roles because I was black. On the other side of the coin, black people would stop me in the street expressing their disappointment that I was fulfilling television’s stereotype of the black community.

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I am a bi-racial woman. I am a Person Of Colour, and I also identify as black. What the world witnessed, whether you read/watched the news, or could bring yourself to watch the video footage (I couldn't), felt like the ultimate manifestation of what a racist person has been able to get away with, within an environment that allows it. To be black and/or a POC is to have experienced many degrees of this racism. To be black and/or a POC is to know trauma.

Up until now, our protest had not been heard. Our trauma had been denied. Our rights curbed, our potential thwarted, and our identity politicised and diminished; all in the face of the historical rhetoric around slavery, colonialisation and the British Empire. Now, for the first time, the inhumanity of the status quo up to this point has been felt by enough people that new questions are being asked. People are finally willing to have uncomfortable conversations. George Floyd gave racism a global stage.

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pledge to become an anti racist city – another reason I was so glad I moved Photograph by @hequeenofbeing here. But similarly to the pledges Almost ten years later, the term made across the creative sector and ‘villain’ has morphed into ‘flawed’ many other industries, statements or ‘complex,’ but I am still rarely and reports must pave the way to the character one roots for. And accountability and monitoring over I have a great time playing these the span of many years before we characters – last year I had the role can declare that lasting change has of my career playing Lex Luthor’s been made. assistant Mercy Graves on DC’s ‘Titans.’ But if in 2020 POC are still I began journaling about five years playing the roles that have always ago as a way to navigate my mental been expected of them - either health. This eventually developed subservient, or dominant, with no into poetry, which helped me degrees of nuance in between, then process my emotions in a more how much longer will it take for the coherent way, and through sharing world to understand the complexity my poems – only amongst friends of our experience in day to day life? at first – I began realising that I was How much longer will it take for this never alone. Whatever I was going country to be truly honest about not through, someone else out there only its history, but how that history would be too. has ensured racism is so deeply embedded in our society that it will Lockdown saw me picking up my pen take at least decades to uproot? I was again in the search for coherence encouraged by Brighton and Hove’s amidst uncertainty. George Floyd urged me to open my wounds in order that they may heal. Black Lives “ through Matter urged me to speak my truth sharing my poems more loudly in order that others – only amongst may feel safe to do so too. I’m just one person, with one specific story friends at first – I to tell, and I’m aware that I too, have began realising privilege in my experiences, and that I was never ignorance to other peoples’.

alone. Whatever I was going through, someone else out there would be too.“

But reflecting upon the pre lockdown, big haired babe in the painting, I realise I have learned the importance of being my authentic

self. A sense of community and belonging has become paramount to me, and as life is opening up again, I am thrilled to have found that for the first time in this amazing city. I can let go of the need to know what’s next, which my career never offered me anyway, but welcome in the opportunities that becoming comfortable with uncertainty inevitably bring.

And in future, I want to hold myself accountable to my own involvement in the Black Lives Matter movement, not just in my creativity and the messages I want to convey, but also in my workspaces, and whom else of colour occupies them. I will no longer be satisfied that I just made it through the door as it slams shut behind me; this time for reflection has given me renewed strength to campaign to keep that door open.

In the meantime, until the doors of the performance industries reopen, I have the privilege to educate myself further on the stories I’m yet to know, to hone my voice, and to consider how I can use the small platform I have to advocate for change.

Post lockdown, ever hopeful, and now for something greater than just for myself – if I ever have the repeat honour of being painted in the future, I hope I don’t recognise myself again.

Written by Natalie Gumede

@natalie.gumede

Qwabe An 80’s kid in England My start was in the North West My father was Zimbabwean So my kismet was a test My reflection mirrored nowhere As a child I felt a vampire Such was the destiny of descendants of the Empire I laugh thinking of adults Telling me I was actually from Rhodesia They never said why I was too young to try my theory Collective Amnesia My heritage too soon was entombed But for my brother, I felt alone In that space I could never bloom White Supremacy was enthroned Little did I know, that I was a Queen And that sometimes my protest was just being seen That I dared to just stand out wasn’t from confidence But creativity was my ‘thing’ that made sense My grandfather - Zulu Back then set a precedent Forgotten now, but He was Zim’s first black president My own ignorance was a source of frustration School didn’t provide me a true education How to know what you’re from, when it’s shrouded in mystery?

It’s hard to move on, when you don’t know your history And my pain around loss Meant I was too scared to gain The treasure of footsteps my elders had lain For I was born from the fruits of their toil My name is that of my ancestor’s soil The Gumede kingdom stands in KwaZulu-Natal Knowing whence I came was a boost to morale Stopping searching without To find truth within, was the blessing Loving my melanin And though Black Magic prevails Know that too much is asked of her Consider all our stories in the Black Diaspora Fractured Unknown Recovering Skittish

But the past, although written Need not shape what’s in store Because we’re bringing the change We have long waited for

Is the world becoming United Now we see America’s pain?

Our country too is indicted We are just as much to blame So today I march Some are - fairly - apprehensive About gathering in a pandemic But racism is a deadlier disease And the problem is systemic So today I march It might not make a difference In yours or my lifetime But think upon the past How protest shifted paradigms So today I march We all want to move forward But look back - there isn’t a mystery We are here because Britain went there We need to know our history That’s why I march The symbols of what we were built on Aren’t a future I want to Invest in ‘They did good things too’ as an answer won’t stick Because racism isn’t a question And for that I march I know too many victims Colleagues, family, friends - me So when my nieces and godson look back at all this and ask ‘Did you take a knee’ I’ll say ‘YEAH! And I marched’ Because I’m standing for them and their vision And for them I can see something better So I’m donning my gloves And I’ll shout through my mask In solidarity BLACK. LIVES. MATTER. TODAY imarch

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This is some of what it means to be Black and British

March on Racism

Chef, linguist, yoga teacher, art facilitator, sailor, plant grower and mother of two, Lynne Mason - aka The Canna Queen - is spinning multiple plates in Brighton.

