Small Collective Issue 05 - Pause & Reflect

small collective

AU

Welcome to The Small Collective Small Collective, our magazine or collective hub is a place where we want to share and educate our readers on how to live a happier and simpler life and find value in what we have. We want to support small and local (here in Australia) providing a community of like-minded individuals who are paving the way to a more sustainable future.

The Small collective magazine is aimed at women and men who are curious, mindful and looking for a new read that has all things art, travel, craft, design, culture, nature, music, fashion, photography, tips and tricks and eco-friendly practices to a more sustainable way of life.

So come along on this journey and get to know all the wonderful individuals, brands, and organisations that you may have never discovered without this lovely collective!

The Small Collective is an independent digital and print publication, based in Australia. Our beautiful magazines are created with 100% recycled paper and are printed with vegetable based inks and green electricity. It’s as eco-friendly as it gets.

Here at the Small Collective, we have chosen not to number the pages, as we want you to take the time and explore the joys of each of the beautiful features - here enabling you to be surprised by each page and look forward to the next.

We understand that you may wish to return to a section to continue reading or to get your craft on.

So if you flick to the last page you will find a bookmark to cut out and use.

Enjoy!

With Love, Liv & The Small Collective

Editorial Magazine Produced / Published by:

The Small Collective Australia www.thesmallcollective.com.au Designed by: Olive Rose Designs www.oliverose-designs.com

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This Publication in no way can be published, reproduced, or transmitted in any other form i.e recordings or otherwise, without permission of the publication owners. The author and publisher in no way represent or warrant that the information provided in this publication is accurate, complete or current. The authors, publisher, contributors or other representatives throughout will not be liable for loss, damage, the critique of any kind caused arising out of or in connection with the use of this publication.

Cover Artwork

Daisy in Dots

www.thesmallcollective.com.au | @small_collective

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SUMMARY DAISY IN DOTS HILLVIEW HOMESTEAD BIPOC AND CALD LABELS FAT PEOPLE WANT TO SAVE THE PLANET TOO AUSTRALIAN MADE DESIGNERS BALANCE YOUR HORMONES GROUNDED MINDS REVOLUTIONARY APP OUR BOUNDARIES BENEFITS OF ZERO-WASTE FOR THE LOVE OF COFFEE SUSTAINABLE LIVING THE STATUS OF MY LEAVEs LIQUID GOLD SIMPLE SELF-CARE LET’S GO VEGAN VEGAN RECIPE ECO DIRECTORY + SO MUCH MORE

DA S I Y I N D O T S Daisy in Dots is a beautiful Aboriginal artist, wife and mother of two located on the Gold Coast. As a proud descendant of the Muruwari people Daisy loves to share her Aboriginal culture and heritage with the world through her paintings. “I find painting to be meditative and deeply spiritual, it is a way for me to express myself creatively and feel connected. The art of storytelling has been embedded in me for as long as I can remember and I’m so grateful people want to follow my journey and invest in me and my culture”.

As we have adored Daisy’s artwork and storytelling for some time we were honoured to have her as the cover artist and to share her story.

Tell us how your passion for painting began and how it turned into a full-time job?

“I’m so grateful people want to follow my journey and invest in me and my culture”.

I began painting in my thirties as a form of therapy. In amongst my busy life as a working mother of two, I felt the need to give some time to myself. The very first moment I put paint to canvas, I felt an overwhelming connection to my thoughts, feelings and spirit. The stories came to me and the dots flowed organically. I began to paint intuitively, the same way my ancestors did. It was a way for me to feel connected to the Motherland - the trees, the water, the sand, the sun, the earth and the animals. It was a way for me to convey the beauty I see in all things. A way for me to express my gratitude and to acknowledge the Country I am walking, living and breathing.

In the beginning, I was fortunate enough to have the amazing support of Kira & Kira, an interior design/styling and furniture store located on the Gold Coast. My art got a lot of great exposure in the store and online and gradually over time my Instagram following grew and the demand for my art increased

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to the point where I was booked out a year in advance and had to quit my day job! It was so surreal how quickly things took off!

It was almost as if the second I decided to listen to my calling, the universe took no time at all in responding to me very loud and clear!!

What inspires your artwork?

My mob have links to both NW NSW and the Central Desert with a rich history of dot painting, emu egg carving, boomerang, woganurra (battle axe), lil lil (throwing stick) and nulla nulla (fighting club) carving. I paint using the traditional art form of my people (dot painting) and use a combination of Aboriginal language symbols along with my own interpretations to tell stories. I do not, nor will I ever paint the Dreaming stories I am not a custodian of. My art style is intuitive and contemporary, I often paint with a softer, more feminine colour palette. I’m inspired by the colours of the land and the way the Earth’s elements make me feel. The ocean and the sun have become some of my signature designs and my most popular artworks.

How did you adopt/learn the traditional technique, according to your tribe and culture?

I am completely self-taught and paint intuitively which means the stories come to me and I paint freehand. My artworks are very genuine, heartfelt and vulnerable. This is not something that was ever shown to me physically but rather runs through my veins and comes from within.

What do you wish to express through your paintings, for future generations and your legacy?

I wish to keep the traditions of my people alive and share the rich beauty and history of my culture through my paintings. I strive to educate people about the ancient art of storytelling that has existed in this country for over 65,000 years. I also think it’s important to support other Indigenous creatives and businesses wherever possible to strengthen the Indigenous community.

How do you view the future of Aboriginal art?

I believe that with the valuable support of Australians it’s an art form that can stand the test of time and gain the recognition that it deserves from all over the world.

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Tell us of the story behind the artwork, “Connected to Country.”

This piece represents Country - a rich abundance of golden soil, bush tucker, water, trees, animals and sunshine. It represents the deep connection shared with the land and symbolises community, respect and protection. Where there is love there is life and where there is life there is wealth.

Are there sustainable methods you use when creating your art and how as an artist are you implementing them in the most sustainable manner possible?

All my artworks are framed using sustainably sourced Tasmanian oak timber. I also produce my printed artworks on a madeto-order basis which means no unnecessary excess stock. All my packaging is made from recycled materials and is able to be recycled. I also use Australian made and owned supplies wherever possible.

Do you feel every time you sell a piece of art you lose a piece of yourself?

YES! My meticulously detailed artworks can take up to 40+ hours to create which means I become very attached to them after spending so much time working on them! Every single dot is placed with love and intention. Each artwork holds a story very sacred to me and a lot of emotion and special consideration goes into every piece. I find it very hard to part with them but nothing is more satisfying than seeing the joy they bring to people. www.daisyindots.com.au | @daisy_in_dots

H I L LV I E W HOMESTEAD

For over a hundred years The Hillview Diary had been a thriving Dairy Farm nestled on top of a small ridgeline, overlooking the stunning Mt Tallebudgera, Currumbin Creek and Valley landscape. The Hillview Dairy, originally built-in 1905, is now enjoying a new life, a new career and is certainly a special place to reconnect and recalibrate in a remote but easily accessible location, surrounded by picturesque surrounds; mountains/ wildlife and farm animals.