We caught up with Lynne to tell us more about her weird and wonderful journey and what inspires her creativity.

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Written by Sharna Waid Illustrated by Libby Wells @libbywellstattoo

I have always written poems and kept journals but never have really identified myself as a poet or spoken word artist until very recently. Being a dyslexic linguist I can easily find patterns and connections with words. This can at times get me in a muddle, and sometimes even in trouble!

It can make reading a challenge, but it also rewards me with the joy of being able to thread words together in a unique way.

In 2013 my best friend asked me to do a speech for her wedding, so I wrote her a poem. I was never a confident speaker before then and used to hate reading out loud at school as my voice used to become high pitched when I felt nervous. But speaking in prose is fun and gets to the point without all the filler words that have less meaning. The poem was well received and since then I have written and performed poems at my friend and family’s weddings,

pubs, churches, yoga studios and festivals. Anywhere with ears willing to hear my words!

In summer 2019 I performed the Canna Rap at the Tree House Stage in The Enchanted Woods at Shambala Festival, where I held a celebration of cannabis and chocolate, two of my favourite plants. It was wonderful to stand in a tree and share my words and love for cannabis with so many.

@thecannaqueenuk

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Who knows where this spoken word journey will go now, with the events industry hit hard by the global pandemic. It’s clear that we have much to learn and understand from these current events. Words however they are presented help us to learn and grow together so we can better navigate our way through this uncharted territory with love and hope.

Dear Earth Oh what a mess we are in oh what a terrible sin we are ruining everything we over use consume and consume combusting fossil fuels all that we touched seems doomed theres no more room plastic rules a world driven by politics power and greed pandemicification where we are fed misinformation and trained to believe now the ozone is becoming a no go zone our creatures are dying the sea levels are rising many wars we are fighting many fires are burning many viruses are learning this is a time of mass extinction mass friction mass fiction mass corruption mass pollution well its time for a mass revolution and the earth rebels are rising and people are uniting but we are running out of time we are loosing our minds we must start to be kind kind to the planet kind to the earth we get what we put in we get what we deserve kind to all beings kind to each other for someone is someones daughter or son sister or brother father, mother or lover no one is under or above another we are all one and the sooner we respect that everything connects and the only way to get out of this mess is stop fighting and start uniting do your best and it’s ok if one way is different from the next don’t judge maybe you recycle maybe you dont drive you only cycle maybe you are plastic free maybe you like to hug a tree maybe your’e a vegan maybe you are a freegan the point is whatever you are feeling or believing is best just by being wiling to act on goodness the good WILL manifest the power is in YOU and together we can protect this beautiful earth this fragile world our home our source of life for the earth is the only thing that’s worth a fight

Erpingham House - 14 Duke St, Brighton BN1 1AH Erpingham House is a beautiful cafe, restaurant and bar, open 7 days a week from early mornings to late nights. Their ethos is built on promoting health-promoting, sustainable foods, presented beautifully in their insta-worthy interior. From nutritious Buddah bowls to jackfruit tacos, this is the latest vegan addition to Brighton that you don’t want to miss.

3-4 East St, Brighton BN1 1HP

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LUISACHRIS

- The bok shop

Serving both meat and plant-based options, this vegan-friendly chicken joint are bosses in the seitan business. Offering a range of wings and burgers with a tasty selection of sides, sauces and combos aptly named after Street Fighter moves. Make sure to try the Katsu Loaded Chips, Hot as Cluck burger made with a fiery bakadoosh sauce, and the vegan wings dripped in a tangy japanese sauce with fresh spring onion. We’re drooling just thinking about it.

What the Pitta - 14 East St, Brighton BN1 1HP Known as ‘good Karma kebabs’ these guys have upped the plant-based takeaway game - and even won the ‘Best London takeaway’ in 2020. These soya based vegan kebabs are oozing with delicious flavours and texture. You can get donor wraps, donor chip boxes, falafel wraps, mezze boxes and even vegan chicken nuggets - smothered in beautifully home-made sauces including garlic mayo, hummus and Tzatziki.

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With the talent of head chef Ja Roundhill offer a twist on norm making it affordable. They hav from 4 vegan local ever ales, lo drinks and an amazing vegan

VEGAN FO

Brighton is a city that has a reput amazing vegan and vegetarian foo offer vegetarian/vegan options, b of places that offer an entirely p

If you are new to Brighton or just based food, vegan food blogger Lu Last week we had the chance to ind Luisa, and what a day it was. To w kulamag.com. But in the meantime including other vegan friendly pla

Purezza has created a place where everyone can enjoy high quality Italian food, cooked by top Italian chefs - offering an entirely vegan menu and mostly gluten free too. Believe us when we say this, the vegan cheese melts perfectly! As well as this, the menu offers a diverse range of flavours including homemade vegan pesto, aubergine parmigiana and even baked potatoes and shaved seitan. Another plus is that they have opened up a second restaurant in Hove!

Purezza - 12 St James’s St, Kemptown, Brighton BN2 1RE

really happy chicken - 3

Just lau fast foo Southe Burger the Rea wings,

ake Swayne and his team, mal vegan pub food whilst still ve a large selection of drinks ots of lagers and wines, soft roast that everyone should try!

0 Ditchling Rd, Brighton BN1 4SG

Recently launched in Brighton, Vurger.co is a 100% vegan fast food restaurant that sells indulgent vegan burgers, fries, plus deliciously creamy mac n cheese and shakes. Tucked away in the lanes, it’s quirky interior and wonderful staff make it a delight to visit. But If you don’t feel like paying a visit just yet, don’t fret because they are available on Deliveroo and also have a click and collect service. They also provide a delivered ‘New York Melt’ Meal Kit to cook at home, for the ultimate takeout night. Now, there’s no reason not to try it!

- the roundhill pub

STIE’S @luisachristie

Written by Sharna Waid

OOD SPOTS

tation for having a vast amount of od spots. Not only do most restaurants but Brighton now has a growing number plant-based menu.

t keen to try out some delicious plant uisa-Christie and Kula have you covered. ndulge in some tasty vegan grub with watch the full video, head over to www. e, here’s a summary of where we went, aces to visit when in the city.

31 Preston St, Brighton BN1 2HP

If you have a sweet tooth, Cielo Cakery is the place to go. Offering a range of non vegan and vegan options, they are best known for their layered cakes in jars, made with a range of toppings and creams which melt in the mouth.

As well as as biscoff Biscoff stuffed triple choc cookie cups, muffins, brownies and cookie sandwiches, the bakery offers bespoke cakes for every occasion.

Happy Maki - 8 Pool Valley, Brighton BN1 1PN Happy Maki is the place to go for nori wrapped plant based sushi burritos. And If this wasn’t enough on its own, make sure to try their delicious side dishes of stuffed tofu pockets and popped ‘chicken’ cauliflower.

To top it off every sale they make helps plant a tree and feeds a hungry child - plus it’s ‘pay as you feel’ which is an incredibly generous new concept for the community.

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unched in Brighton, The Happy Chicken is a vegan’s od dream. The seitan chicken is themed around a ern American menu which includes the Really Buffalo r, Really Kentucky Burger, Really Sticky Burger and ally Big Burger. As well as this, you can try the hot popcorn chicken bites, salad, wraps, slaw and chips.

Cielo Cakery - 36 Church Street, Brighton, BN1 1RL

The Vurger.co - 3 Brighton Pl, Brighton BN1 1HJ

The Real Junk Food Project Brighton’s Mission to ‘’Feed Bellies

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The Real Junk Food Brighton is part of an innovative national and international movement of cafes, projects and pop-ups with one core objective: to intercept food waste destined for landfill and use it to feed people who need it, on a ‘pay-as-you-feel’ basis.

We love a concept that helps the environment and creates a positive social impact within the community that’s exactly what The Real Junkfood Project are doing around the world.

The project, set up in 2013 by chef Adam Smith, now has 120 cafes preparing and serving waste food in seven countries and 10 “social supermarkets” that collect, store and distribute waste food. Charlotte Brill tells us more about the invaluable work they are doing here in Brighton.

It is without a doubt that the coronavirus emergency has had a profound effect on our day-to-day lives. But, for the Real Junk Food Project Brighton it was certainly not going to get in the way of their invaluable work. While they were initially impacted by the government’s lockdown regulations, they decided immediately that they would find strategies to adapt and keep their movement alive. ‘’For us it’s about feeding the hungry, it’s a privilege’’, the projects chief food interceptor Sarah Betts told me when I visited the project recently.

The Real Junk Food Project has café locations across the city offering healthy homemade meals, currently via a takeaway service, which quite frankly look, and sound, delicious.

Not only will you be satisfied by a hearty plate of wholesome food at an affordable price of your choice, you will feel satisfied knowing that you too have contributed to the reduction of food waste; a troubling yet positively preventable global crisis.

According to WRAP UK, an estimated 9.5 million tonnes of

food was wasted in the UK in 2018 alone. A truly excessive amount given that around 8 million people in the UK struggle to afford to eat and approximately 250,000 tonnes of wasted food is still edible. The project endeavours to reduce the food waste crisis while simultaneously tackling poverty and malnourishment- a socio-economic issue consistently underestimated and neglected by our government and its institutions.

In the first three months of 2020, the project intercepted 33.9 tonnes of ‘surplus’ food, a figure which rose to 59.7 tonnes between April and June. Most of this comes from FareShare, a charity project dedicated to redistributing surplus food to organisations, like The Real Junk Food Project, who work with hungry and vulnerable people in Brighton and Sussex.

Volunteer Coordinator Paul Loman explained to me that intercepted food has been coming from ‘’unexpected sources’’ since the start of the pandemic. The increase in intercepted food is partly attributed to additional food donations from supermarkets to help with the coronavirus emergency and also to the collapse of the restaurant sector, which left food distributors and retail outlets with food they could not use. The Real Junk Food Project have since been recognised by the Brighton and Hove City Council as a project taking park in emergency food distribution in the city.

s Not Bins’’ The project also runs ‘The Hub’, a surplus food store located in the heart of Bevendean, where intercepted food, wasted because its either past its best before date, its packaging is damaged or because a pallet has been damaged in the warehouse, can be purchased on a pay-as-you-feel basis. Though coronavirus safety measures mean customers can not currently browse the eclectic range of goods, volunteers have been distributing, on average, 40 food parcels a day over a counter.