The Dairy is completely “off the grid”, allowing you to immerse yourself in the true outdoors and to pause and reflect. The main motivation to restore the dairy was sentimental. To be able to preserve such a historically significant building was quite an honour and privilege for Simone’s family, who purchased the Hillview Dairy Farm well over 14 years ago and now giving the family great joy in sharing the space with others.

With a tight budget, their priority was to sustainably restore it on the original footprint, ethically and reuse every inch of the existing building. To ensure the essence of the old dairy was not lost, most of the timber was hand sawn from the timber mill up the valley in Springbrook National Park and to complete this restoration they worked with a beautiful team of semi-retired builders- all having a special connection with the project. Coincidentally, their builder Graham Boyd had the same surname as the original Dairy Farmer builder, John Boyd 120 years ago.

Stepping inside the beautiful decor reflects a sense of home and family, each piece carefully selected and telling a story along the way. Simone sourced a lot of the pieces from antique stores or restored timeless recycled pieces.

Upon completing the Hill Dairy Farm the last piece to the puzzle was a rustic wine barrel style plunge pool, which overlooks the rustic remnants of the good old farming days and mountainous range.

Its popularity as a location/photographic shoot space is touching and guests seem to prioritise the Dairy for special milestones. Honeymooners, babymoons, birthday celebrations, wedding anniversaries, marriage proposals and maternity photoshoots.

So if you’re looking to unwind in breathtaking surroundings of Australia life at your own pace, look no further than this unique homestead. Relax, Restore and Reconnect... “if you choose to escape the dairy will wrap its arms around you”. @hillviewhomestead

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If you choose to escape, the Dairy will wrap its arms around you ...

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THE SOCIAL STUDIO C E L E B R AT E S A N D E M P O W E R S BIPOC AND CALD LABELS The Social Studio (TSS), a Melbourne-based not-for-profit, empowers young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds to design their own futures by providing fashion and industrybased solutions to the main barriers they face upon arriving in our community: unemployment, isolation and difficulties accessing education and training. TSS does this by creating jobs, providing education opportunities, encouraging community engagement and fostering social inclusion.

Founded in 2009, The Social Studio is a fashion school, a clothing label, a retail shop, a clothing manufacturer and a community space created from the style and skills of young people from new migrant and refugee communities. All income generated through the Studio is invested straight back in creating social benefits for their students, staff and their communities.

Late last year, The Social Studio launched a new bricks & mortar retail space at Collingwood Yards, Melbourne. For the first time ever, the team also took the retail store experience online to create a TSS e-commerce platform that has opened the social enterprise up to a national audience.

The concept behind both stores is to celebrate up-and-coming Bla(c)k, indigenous, people of colour and culturally and linguistically diverse creatives across a range of products including apparel, accessories, and lifestyle items. Alongside supporting makers from BIPOC and CALD backgrounds, the team’s retail stores will continue to create opportunities for refugee and new migrant youth through education and employment, as well as funding their NFP fashion school.

The retail stores will also stock TSS’ inhouse label, produced from up-cycled materials that have been salvaged from landfill.

“We’re thrilled to be throwing our support behind some of the country’s most exciting, socially-conscious makers,” chief executive officer Dewi Cooke said.

“Our mission at the Studio is to celebrate and elevate the talents of diverse communities, and we hope that by creating this platform we will help to not only focus the spotlight on the incredible skills and talents of emerging BIPOC and CALD designers but amplify their stories and voices, too.”

TSS launched with designs from: • REMUSE • Badaam • North • Gammin Threads • Bananalands

• Aneau • Companion • Beit e’Shai • Elnaz Ceramics • ULO

TSS plans to continue expanding its range to give more BIPOC and CALD labels a platform to showcase their work.

“I am so excited to be stocked with The Social Studio.

Not only is it an amazing organisation that provides work experience and amplifies the design and entrepreneurial voices of creatives from BIPOC, refugee, and new migrant backgrounds in a fashion space that still has more work to do for diverse creative strategist inclusion, but it also provides these design minds with an amazing space to manufacture, learn trade skills and exhibit products and wears.

The minute I walked into the sunny courtyard of Collingwood Yards, passed by fellow creatives convening, discussing ideas, enjoying the atmosphere, saw the phenomenal manufacturing space and beautifully designed retail spaces of The Social Studio, I knew that this new concept store opening was going to be a very special one filled with great hope and promise for all,” says Tamara Leacock, Designer & Director of Remuse.

Artist Olana Janfa, who has collaborated with TSS on a number of projects, says: “Coming from a different culture, you can sometimes miss opportunities that are more obvious or more accessible to others. The Social Studio does a great job of opening up new doors for young creatives from diverse backgrounds, which keeps things much more interesting for audiences, too.”

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The Social Studio fashion label offers limited-edition signature pieces, each woven with its own story. Each garment is designed and manufactured on-site using only reclaimed and up-cycled materials gathered from the local fashion industry: an ethos and practice of ‘remixed design’ that turns leftovers (trash) into contemporary collections (treasure). The Social Studio is certified

by Ethical Clothing Australia.

Explore and learn more from this beautiful not-for-profit at www.thesocialstudio.org

Acronyms: BIPOC: The acronym, which stands for black, Indigenous and people of colour, is suddenly everywhere.

CALD: The acronym for ‘culturally and linguistically diverse’.

In order of images: Skirt by TSS, Scraft by TSS x Evie O; Hat by Companion; Dresses by TSS; Ceramics by Elnaz; Jacket, top, Pants by Badaam; Blankets by Aneau; Pillows by North; Credit to Jess Bohier: Duval Agency

THE COUNTRY ’ S MOST EXCITING , SOCIALLY- CONSCIOUS MAKERS

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HOUSE OF CAMIE House of Camie is an Australian made designer label for women and men, centred around creating a sustainable, capsule wardrobe of items that will be worn for years to come.

Fusing beautifully fitting garments and everyday practicality with quality materials and ethical practices is how they weave magic into their creations. Each new collection released is a continuation of their growing array of designs available for made to order.

Maintaining Australian made sustainable practices via Made to Order or small production lines ensures exclusivity with a particular focus on supporting local craftsmanship in the industry. To us, this is paramount to fulfil slow fashion ethics, a small footprint and minimal wastage.

Designer and founder, Camille Hemsley (Camie), found her calling to create and design clothing before she can remember.

Perpetually pulled towards any creative endeavour she was able to learn about; photography, drawing, painting, weaving, writing, music; you name it, but fashion always held the spotlight.

After graduating from fashion college in 2008, Camie pursued the production side of fashion as a patternmaker and creative manager for Australian made designers. Camie still freelances as a designer and patternmaker for a variety of designers. This experience has grown her love for the people and onshore industry tenfold.

From early days Camille acknowledged that the fashion industry is one of the Earth’s biggest pollutants and grappled with how she was going to follow her love for creating clothing as a business.

House of Camie eventuated through slow consideration and much thought. Camie lives a low waste lifestyle with her two children and wants to ensure they grow up on a healthy planet and with the brightest of futures.

The latest collection – Flower Eyes - A story about falling in love with life and all that it has to offer. The ups & downs. Easing into it all, softening edges and allowing flow. This collection is designed to be timeless in design, comfortable to wear, gentle on the planet and worn every day in multiple combinations for many occasions over and over.

Having a capsule wardrobe helps to cut down the amount of time it takes you to get ready in the morning and also allows you to cherish your items you carefully selected. We asked Camie what timeless wardrobe pieces she believed that everybody needs to invest in and this is what she had to say: “Looking at my wardrobe I can tell you I absolutely follow no rules, except when it comes to this topic. When I buy anything, ask myself if I want this to be in my possession for the next few years? Is it made to last that long? Do I love it that much?

Does it fit perfectly? Does it fit in with what I already own? Does it have natural fibres and a low environmental impact?

You see, if you buy quality clothing that fits your body beautifully while staying true to your own personal style every piece you buy will be an investment piece.

My current House of Camie wardrobe staples on high rotation include; the Fair Call dresses, Oh Yup Trousers, and the Dang men’s shirt (as a dress)”.

Use SMALLCOLLECTIVE15 for an exclusive discount.

Expires 30 June 2021 www.houseofcamie.com | @houseofcamie

Looking at my wardrobe I can tell you I absolutely follow no rules,

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forever thankful for. After our first year, we are at and some of our best achievements include: Were rated Good, On Good On You, We are working on moving to great, Finalists in the 2020 Non-Toxic Awards, We offset 6,246.3KG of CO2, We feed over 11,000 humans in need with Ozharvest and we planted over 2000 plants in Australia with One Tree Planted. We changed our name from Nativ basics to Nat’v basics to respect and align with our First Nations People.

A simple range of everyday essentials encouraging consumers to create a set of staples that remain in their wardrobes for a lifetime.

Nat’v basics is a brand with a purpose. The intention is simple but the commitment is deep. Launching in 2019 by founder Sandy Ronalds, a mum wanting to do better for her daughter and the world around her. The promise Nat’v basics makes to its customers is to make everyday women’s basic underwear, better.

No frills or trims or awkward bits – so you can put them on and forget you’re wearing them.

In a world where nobody is perfect, the path toward improvement requires a collaborative effort. This is something that Nativ basics understand and the organisation has an ethos of shared learning and growth. We spoke to Sandy in our very first issue and since then we have watched Nat’v flourish - we were thrilled to catch up and share with you where they’re now.

Can you start by telling us a little bit about Nat’v basics and where you are since we last spoke in issue 01?

To start with we are family owned and operated business. We are a small group of people with big hearts and even bigger ambitions. At our core, we’re simply a brand that cares for the planet and the people who live one it. Whilst this philosophy is simple and not particularly unique, it drives us to work hard, to be aware of our surroundings, to constantly be on the search for the best practices in manufacturing, and to deliver the most comfortable products we possibly can for our customers.

We design everyday basics for women that are sustainable and eco-friendly. We strive to offer the highest possible level of comfort. We use the word “comfort” a lot and to us, this does not just refer to the physical touch of our materials on your skin. We want to extend the experience of comfort to our customers by adding the assurance that we are making the best possible choice for the planet. We aim to offer comfort to our customers by maintaining an open and honest supply chain, by checking and ensuring the highest quality working conditions exist at all levels, and by investing time and resources into researching the best techniques for material manufacture that have the least impact on the natural world.

So, to answer the second part of this question, there has been a lot going on since we last spoke. Firstly, when issue 1 launched we were also just launching at the same time so we were really unsure about how our brand would be perceived. Thankfully our first year has gone much better than expected and the brand has really been well received by our customers which I am

Talk us through your design process. How do you reach your signature style?

Initially, the creative process was purely about asking questions.

I simply couldn’t understand why physical comfort had to be a trade-off with sustainable choices. I put some serious research into a variety of products using combinations of recycled and sustainable-sourced materials, with focus also put on the bestpractice methods for minimisation of carbon, waste and water footprint. This eventually led me to the types of materials and corresponding cuts of garments that have become the key part of my signature style.

As I evolve into new ideas and new product development, my creative process always starts with: “how can I make this better for the planet and for women”? If I can’t, it stops right there.

If I can, I spend some time reflecting on the idea. From there I usually create a mood board, and then it progresses from there to designing the garment, its specs and its benefits. From there sampling starts, through to revisions until I am in love with it!

Your brand has gone from strength to strength, do you think that life after COVID will change the way people interact with your brand?

Thank you.

The digital world is forever evolving so I am always open to and expecting things to change, including the way customers interact with the brand. I think COVID-19, in general, has really changed the way people shop now. Gone are the days where you need to go physically into a shop, and this was really amplified during COVID. The biggest change is the dramatic increase in online customers that would probably have not considered or relied upon online shopping as much as life before COVID. I also think/hope that people are now waking-to and realising the harmful effects of fast fashion, which is really a huge problem in the world fuelled by this model of overconsumption.

Whilst COVID has pushed people away from the shops and into the online world of shopping, it has simultaneously given people the whole internet as a sales assistant or shopping buddy. As depressing as this may initially sound, I think the silver lining is that impulse buying of fast and flashy fashion may be reducing, and people may be making more researched and educated decisions when it comes to purchasing their fashion. This could be a very positive outcome for the planet!

Hopefully, people have revalued what’s important and are slowing down, valuing good quality clothes that can be worn over and over.

Do you feel eco-friendly fashion is set to become the norm?

And why do you think the general public care about supporting ethical and environmentally responsible brands?

Modelled by @stylebyrhiannon

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SOFT SIMPLE SUSTAINABLE I really hope so and I hope it actually becomes the norm. I think many companies are trying to do better which is great to see. I think as consumers we should encourage all companies even if they are making small changes. Being an ethical, sustainable company is a lot harder than what people may think.

Unfortunately, unless we see a dramatic change in global attitudes and economics, I fear that ethical beauty/fashion will continue to be seen as a niche product – with a premium needing to be paid for the assurance of sustainability. This will, unfortunately, limit the ability of much of the less fortunate world to access ethical products.

In the current world, unethical and unsustainable businesses can operate with lower costs and higher efficiency. They will always be cheaper and more available to the less fortunate. There is no avoiding this hard and fast fact.