“ After visiting The Hub myself I was shocked at the sight of crates-upon-crates of edible ‘surplus’ food which quite literally could have fed a whole village, two or three times over!”

This shock subsided, however, when I remembered that this food would be used to feed those who need it. It has been particularly important during lockdown because of the incessant instability it has caused almost everyone, including those less accustomed with the struggle to afford basic food stuffs.

Up until now the project’s cafés were all pop-ups, but they recently acquired the lease for a building on Gardner Street, a prime location in the North Laines, giving them access to a kitchen 24/7 to cook food ahead, preserve food through pickling and ferments and to have a base to prepare for events.

Paul said that operating a pay-asyou feed café in central Brighton ‘’is a risk and a challenge’’, but they have received a massive amount of encouragement and goodwill.

It has the potential to be a great asset to Brighton’s vibrant and conscious atmosphere.

Integral to this project is the sense of community. And, if any semblance of good has come out of the coronavirus pandemic it is increased community spirit and a return to neighbourly connectedness. This particularly resonated when Sarah told me that during lockdown people have been paying for other peoples’ shopping and helping others with heavy bags at The Hub.

‘’Everyone has been chipping in’’, Sarah said to me rather proudly as she described the ethos permeating the project during the pandemic.

Whether you are a strapped-forcash student, a single-parent, or an affluent banker the Real Junk Food Project does not segregate on the basis of financial circumstances.

The innovative pay-as-you-feel concept central to the project means you can fill your cupboards and fridges for a price you can afford, whether that is 29p or £30. Everyone is welcome to their services without feeling shamed, degraded or pressured into more and more donations.

For the Real Junk Food Brighton ‘’Everyone is equal in getting fed.’’

So, if you haven’t already, check out The Real Junk Food Project Brighton’s website or their social media accounts to learn more about what the project offers near you. Like what you see? Then head down to one of their welcoming locations for some cheap grub and to support a cause that is helping thousands of people across the country, and the world, to put food on their plates. @realjunkfoodbrighton

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There are around 600,000 more children living in relative poverty since 2010, according to a governmental report. This combined with the added financial pressures due to children having

to stay home during lockdown has meant more and more children in lower income families are hungry. It is reassuring to know that The Real Junk Food Project exists, in part, to address the troubling levels of child poverty and malnourishment in the UK, and afar.

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A A BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL Written by J Taylor

Food waste is a huge issue both environmentally and economically but Old Tree Brewery’s new Compost Club is turning rubbish into robins and ‘doing the dirty work, so you don’t have to!’

Despite Brighton’s credentials as a green capital, the city’s food waste and recycling schemes are a disgrace for many residents.

With UK household groceries producing 6.5million tonnes of food waste each year and selfreported waste increasing by 30% since the end of lockdown the situation is absolute garbage.

Luckily, local living drinks producer Old Tree Brewery, has taken matters into their own hands and they’re not afraid to get messy!

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‘With UK household groceries producing 6.5million tonnes of food waste each year and selfreported waste increasing by 30% since the end of lockdown the situation is absolute garbage.’

The social enterprise, which has been creating seasonal botanical kombucha and other beverages since 2014, recognised the surge of interest in growing and gardening sparked by Covid-19 measures and decided to bring composting to the community. “It felt like the whole of the South had run out of compost,” explained Thomas Daniell, Co-Founder of Old Tree Brewery’s Compost Club.

“Composting has always been a part of Old Tree’s production as it was the only way we can achieve

“ We want to show people how much better wormpowered, biologically complete humus can be. The compost we are creating with communities in the city centre is next level, you can’t compare it with the low-grade stuff at Wickes or wherever.”

our vision of botanical drinks and edible landscapes. From there our goal became putting an end to all organic ‘waste’ in our process and the local area too.”

Since the club’s initial launch in Spring, Old Tree Brewery has expanded across the city with two Joraform Compost tumblers, or giant earthworms as they’re affectionately known, and a repurposed composter from Brighton’s former zero-waste restaurant, Silo. With this growth, Compost Club membership is wide open to households and communities across the city helping to save the earth from landfill, spread the word about microbes and ‘turn the city green with love.’ Becoming a part of this club gives a whole new meaning to a ‘dirty weekend’ in Brighton!

The club insists it isn’t trying to corner the market in high end compost and as a self-described ‘regenerative company’, the founders’ goal is to put themselves out of business.

“The dream is to get as much of Brighton and surrounding areas composting,” enthused Co-Founder Michael Kennard. “We’re keen for people to start through our Compost Club but the ideal would be for people to start composting where they live - it’s a no brainer.

Healthier landscapes around you, healthier food, more green space, cooler cities as soil can store more water. It’s like urban permaculture!”

Unfortunately, for those who are keen to see composting become a regular occurrence on a citywide scale, the Compost Club has stated

Even with the lack of council regulated food waste schemes, both Thomas and Michael believe this city’s engaged residents and community groups are a perfect top soil for this project to take seed. “We always say if we can’t make it work in Brighton, where can we?” explained Michael. “So far the uptake and engagement with our members is so inspiring. In addition we’ve started working with Brighton & Hove Food Partnership who have stepped in to tackle the inadequacy of Brighton’s food waste management.”

As much as the Compost Club is making headway in the city they are keen to grow the initiative, as Thomas explained: “We want to build up an ethical model in Brighton then build up to living wage jobs and then do online videos to teach other compost clubs in different cities.

Just like how small networks of mushroom or mycelium organisms share information and nutrients then recycle them endlessly. We need to emulate this in our human systems before we commit a full ecocide with our current ways which are bleeding this earth dry!”