In economics, the term is called a “negative externality” (also sometimes called “external cost” or “external diseconomy”). The real costs of unethical and unsustainable businesses are ignored by the manufacturers and paid for by third parties, such as underpaid workers, communities that suffer from pollution, or the environment itself that suffers from depletion and destruction.

Ethical beauty/fashion has far less negative externalities (ideally zero!) and therefore the costs will always be higher. The only way I can ever see ethical beauty/fashion ruling the world is: A revolutionary new world of wealth distribution, where the less fortunate can still afford to pay the premium for ethical beauty/fashion products.

World-wide law reform, making unethical production illegal and obsolete.

Unfortunately, I can’t see either of these happening in the immediate future, but we can still hope and try our best as individuals.

www.natvbasics.com | @natvbasics

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Gyre Australia ‘Perfection exists in our imperfections’

Gyre Australia is an ethically handmade swimwear brand - designed to instill body confidence and innate femininity, practice the art of living slowly and immerse oneself in nature more often.

Elena and Pete, the founders/designers of Gyre Australia and parents to three beautiful children; now if that wasn’t already enough to keep them on their toes, they also have two adorable dogs (Peanut and Ella).

At the beginning of 2020 they decided to take a leap and drop everything,making the move from NSW to Perth, in search of a calmer and more family friendly lifestyle.

Elena expressed “It has been a crazy journey, but we already feel like it was worth it and we absolutely love discovering this beautiful city and all beaches it has to offer.”

Being an absolute lover of fashion from her early days, Elena loved the artform of dressmaking and design. As a little girl she was mesmerised by her mum taking a plain piece of fabric and turning it into a beautiful dress fit for a ‘princess’. Born in USSR, where imported goods weren’t readily available, resulting in everybodies clothes being made in the same cookie cutter factory, her yearning for self-expression was born.

Here establishing the pure value and appreciation that a gorgeous outfit made for a handful of individuals had.

Coming from a fashion background, Elena knew too much about the ugly side of the fashion industry. As Fashion is the 2nd biggest polluting industry and having a reputation for being unethical to the garment workers, she set out to ensure her business was as sustainable as possible. Starting with fabrics available on the market, Elena discovered Econyl – an Italian company who makes silky soft swimwear fabrics out of recycled ocean waste, and it paved the way for Gyre.

The Gyre design muse is progressive, assured in her beliefs and celebrates all facets of her body and mind – believing strongly in the notion that ‘perfection exists in the imperfections’. She values quality, timelessness and the understanding that less is often more.

The evolution of Gyre Australia began when Elena started simply sewing garments for herself and then after two pregnancies in a short period of time, the realisation of the struggle to find supportive garments with two different sizes for top and bottom, was unachievable in most retails. As she started making dresses, coats; she eventually moved into swimwear design looking to find a perfect shape that would flatter and support her now tired “post-baby” body.

As interest in her swimwear spiked from friends and their friends – from women who struggled to find the same combination of perfect fit, decent support and a flattering cut in a bikini - Gyre was born.

All swimwear is handmade here in Australia by either Elena, in her Perth studio, or, when demand is too big for one person to handle, they partner with the small family run atelier, located in NSW, who specialise in ethically making swimwear for the past 15 years.

Not only supporting locally, Gyre Australia supports a beautiful charity ‘Threads together’. www.gyreaustralia.com | @gyreswimwear

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Imagine having an App

that can take the guesswork out of shopping online When it comes to shopping, returns are a huge problem. Clothing and shoes purchased online are the worst offenders, with 30-40% sent back. According to research, 91% of individuals who ordered clothing online are not satisfied with the fit. One clever and inclusive Aussie fashion app is looking to change all of this. Meet, Mys Tyler.

Founded by seasoned entrepreneur Sarah Neill, Mys Tyler is a young, venture-backed, Sydney startup disrupting the world of fashion, with a mission to help women feel more confident in the clothes they wear and fix the $1 trillion dollar issue of returns. Mys Tyler is revolutionising online shopping by offering women of all body types a new way to find clothing that actually fits their shape, size, and style. The free app matches users with like-bodied women across the globe, already shopping for clothes that will suit them.

The revolutionary fashion app is a transparent and honest representation of how fashion looks on different shapes and bodies and it’s empowering the way women shop while combating the fashion industry’s trillion-dollar returns problem.

By creating an accurate picture of how items will look and fit on your own body, Mys Tyler will take the guesswork out of shopping, and save women from the inefficient (and often demoralising) trial, error and return cycle. A cycle that also has negative economic and environmental impacts.

“We’re fixing a critical flaw in the world of fashion that has meant women have had to buy clothes off models or influencers who look nothing like them,” says Mys Tyler founder & CEO, Sarah.

“Until now, women have had to imagine what clothes would look like on themselves, only to try them on with a shockingly low success rate.”

Sarah, a Sydney born and raised serial entrepreneur has returned home after a decade of living and working in top tier startups in the US to build Mys Tyler. She explains that the industry has been trying to solve the fit problem with solutions like body scanning and virtual fitting rooms that address size, but are missing a critical human insight. “These tech solutions aren’t solving the human problem. As women, we know fit is more than just size, it’s how clothes flatter our shape, complement our colouring and knowing how to style them. While current solutions have fallen short on solving fit, we believe that real women and a little bit of innovation can.”

So how does the first-of-its-kind fashion app work? Thankfully it is in three simple steps: A body quiz and Mys Tyler’s FIT algorithm matches women of similar heights, sizes, and skin tones; Users choose to “follow” women whose style they like to create a personalised feed of fashion content that is both body and style relevant; They can then shop their favourite items directly through the app.

Mys Tyler is now available on the App Store and Google Play as a free download. www.mys-tyler.com | @mys.tyler

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Photographed by Polina Tankilevitch

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F AT P E O P L E WA N T T O S AV E THE PLANET TOO W O R D S B Y H O L LY R I C H A R D S

As far as I’m aware, there’s no weight or size limit for being an activist for climate change or human rights. More and more of us are thinking about the way we treat ourselves, our earth and each other after the wake-up call that was 2020. But for the majority, bringing our values to the way we shop for clothes is at best difficult and at worst impossible.

According to reports, the average clothing size in Australia is a 14 to 16 but plus-size* brands make up just 6.7 per cent of the Australian 16.5 billion dollar clothing industry. Take fast fashion houses out of that mix and I strongly suspect the numbers are even direr.

There’s no doubt about it - not only are labels missing out on increased profits by ignoring fat bodies but wearing slow fashion is a privilege not available to all.

Regardless of your opinions on people in larger bodies, “health” is not a prerequisite for being treated with respect and dignity.

All bodies deserve to dress in sustainable and ethical clothing if they choose.

If the bulk of consumers wear larger sizes, why is it that so few brands, particularly slow fashion brands, sell garments beyond a size 14? Because they don’t care about the environment?

Any plus-size wom(x)n will attest to how infuriatingly difficult it is to purchase on-trend clothes that fit and make you feel good. While there has been a slight improvement in the availability of fashionable clothing in plus-sizes in recent years, unfortunately, most of the brands producing a wide range of sizes are not sustainable or ethical.

As a Canadian fat activist and fashion icon Marielle Elizabeth recently wrote for Vogue, fat people want to save the planet too.

In fact many plus-sized people, myself included, have copped abuse from “woke” fashionistas on social media (and in real life), chastising us for buying fast fashion.

According to recent studies, more than 90% of Australian consumers and businesses are concerned about environmental sustainability.

Believe me, we would LOVE to give sweatshops the flick forever, but we simply don’t have that privilege.

So then, why are plus-sizes still being overlooked?

The answer most resort to is that it’s simply more expensive, difficult and often not possible to create larger sizes. But I’m not buying that either.

For starters, there are already some local slow fashion brands out there doing their bit for size inclusivity.

Take Little Party Dress, Grump, Hara, SÜK Workwear, Vargary, Billie Loveday, Fussy Gus, Nyata and Curvature for example.

Plus, I know first-hand that it’s possible to build a sustainable and ethical plus-size label from the beginning. I’m currently designing a range of sizeinclusive activewear under the label Club Melon and I’ve already made steps to become fully certified by Ethical Clothing Australia.

So, what’s the real excuse?

Well, sadly, all signs point to plain old fatphobia.

Ostracisation of people in larger bodies is rife across many industries around the world, but perhaps none more so than in fashion.

There’s no denying the facts, it takes more money and effort to create clothing which is both sustainable and ethical. So, it makes sense that brands with a conscience have to be selective about how many sizes and styles they release.

But, what doesn’t make sense to me, is why the majority of brands select a range of sizes on the small end of the scale when the majority of people wear larger sizes.

I’m not suggesting brands only stock larger sizes, I’m simply questioning why there isn’t more diversity and inclusivity in slow fashion. Brands: is it time to question your inherent fatphobia? *For the purposes of this article, I have used the term plus-size as an overarching phrase for wom(x)n with a body deemed larger than the slim ideal widely upheld by diet culture.

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Balance Your Hormones and Improve Your Health with Food Words by Megan Pellizzari Hormones may seem daunting, but, I’m telling you, they don’t have to be.

So let’s talk food.

When you understand their function in the body and where they can go astray, it can be quite simple to implement changes that will help to bring you back to balance.

The focus in the first half of the menstrual cycle should be to support healthy estrogen production. Some foods that support healthy estrogen production include: pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, avocados, coconut and grass-fed butter.

Many women are aware that they have an imbalance of some kind, because it shows up in our everyday lives, in our mood, our energy, our emotions and of course in our menstrual cycle, but they just don’t know what to do about it.

Let’s start at the beginning.

There are two main hormones that are responsible for the menstrual cycle. These hormones are ESTROGEN and PROGESTERONE. Estrogen is the hormone present in the first half of the menstrual cycle, while progesterone, is present in the second half of the cycle. Yep, there are two halves that make up the menstrual cycle. See.. that’s not too bad so far?

Let’s keep going.

The first half of the cycle is used to prepare lining of the uterus, but also to mature an ovarian follicle so that it can release an egg at ovulation (which is the main event of the menstrual cycle!). Estrogen is what is responsible for both of these processes.

The second half of the cycle begins after ovulation has occurred. Progesterone is most prevalent in this half, as it is required to further mature the uterine lining, as well as help a pregnancy (if the egg was fertilised) implant into this lining and stay implanted.

This is what would occur in an ideal situation each and every cycle.

However, the world that we live in sometimes does not allow this magical process to unfold the way it should. Stress, poor diet, lack of sleep and illness just to name a few, don’t always allow our hormones to do their jobs as well, and complete their functions properly. This is what often results in IMBALANCE and leaves us feeling moody, irritable and sometimes suffering when our period comes.

The most common hormonal imbalance that affects women these days is HIGH ESTROGEN combined with LOW PROGESTERONE. But don’t fret! I’m here to tell you that food can be your medicine and food can help you balance out your hormones, promote optimal endocrine and reproductive health and keep our hormones humming along nicely. How incredible to have such power at our fingertips! www.awombguidedlife.com | @awombguidedlife

But be aware! It is very easy for your estrogen to become dominant. By supporting liver detoxification (the organ that clears estrogen) we can prevent estrogen dominance. Foods that support healthy estrogen detoxification include: kale, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and brussel sprouts. Focus on these foods as your cycle approaches ovulation when estrogen levels peak.

Following ovulation, progesterone should take the lead. Focusing on food that supports the healthy production of progesterone will support the massive shift in hormones that occurs between this phase and the start of menstruation, and prevent your progesterone levels from dipping too low. Some foods that support healthy progesterone production include: fatty fish (salmon & sardines), maca powder, bananas & walnuts.

There you have it! Food as medicine. Food to get you feeling like you again. Making a few small changes can help balance your hormones but also improve your overall health.

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BEND

Words by Courtney Love

Bend was born through a passion for health.

Since as long as I can remember I have been so intrigued by the human mind and when I began finding ways to strengthen both the mind and body, I felt compelled to help others do the same. This is what lead me to become a Yoga Instructor and from here the Bend Cork Yoga Mats were born. Prior to becoming a Yoga Teacher, I worked in the Media Industry for 10 years. An all-consuming, stressful and demanding job. I began looking for ways to reduce anxiety and calm the mental chatter that was constantly sweeping me up in the undertow. My search let me to Yoga /Meditation and the rest is history.

What I teach on the mat, is a direct reflection to how I live my life off the mat. I am a big believer in finding innerpeace and learning to react to external situations from a place of calm. I believe we all have the ability to calm the mental chatter and find harmony, we are just so conditioned to stress that doing so takes a great deal of practice. In terms of caring for our environment, there is nothing more important to me. Plastic Yoga mats leach toxins which is extremely detrimental for both the environment and our health. It seems counterproductive to be working on your health on a material that is potentially

harming you. This is why I created the Cork Yoga Mat. Cork is made from the outer bark of the oak tree. It is hand harvested every 9-10 years and not one single tree is cut down in the process. Cork is eco-friendly, biodegradable and non-toxic. It’s the healthiest and most conscious choice you can make when looking to purchase an exercise mat.

If just one person makes the swap from plastic to cork, I am happy. It is extremely comforting for me knowing that both an individual’s health and the environment are better off. The further away we can steer ourselves from toxins, the better.