To get dirty and start composting with Old Tree Brewery, visit oldtree. house/compost-club

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Echoing this sentiment, Thomas said: “First of all we’re keen to change people’s idea of good compost.

Shoppers have been sold down the river with garden centres selling really low nutrient stuff, it’s made on an industrial scale and boiled so it’s just not natural. We want to show people how much better wormpowered, biologically complete humus can be. The compost we are creating with communities in the city centre is next level, you can’t compare it with the low-grade stuff at Wickes or wherever.”

the initiative cannot expand too far due to local council contracts with Veolia, and other larger waste management licences.

Before starting the Compost Club, Michael Kennard spoke with their local council in Hailsham who explained household composting is “not realistic” as would increase council tax and be too costly thus prompting Old Tree Brewery to do it themselves.

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ARTBOX Cafe is the UK's first dedicated character ‘Kawaii’ themed cafe.

Typically these cafes in Japan are not entirely sustainable that’s why this one in Brighton is different. Find out how ARTBOX are making sustainability CUTE and how the people of Brighton have responded.

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Written by Sharna Waid

How are you creating a new sustainable version of kawaii cafes in Japan here in Brighton?

The kawaii character themed cafes in Japan are incredible, but they are so concentrated on the unique concept that they unfortunately don’t tend to have any focus on sustainability. ARTBOX Cafe is inspired by these cafes and offers the first Japanese-style cute character themed cafe experience in the UK, with a new character theme arriving every few months.

However, ever since the idea for ARTBOX Cafe was dreamt up, we knew we wanted it to run as sustainably as possible. ARTBOX’s brand is based on spreading "kawaii" (the concept of cute) through cute character goods mainly imported from Japan so we would never claim to be carbon neutral, however if anything, this motivates us to work even harder to offset our impact.

Why is it important for other cafes around the world to do the same?

As our planet becomes ever more overpopulated and natural resources are used up, it’s increasingly more important for businesses large and small to do what they can to run as sustainably as possible. Although corporations and governments have the most impact, small businesses can also make a difference and encourage their customers to do the same.

Food waste and packaging waste are huge problems, so it’s important for cafes and restaurants to consider what they can do to minimise these issues.

Things are improving – for example in Japan, there are more and more small cafes popping

There is always room for improvement and we’re regularly looking for things we could do better, but here are some of the things we’re currently doing to run more sustainably: — Our entire menu is vegetarian and almost every item on our menu has a vegan option — The ice cream in our take out selection always has 50% vegan varieties ­­ — We offer vegan versions of all our hot drinks (e.g. plant milk, vegan cream) at no extra cost — We don’t generate much food waste thankfully, but as much as possible we donate any excess food to local homeless shelters — All of our take out packaging is recyclable or compostable and made from sustainable plant-based materials - even our colourful ice cream spoons and clear cold drink cups — Coasters and placemats from our sit down menu which guests take home as souvenirs are all made from sustainable paper/pulp — We source our ingredients as locally as possible; we use local bakers, environmentally conscious coffee from a Brighton-based micro roaster (Pharmacie), and our teas come from a Brighton-based supplier of ethically sourced and fairly traded speciality tea with fully biodegradable tea bags (Hoogly)

up recently based around plantbased food and sustainability, who are introducing these concepts to a new generation. Change always starts from somewhere, and if it starts from the ground up and spreads, then hopefully those in power will eventually have to take notice.

How has the local community responded to the cafe?

As we’re the first themed cafe of its kind in Europe and we have the shopping boutique built in too, people have found it really intriguing and exciting. Quite a lot of guests travel from far afield to visit us, however we also cherish all our local customers. A traditional ice cream parlour had been on the site where ARTBOX Cafe is located for over a decade, so we’ve had visits from previous patrons who are curious as to what we’re doing here now. We’re always happy to inform them that even though we have this cute theme and look very different, we still have the same amazing ice cream made on site, quality coffee and some of the staff including the ice cream chefs are the same as before!

Most of our guests have been eating in the cafe to start with, and then browsing the boutique on their way out to pick up some of the cute and rare items from Japan. Some local customers have definitely started to become more interested in kawaii Japanese culture after visiting us, and they’ve returned multiple times to explore it more! Other local businesses have been really supportive since we opened in August 2019, which we’ve been really thankful for.

Rosanna Kawaii Trading – Creative Director @artbox_cafe

Brighton is a city with lots of demand for vegan options, however many people who visit are still amazed at how much vegan food we offer – perhaps because we don’t immediately appear to be the kind of cafe to do that.

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SPIRITS Written by BryonyCottam

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“ That’s the bottom line. It is a vital connection we need to restore and foraging is a very direct conduit to that relationship. It’s deeper than food for free, it’s about that relationship with land.”

www.slakespirits.com @slakespirits

As lockdown this year has limited us to our back gardens, and the fields just beyond, many people have developed a new taste for foraging. But for Thomas Martin-Wells, the man behind a Shoreham-based independent gin distillery, it’s a long-time passion. A keen forager, who picks, dries and processes a large range of locally grown aromatic plants (as well as a few exotic flavours sourced from far and wide), he’s forever experimenting with new flavours, and new projects, to satisfy his curiosity.

“That’s the bit that gets me out of bed in the morning, that excitement about trying or testing something new.”

No wonder the brand is named Slake, an old English word meaning ‘to satisfy a desire’. When looking to slake his creative thirst, Tom often works on a range of spirits, from brandy and vermouth, to absinthe. But it’s his gins he’s best known for making.