My mats begin with a pencil and a piece of paper. I sketch a design that I have in my mind and send that sketch to my amazing graphic designer. Drawing is not my forte, so my graphic designer is a miracle-worker. We go back and forth until I feel I have the perfect design. I wanted to be able to benefit both beginner and experienced Yogi’s so I purposely placed lines vertically on the mat to help with alignment and correct positioning. From there I take my design to my manufacturer and arrange for a sample to be produced. Once I receive the sample, I use the mat in my practice. I take it to all my classes; I use it myself and allow my students to use it also. I gain feedback and productive criticism and look for ways to improve the mat. Afterall, the public are the ones buying my product, their input is absolutely invaluable. I go back to the manufacturer with any changes and once I feel comfortable, I have the perfect product, I start production. It is vital to have a good working relationship with your manufacturer. Someone you can trust and who has the same values as you.

Switching to a cork mat is a great start. A small change can make a big difference. I encourage everyone to be mindful and make conscious choices.

Question where your everyday products come from. Look for how they are made and what happens to them once they no longer have any use.

I have a very close and personal connection with the Cystic Fibrosis community.

This charity is extremely dear to my heart for many reasons. As a brand and personally, I do, and always will continue to give to help fight for a cure. www.bendbycourtney.com| @bendbycourtney

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C O N N E C T I N G T H E B R E AT H TO THE BODY One of my favourite and most beneficial asanas in yoga is Bitilasana Marjaryasana more commonly known as the cat-cow pose. Such a simple movement, yet when done correctly, has amazing health benefits.

The most important thing to remember during this asana, is to connect the breath to each movement. There are a range of benefits when you coconsciously connect your breathing as you flow through Bitilasana Marjaryasana, such as releasing anxiety, calming the nervous system and activating the digestive organs.

The Cat Cow asana is also great for adding flexibility to the spine and strengthening the wrists and shoulders.

How to flow through

B I T I L A S AN A M AR J ARYA S AN A Come into a four-point-kneeling position Inhale through the nose as you arch the back and lift the chin to the sky. Fill up the belly with the breath. Pause for a moment, holding the breath.

Exhale through the mouth as you round the spine and tuck the chin to the chest.

Repeat 4-5 times until you feel calm and grounded. I recommend doing this asana at the very beginning of any yoga sequence.

It’s a great way to calm the mind and warm up the spine.

Where did your passion for illustrating began and how it developed into affirmation cards?

Grounded Minds was born during quiet weekends at home during Melbourne’s strict lockdowns. Like many others, I found myself utilising my spare time to do all of the things I said I wanted to do but didn’t have enough time - like read a book, do a puzzle, or paint. I started playing around with one line illustrations as a bit of a challenge and I loved it. I loved how I had to trust the process and let it happen. It was really meditative and calming and was a nice reminder that through uncertainties we just have to trust, jump in and whatever appears on the paper (or in our lives) is exactly what it needs to be. I started painting all of these illustrations and hung them all over our lounge room wall. Angus didn’t mind, he thought it looked cool and so I kept going. I soon ditched the paintbrush and started turning the hand drawn illustrations into digital art. I scanned in my favourite drawings and colourised them. I can’t describe it but to me each drawing holds a message. So I accompanied each face with words and voilà the cards were born!

GROUNDED MINDS make happiness a ritual Everyday affirmations cards that will change everything.

We often forget to pause, reflect and appreciate the simple things that life give us. These beautiful affirmation cards enables you to live in the moment and not let life pass you by, due to your evergrowing life schedule. We had the pleasure of getting know more about Grounded Minds and how they embared on a journey of change.

Who is Grounded Minds?

Grounded Minds is my partner (Angus Sinclair) and I (Alanna Deutrom). I do the ‘fun things’ (the art and creativity), while Angus focuses on the business-ey stuff (Marketing and Systems). We are the perfect duo, and I’m forever grateful for his encouragement. We didn’t plan for Grounded Minds to be what it is, it feels like Grounded Minds found us just as much as we found it.

I am really passionate about personal development. My full time gig is as a singing teacher. Angus and I run a music school together, ‘Coach Music Academy’ based in Melbourne. I think through mentoring my students over the last 11 years I have always wished I could be with them encouraging them every step of the way. But I just can’t!

A lot of them now have a deck of my cards. They joke that, ‘It is like having me there daily to give them a pep talk, to remind them to breathe through their busy minds, and see the goodness everywhere’.

What inspires your artwork and choice of affirmations?

My ideas come to me during moments of peace.

Sometimes after I meditate, often when I’m practicing yoga and always when I’m journalling. Journaling really inspired the words on each card. This year I religiously journalled and loved it. It felt like a daily declutter of all of the thoughts buzzing around my mind. It started as a gratitude journal and really just became its own thing ~ no rules! I had never read my journal back until I started illustrating. I went through pages and pages of deep thoughts, and I realised some of these could work.

So I chose my favourite passages and added them to a big doc on my computer. Some of the words already fit illustrations I had created, others I drew based on the words and some drawings I drew and just wrote what they made me feel. I just did it because it was fun and I was in a beautiful creative flow that I couldn’t stop. Thankfully Angus was there because I didn’t really have any intention on printing them and sharing them with the world. It was just a little creative project for me. Each illustration is a drawing of a power chick! She is who she is, she is unique, she has imperfections, but most of all she has a message.

They are a collective of whatever you want them to be. I think they stand for all of the women around us, before us, and within us. They are there to combat the bad thoughts with good ones. So instead of indulging in unhelpful thinking these cards and the women on them represent your happy thoughts, and remind you that however you feel - it is ok. And sometimes we all need a nudge in the right direction. There are only two cards in the deck that I drew and I felt they represented an inspirational woman in my life, the rest just came out when I put pen to paper.

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What do you feel your role is, as an artist in today’s society and do you hope your cards provoke change?

I feel my role is to help others see the good, know that they hold the power, and to create happy rituals in their life. People need to become more self aware, and to make time for themselves to have a deeper understanding of the complexities in their minds. My bestie gifted some cards to a work colleague and that friend shares a card with her group chat each Friday. She pulls a card for each group member and takes a photo and sends it through. That for me was a moment that I felt like my art was making a difference - people were sharing it on a deeper level, connecting with others, through something so simple but so powerful.

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solution which is our foldable cardboard mailers - they protect the cards whilst in transit and can be recycled easily when they arrive at their new home! www.groundedminds.com.au | @groundedminds

Finally, tell us about your sustainable practices.

Our cards are printed right here in Australia. The cards and the box are 100% recyclable - this was important to us, as we wanted to ensure that all of our packaging was recyclable too. We spent a lot of time finding the perfect

HAPPY THOUGHTS 42 Card Deck

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Humans and Digital Technology: Our Boundaries and Interaction Digital technology is all about the introduction of smart devices, and advanced tools or systems. They are made for the convenience of humans so that they can perform complex tasks with great ease and in less time.

However, with time, there use is invading our personal lives. Human-to-human interaction is blurring and machines are taking more of our time. We, as a human race, are heading towards the extreme social distance.

This situation is becoming worse with time, as the patterns of interaction are flipping.