From a background working in a commercial chemical plant in Australia, he returned to the UK and set up Slake with the help from a Prince’s Trust grant. That his gin is distilled and flavoured, bottled and labelled all from his grandad’s garage in Shoreham-by-Sea is a triumph of ingenuity on its own. But since lockdown, Tom has diverted production to making muchneeded bottles of hand sanitiser.

Keen to offer help where it is most needed, the sanitiser is carefully made following WHO guidance, and keyworkers and key businesses are offered a decent discount.

Tom explains that there’s so much to learn in this area, but there hasn’t been much need to learn it. We’ve simply forgotten how to use our native plants, relying on our well established supermarket industry. But when you start to look elsewhere, there’s a lot to discover and rediscover.

Tom’s learning has come from growing herbs as well as researching, reading and experimenting.

“A lot of ex p e r i m e n t s .”

Sometimes trials result in a dead end, but there are plenty of successes; while trying to find an alternative, native citrus element that grows in the UK climate, he finally landed on lemon balm and lemon verbena to create what he calls that ‘ginny gin’ flavour.

The real goal for Slake is to reach a point where the distillery has more space to grow, and finally to incorporate agro-culture and permaculture methods into their process. Tom would also like to allow people to come and interact and learn about these biodiverse systems.

Slake will soon be moving to a new larger property in Worthing, behind the Corner House Pub, where it is hoped that production will be expanded and workshops and talks will be offered to get the public involved in learning about the botanics and spirit production.

It’s a project that will keep Tom busy for a long time yet.

“It’s going to be my life’s work, as there are so many variables that you can explore, there’s always something more you can learn about the process. The more you learn the more you realise you don’t know anything.”

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“That sort of cooperation creates a lot of value in the community.

When I started this business, the gin or the distilling world wasn’t very collaborative, as an academic I thought this was weird as all we do is share and talk about what we’ve been up to. But in Sussex in general, and these different businesses, it’s really lovely

because there are so many people solving the same problems but for different reasons, transferring knowledge.”

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But what really sets Slake apart is Tom’s strong advocacy of a sustainable way of living, and his passion for the protection and advancement of natural fauna. He recognises that the connection between people and nature is a fundamental conduit for learning

and understanding the impact we all have on our environment, and the steps we can all take to minimise these. Without that connection, we simply won’t look after our natural landscapes.

After a major bike accident, Ben reassessed what he felt was important in life and so decided to quit his job and start up a vegan seitan company called ‘A Tribe Called Veg’... now that’s what we like to hear! Serving a range of dishes, from tacos to wraps (as well as stocking the seitan in various stores), the brand is quickly becoming a recognised name around the city. Eggplant caught up with Ben to talk about how business is going and what we can look forward to next.

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Why did you start up A Tribe Called Veg?

Life for me was whizzing along merrily in Brighton until, in 2017, I had a bicycle accident and needed to undergo brain surgery to help curb an aneurysm. During the recovery I thought long and hard about all the important things in my life, and it was clear that I needed to make some changes. I’d had enough of the mundane jobs that

I’d always done in the past to get by and I wanted to do something more substantial for myself and the planet.

Being a lifetime foodie with a passion for cooking and sharing my creations with others, the idea of A Tribe Called Veg started to form. I wanted to create and offer tasty plant-based foods that would make more of an impression on the people eating them than on the environment. And not just food solely for vegans or veggies either.

I wanted to create delicious dishes that would appeal to everybody, but that just happen to be meat and dairy free.

How do you collaborate with other local businesses?

I’ve loved collaborating with other vegan caterers. Nothing is more original or exciting than a good menu fusion. Creating things together and combining foods at a pop-up is always interesting and inspiring. For example, before lockdown we had a twelveweek pub kitchen takeover with Get Sum, where we combined Dim Sum and TexMex. Our food went down brilliantly – the dumpling burrito was a real highlight!

Any future plans for the brand?

The next step is to have a bigger Seitan product range available with more flavours. But I’m always experimenting and have some seriously exciting new ideas in the pipeline. I’d like to do bigger and better pop-ups, festivals and takeovers. I also have plans for a

semi-permanent residence in a cool environment where I can serve my food every day and hopefully build on the really positive community following that I have already. Oh, and we’re going to be making more caps and merch, for sure! www.facebook.com/ tribecalledveg/

@tribecalledveg

I was born in a big and boisterous Sicilian family, and the first thing I learnt was to eat well.

Everybody in my family has excellent cooking skills, eating for us is something sacred and everything starts from the choice of the ingredients. I integrated this knowledge into my pastry-making.

My aim is to create desserts that are so good that nobody will miss animal products. My desserts are my form of activism for animal liberation.

When I was 19 I left Sicily to study and I have a masters degree in design and fashion disciplines.

I then moved to Rome where I worked in the film and TV industry as an assistant costume designer for 5 years. When I became vegan my direction changed and I followed my passion for cooking, following my family footsteps.

I became vegan 10 years ago thanks to my cat Trilli. By chance, I read an article about pet food and from then on a new world opened up to me. Together with my husband Alessandro, we spent many days researching veganism and after watching ‘Earthlings’, a hugely impactful documentary about humanities use of animals, we decided to become vegans.

my life! I started to become more passionate about baking.

In 2012 I decided to leave my job in the TV industry and with the support of my whole family, I started my career as a pastry chef.

I did a one-year pastry chef course in Turin and after that I worked for a while in raw patisserie. But my real passion is leavened products such as croissants, panettone and doughnuts so in 2016, together with 2 vegan friends, I opened my vegan bakery in Rome called Wani (We Are Not Ingredients).