We will discuss here how these patterns are changing and what are their various impacts on us.

from around the globe in a matter of just a few minutes.

Imagine, it is not years, months, or weeks, but just a few minutes. Thus, living in such a world is becoming easier, efficient, and faster. It is especially important for people for whom time is money. The advent of technology and its interaction options are life-saving for these people.

End of Intimacy We all know that it is now preferable for people to text than to meet in person. More than this, they hear each other’s voice on phone calls and get the satisfaction of social interaction. This is why it is becoming uncommon that people sit down or walk around with each other because they have bowed down to digital devices.

Changing Patterns of Human Interaction Humans interact with each other and technology, either for better or for worse. The relationship with societies and cultures is changing at an extremely fast rate due to technological advancements. According to recent researches and surveys, communication has become faster and intimacy is ending between humans.

Let us explain two major changes that are blurring our boundaries with each other, and changing our interaction with the world around us.

Fast and Easy Communication Communication between humans is faster and easier than ever before. With the introduction of aeroplanes, bullet trains, cars, computers, and other smart devices, complex interactions have become simple. They are also more efficient than ever before because instant interactions are possible with these options.

Unlike the times of the past, you can interact with people

More than human-to-human intimacy, human-tomachine interaction is becoming the norm of today’s world. It is increasing the gap between humans and reducing intimacy. This is the age where robots and artificial intelligence is replacing humans, the distance between humans is only set to decrease with time.

We come to know that how our boundaries are blurring in the digital age and how it is having a significant impact on how we interact in the modern world. It is changed since the advent of technological advancements in the past two decades.

It is amazing and shocking at the same time because both the advantages and drawbacks are serious enough to consider. Only if we’re able to keep balance with technological interaction and human interaction, we can live our lives peacefully in this new world.

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NORTHERN OLIVE Northern Olive is a luxe eco-friendly home and travel brand, based in Melbourne Australia. Founder Emma Clarke mother of two started Northern Olive while on maternity leave from work in 2020, inspired by the environmental challenges that are so paramount today. “I want to help people do life better,” with minimalist design and durability, textiles that are kind to our planet, whilst still having a sense of style and fun.

Prior to Northern Olive Emma spent 10 years in the highstress environment of Child Protection at the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

Knowing first hand how the hustle and bustle of modernday life can get on top of you. Emma found organisation and order was her go-to for stress relief and this became more apparent with two children in the recent two lockdowns. Emma expressed “stress - both personal and other peoples - is something I know a lot about due to my experiences as a social worker. I believe that being organised reduces stress and provides space in your daily life to help you better tackle your daily challenges”.

Northern Olive was designed to aid personal organisation whilst being more environmentally conscious than other similar products commonly made from petrochemical textiles like nylon and polyester.

Prior to starting a family, Emma and her husband Andrew; made a conscious decision to rid themselves of added toxicity wherever possible. Desperately wanting to slow down and find a better balance. Together they completed a course in Transcendental Meditation, enabling them to learn how to slow down and clear their minds; creating a really positive impact on their family’s overall well-being.

alternative to the current available products. A packing cube set that was stylish and made my packing experience calming and enjoyable, whilst having less impact on the environment.

Becoming conscious of our environmental footprint as a growing family, I also wanted a product that would not end up in landfill.

This was the summer of 2020, and while developing our packing cubes sets, COVID-19 hit and travel became less… well ceased for the foreseeable future. So our focus like everyone else’s turned from travel, to home.

Despite spreading my love of packing and organisation, the biggest inspiration for me was and still is my children; I want my kids to grow up knowing that I tried to do something good for the environment. I want them to know that I did not bury my head in the sand knowing full well the damage we are doing to the planet.

I have faith that if there is a more sustainable alternative available, people, where possible, will choose it”.

Being strong believers in an organised physical and mental space and the benefits it can have in all aspects of your life; it was only fitting to Emma that her products reflected those values.

As a new brand Emma is continuously learning and lives by the familiy motto “Better never sleeps”. This saying is not referring to the little sleep they get thanks to their two little cherubs, however more about the idea that there is always room for improvement and you must continuously refine, as there is always something that can be done better.

With every brand/business there is a beautiful story of how it originated, we ask Emma to tell us the story of how Northern Olive came to be:

The current Organic Cotton Home and Travel Range has a sense of quality and durability in the material that reflects an older, simpler time.

“Northern Olive came about shortly after the birth of our second child, our darling little Olive. As a family of four we were about to embark on a summer holiday, with numerous stops and destinations.

When creating this range Emma’s vision took her ‘to a sailor returning from service with a heavy canvas duffel over his shoulder, his family waiting for him at the docks in their finest clothes that had been passed down from sibling to sibling. A time when material goods were minimal, well made, more cherished, and lasted a lifetime’.

As a mother of two under three, I could feel the storm of disorganisation and stress with even the thought of this adventure. Another small human added to the mix and more “things” to pack…unpack… repack and undoubtedly more waste! And this is where it all began: The Organic Cotton Travel Packing Cube - a personal desire for a product that was not available. I have been a packing cube user for many years, however, I wanted a more sustainable

This range aims to take the products back in time, to when textiles were more environmentally friendly, and durable compared to modern synthetic fibres (polyester, acrylic, nylon, etc.) which are used in the majority of fast fashion garments today (which use copious amounts of fossil fuels) - resulting in disposable and toxic material.

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being organised reduces stress and provides space in your daily life to help you better tackle your daily challenges.

The Home Storage Cubes are available in a variety of sizes.

Naturally breathable, they are designed to store and protect a range of goods within the home from quilts and linen to seasonal clothing, shoes, handbags, children’s clothes, blankets and toys. They have a simple, sleek design and natural colouring to match any décor and uplift any wardrobe, cupboard, or open space.

Northern Olive pride and joy is the Organic Cotton Travel Packing Cubes which are designed with durability as their key feature, a set to last a lifetime. Made with a double layer of unbleached Organic Cotton Canvas to last the test of being repeatedly packed, unpacked, carted around and used for more than just travelling. The travel packing cubes are meant to be used daily to separate and protect

belongings within your Weekend Carry-All Bags. Like all Northern Olive products, they are designed to be versatile.

Northern Olive products are multi-purpose, machine washable and made from renewable materials. The textiles selected are biodegradable, recyclable and packaged in 100% compostable and biodegradable packaging. With each purchase giving back to One Tree Planted, a non-profit organisation that run inspirational tree planting projects to support reforestation around the world.

Photographed by Kruz Creations Photography www.northernolive.com | @northernolive_

Wanderings & Co.

In regards to handmade goods, what hurdles do you as an artisan encounter and how you aim for it to bring a sense of adventure into the everyday?

Inspired by their outdoor lifestyle, Wanderings & Co. produce meaningful and practical camping gear that is made for the adventurous souls. Whether you’re a casual camper or living on the road full time, each product is designed to go where ever you go, allowing you to you escape the daily grind.