In 2018 we moved to Brighton due to my husband’s work and initially I tried to carry on with my own project. Last November I was lucky enough to attend Vevolution and meet Loui Blake and I was moved by his energy and passion.

I thought straight away it would be amazing to work for him and when he announced the opening of Erpingham House, Brighton it was an opportunity I couldnt miss!

Now I am the head pastry chef of Erpingham House, Brighton.

I feel so lucky to be here, together with Loui, I have the opportunity to work with international chefs like Jason Wood and Laura Oates.

Thanks to their expertise I feel I have already grown after only a month working together; they are real mentors. Beyond being two chefs with brilliant creativity, they are two marvellous people. I am living my dream job.

At the moment I want to stay with Erpingham House in order to grow more and more. In my spare time I’ve been collaborating with a fantastic charity based in London called “Made in Hackney” which supports the local community by offering free vegan and organic cookery courses. To fundraise their activities they organise masterclasses, I’ve already had the pleasure to lead 2 classes and on the 3rd of October I will lead another on vegan patisserie.

I hope to be able to teach some classes here in Brighton as well, but my long-cherished dream is to write a vegan patisserie book.

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I approached the world of patisserie by chance and need, because my husband has a sweet tooth and back then it was almost impossible to find vegan desserts in Italy. So I started to experiment, successfully, with my first vegan creations, having never made a non-vegan dessert in

@chiara_pastrychef

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Food

drinks

and

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SEITAN IN SATAY SAUCE

BY A TRIBE CALLED VEG

@tribecalledveg

This is a no fuss creamy, savoury-sweet tasty nutty sauce made with only a few ingredients.

Ingredients: Satay Sauce

• 1/2 cup salted smooth peanut butter (or other nut butter)

• 3 tbsp soy sauce

• 2 tbsp maple syrup (or other sweetener)

• 2-3 tsp sriracha (more if you prefer hotter)

• 3 tbsp lime juice

• 1/4 tsp curry powder

• 1/2 tsp chilli flakes

• 1/4 cup water (to thin)

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Other

• Seitan steak

• Your favourite cooking oil

Method: In a mixing bowl add nut butter, soy sauce, maple syrup, lime juice, sriracha and whisk to combine.

Slowly add the water until a thick but pourable sauce is achieved. If your sauce is too thin, add more nut butter. If it's too thick, thin with more water.

Put sauce to one side.

Slice the seitan steak into 1/2cm slices and pan fry in a little oil until you have crispy edges.

Pour sauce into the pan and coat the seitan. Heat on medium until sauce is hot (if sauce becomes too thick add a little hot water).

Serve on a bed of your favourite rice or grains.

Perfect with a side of steamed broccoli and gyozas.

Topped with garlic mayo, pickled cabbage and black sesame seeds.

SAVOURY MUFFINS Savoury muffins are perfect for your lunchbox.

They also make a great breakfast, lunch or snack for both adults and kids.

BY CHIARA SIATTA @chiara_pastrychef

Ingredients : 200 g Plain Flour 50 g Chickpea Flour 30 g Almond Flour 10 g Baking Powder 10 g Nutritional Yeast 10 g Gondino Cheese 6 g Salt 50 g Extravirgin Olive Oil 350 g Oat Milk Oregano and Black pepper 30g Vegan Cheese Diced Sundried Tomatoes, Olives and Capers

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Method: Preheat the oven to 175 degrees.

In a bowl mix all the flours and the baking powder together and then slowly add the wet ingredients.

Add all remaining ingredients and gently fold through with a spoon until mixed. Divide the mixture between the muffin holes equaly and add a handful of sundried tomatoes, olives and capers for each muffin.

Bake for 15-20 minutes. Allow to cool in the baking tin for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool.

You can serve either warm or cold.

You can customise this base recipe adding your favorite vegetables and herbs to suit your taste. Enjoy!

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@chiara_pastrychef

COFFEE & WALNUT CAKE

BY CHIARA SIATTA Ingredients for the cake: 14 g baking powder 150 g unrefined sugar 200 g all purpose flour 1/8 tsp bicarbonate pinch of salt 75 g chopped walnut 225 ml soy milk 9 ml apple vinegar 67 ml sunflower oil 1 espresso cup of coffee

Ingredients for the coffee buttercream: 300 g vegan butter (my preference NaturlĂŹ) 400 g icing sugar pinch of salt 2 espresso cups of coffee or more if you like

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Method:

Preheat the oven to 175 degrees and grease the 8 inch cake tin.

In a measuring jug mix the soy milk with vinegar and let it rest for 10 minutes.

In a bowl mix well all the dry ingredients.

Add the sunflower oil and the coffee to the milk and whisk together.

Add the wet ingredients to the dry ones and mix well.

Pour the batter into the cake tin, tap the tin on the worktop to remove any air bubbles.

Bake for around 30-35 minutes.

To check the cake is ready put a skewer in, if it comes out clean the cake is cooked.

In the meantime make the coffee butter cream.

Put the butter in a food processer and whisk at high speed until the consistency is like cream.

Add sugar, coffee and a pinch of salt. Let it rest in the fridge.

Cut the cake in half, horizontally.

Wet the middle layers of the cake with a small amount of coffee.

Spread the middle layers with the buttercream and sandwich them together then cover the whole cake with the remaining coffee buttercream.

Leave it in the fridge for 1 hour to set.

To decorate it I transferred the leftover buttercream into a pipping bag with a star nozzle attached.

Pipe swirls of cream onto the cake, then I added some coffee beans and walnuts.

Once ready it can be served straight away or it can be stored in the fridge for 2/3 days.

CANTUCCI

BY CHIARA SIATTA

Cantucci are traditional almond cookies from Tuscany.

In Tuscany, cantucci are traditionally served at the end of a meal with a glass dessert wine for soak into the wine but you can serve them with tea, coffee or cappuccino.

Ingredients: 300 g Spelt Flour 30 g Corn Flour 100 g Vegan Butter (I used the NaturlĂŹ block) 150 g Unrefined Sugar 1 tsp Baking Powder 100 g Plant milk or Water 150 g Rostead Almond Salt

Method:

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Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.

In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients.

Add the vegan butter and slowly the milk and mix all the ingredients.

Once you have a crumbly, soft mixture, add the almonds.

Transfer the dough on a lightly floured surface and roll it into 2 logs.

Wet your hands, it will be easier to shape the dough.

Place the logs on a baking sheet lined with baking paper.

Bake for 35 minutes, until golden brown.

Remove the logs from the oven and let them cool for 10 minutes before slicing.

Place a log on a cutting board and using a sharp, serrated knife, cut it diagonally into 1.5 cm slices.

Put back on the baking sheet and bake them for 8-10 minutes each side. It’s during this step that cantucci dry out and becomes crispy.

Remove the cantucci from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack.

You can replace the almonds with chocolate chips, hazelnuts, pistachios or dried fruits.

Cantucci are traditional almond cookies from Tuscany.

In Tuscany, cantucci are traditionally served at the end of a meal with a glass dessert wine for soak into the wine but you can serve them with tea, coffee or cappuccino.

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BY SLAKE SPIRITS

Sussex Gin & Sussex Sparkling Wine? What’s not to love!

This floral and fruity combination has to be one of slake spirits most popular summer serves across the board.

The Slake Gin Fitz is a variation of a gin sling, using a floral Rose syrup and lemon juice mixed with the gin, before topping with fizz, or in this case Fitz!

Ingredients: 25 ml Slake Sussex Dry Gin 2 tsp Monin Rose Syrup (or make your own rose syrup!)

1 tsp Fresh Lemon Juice 100 ml Fitz Sparkling Wine (or quality Prosecco) Ice Dried rose bud or hibiscus

Method:

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Time needed: 4 minutes.

To make a Slake Gin Fitz: Add gin, syrup and lemon juice to a shaker with plenty of ice.

Shake and fine strain into a chilled glass.

Top with chilled sparkling wine.

Stir gently and garnish with dried rosebud to serve.

www.slakespirits.com @slakespirits

SLAKE SPIRITS GIN FITZ

BEE’S KNEES

BY SLAKE SPIRITS

As the name suggests, this is one cocktail you must try! For us, it really is the perfect expression of terroir too. Combining locaL gin with local honey, every Bee’s Knees is a just little bit different from place to place and throughout the seasons.

You can adjust the ratio of lemon juice and honey accordingly to your taste.

Ingredients: 50 ml Slake Sussex Dry Gin 25 ml Southdowns Honey (or use your own pure unfiltered local honey) 25 ml Fresh Lemon Juice Ice Lemon peel or slice

Method:

Time needed: 7 minutes.

To make a Bee’s Knees: Add gin and honey to a shaker and stir until the honey is dissolved.

Add lemon juice and plenty of

ice.

Shake vigourously and fine

strain

into a chilled glass.

Garnish with a slip of

lemon peel to serve.

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KULA HEROES KULA HEROES Happy Maki

What the Pitta

CuttleFish Eco Salon

8 Pool Valley, Brighton BN1 1PN

14 East St, Brighton BN1 1HP

31 Gloucester Rd, Brighton BN1 4AQ

Contact number: 01273 737369

Contact number: 07550 816040

Contact number: 01273 622662

The Vurger Co.

Food for Friends

Wolf & Gypsy Vintage

13 Brighton Pl, Brighton BN1 1HJ

17-18 Prince Albert St, Brighton BN1 1HF

30 Sydney St, Brighton BN1 4EP

Contact number: 01273 073150

Contact number: 01273 202310

Contact number: 01273 671797

12 St James's St, Kemptown,

The Real Junk Food Project

Hisbe

Brighton BN2 1RE

50 Gardner St, Brighton BN1 1UN

20-21 York Pl, Brighton BN1 4GU

Contact number: 01273 855845

Contact number: 07925 611297

Contact number: 01273 608028

Erpingham house

Gungho Bar

The Hope & Ruin

14 Duke St, Brighton BN1 1AH

36 Preston St, Brighton BN1 2HP

1-12 Queens Rd, Brighton BN1 3WA

Contact number: 07894 160454

Contact number: 01273 733266

01273 325793

BackWood Sustainable Café

Wastenot - Zero Waste Shop

Infinity Foods & Bakery

3 - 4 Circus Parade, Brighton

Unit 9, Open Market, Marshalls

25 North Rd, Brighton BN1 1YA

BN1 4GW

Row, Brighton BN1 4JU

Contact number: 01273 603563

The Roundhill

Beyond Retro

The FAIR Shop

100 Ditchling Rd, Brighton BN1 4SG

23 Gloucester Rd, Brighton BN1 4AD

21 Queens Rd, Brighton BN1 3XA

Contact number: 01273 235884

Contact number: : 020 7729 9001

Contact number: 01273 723215

Purezza