I over-see the design, pattern making and construction of all our goods. I love being so hands on but as the sole maker it can be full on at times. Due to the nature of our products being made to order, I have to juggle incoming orders with any custom jobs I may be working on at the time, while also keeping our social media and website up to date. It certainly keeps me busy, but I like to think I manage well under pressure.

So come wander with we us and Wanderings & Co. and learn about the beautiful craft of handmade goods.

Who is Wandering & Co.?

Wanderings & Co. was started by myself, Laura Morriss in 2015 after having a bit of a quarter life crisis. I had finished my fashion design degree, was working in retail and just felt a bit lost. I would spend my weekends escaping the “real world” and heading into the outdoors to find myself and it was then that I realised I could combine my two loves; camping and sewing.

Since then, it has grown into a brand that is continuously inspired by the Australian lifestyle. I produce meaningful and practical outdoor goods, homewares and photography prints for the adventurous souls. Whether you’re a casual camper or living on the road full time, our products are designed to go wherever you go. Our aim is to create a community that provides inspiration to help you escape the daily grind and bring back a sense of adventure to the everyday.

What is your philosophy and how do stick by this?

We believe life should be simple. So, our aim is to supply you with gear that is built to last and allows you to live comfortably and simply when on the road or at home. Our mission is to create goods that last for years to come, so we offer a repairs service on all our products to encourage this.

The pieces in our latest collection feature canvas goods that have been meaningfully created to bring that sense of adventure to the everyday. Whether you’re collecting wood in the middle of nowhere, on a road trip or just filling your wood stack at home, our log carrier is the perfect example of how our goods can be used whether you’re near or far.

As a sole trader, how do you support or practice eco-friendly, sustainable and ethical principles?

All our products are made to order. Nothing is mass produced, which means we are not contributing to the fast fashion movement and unnecessarily adding to landfill. Each product is proudly handcrafted from fabric that is built to last, we are big believers in creating something once and well. We also offer repairs to further encourage our customers to hold onto things rather than throw them away.

As we are a small business, we are able to focus on ensuring our environmental impact is light, but it is something that will continue to be a main focus of mine as we hopefully grow into a larger business in the years to come.

How does your brand give back to the community?

Up until now we haven’t had the capacity to give back to the community, but we have a big dream project that we’re hoping to bring to life in 2021. We are launching “Gramping by Wanderings & Co” an initiative to take the elderly outdoors and give them a

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“Makers of outdoor goods and camping essentials”. little taste of the camping experience. It’s a simple idea but we believe some time spent around a campfire with some freshly made damper and a billy tea can do wonders for the soul. We hope this program will help improve their mental well-being and reignite their sense of adventure.

What advice or encouragement would you give to someone looking to get into handmaking?

Just start. I was always waiting for the right time, but I’ve since realised that there is no right time! For me, it took diving into the deep end of quitting my day job without any plans to force me to start swimming. I started freelance sewing and slowly built my confidence up to go out on my own and start Wanderings & Co. Sometimes you just have to believe in yourself and your vision and take a leap of faith! It’s scary and hard at times but it’s all part of the adventure. www.wanderingsandco.com | @wanderingsandco Take 15% off storewide with: SMALLCOLLECTIVE

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THE BENEFITS OF USING NATURAL BATHROOM CLEANERS + TOLIET BOMB RECIPE Toilet Bomb Recipe Ingredients 1 Cup Bio-Carb Soda (baking soda, sodium bicarbonate) 1/4 cup Citric Acid2Tbs water for spraying 20-30 Drops of Essential Oils of choice (tea tree and citrus oils are great for odours and anti-bacterial properties)

Not only does regular cleaning visually improve your living space and mood, but it helps to remove allergens, contaminants, and pathogens. A clean bathroom requires deep cleaning and often when we’re faced with dirty surfaces, most reach for harsh cleaners and chemicals “to do the job”, but in reality, this is causing more harm than good to yourself and the environment.

Let’s be honest, cleaning the bathroom is one of the least favourite cleaning activities and often requires a numerous amount of products.

However “natural” or “Green” Cleaning Products, can be easily created from a handful of ingredients or bought from a sustainable brand which typically harnesses the power of plants, like vegetable-based cleansers.

Moulds So instead of buying a basketful of products to clean your bathroom and home, think about doing it yourself or selecting products that are multiuse natural cleaners to cut down on unnecessary waste, space and toxins.

Make cleaning easy and start with a simple time saver Toliet Bomb Recipe.

This recipe came from one our beautiful giveaway winner @soli_dee, in our last issue.

Method Combine all ingredients and once well combined, spray mixture with water until you reach a wet sand consistency and can clump mixture into a solid ball without it falling apart.

Press mixture firmly down into moulds with your fingers or spoon. Let it sit overnight to dry and then store in an airtight container or jar.

Use 2 toilet bombs, allowing them to sit in the toilet for a few minutes to dissolve. Use in combination a citrus vinegar, for Extra cleaning power.

Keeper Clean

Developing a formula with you and the planet in mind, this Foaming Hand Soap is a Keeper! Keeper’s formula is vegan, hypoallergenic and pH balanced, and doesn’t contain any SLS or harmful chemicals that could hurt the environment.

The way it works is simple, you fill a Keeper Bottle with warm water, drop in a Keeper Foaming Hand Soap Pod, wait 5 minutes, give the bottle a little shimmy to make sure all of the ingredients are well mixed, and like magic, you have hand soap and it’s time to throw a foam party for your hands.

Keeper Clean’s tips for using and shopping for hand soap: This sounds like the end of an ad in that fast voice, but, ALWAYS READ THE LABELS. Many companies, particularly the ones sitting on your supermarket shelf, will claim to be gentle or moisturising. This can be deceptive because while they may have moisturising ingredients in them, they could also have other nasties like SLS high up on the ingredient list and the higher on the list, the higher the concentration!

After moving out of home, Bonnie Macqueen (a Sydney based brand and marketing specialist with a passion for sustainability) was horrified to discover how much plastic was involved in setting up a new apartment, and how often she was replacing her personal care and cleaning products.

This is where the idea for Keeper Clean was born. Bonnie founded Keeper Clean with the mission of reducing single-use plastics and making eco-friendly personal care products as accessible (and classy) as possible. When starting Keeper Clean, it was important to Bonnie that the business was not only value-led and eco-friendly but an honest, no B.S. company so customers would know exactly what they were signing up for.

Every year an estimated 6.5 billion kilograms of rubbish ends up in the ocean. Keeper Clean is passionate about reducing the need for single-use plastic at home to keep rubbish out of our oceans, nature and landfill so we can look forward to a clean, sustainable future. Keeper bottles are made out of highquality glass to be used and reused, so you never have to buy a single-use bottle of hand soap again. Caring about you and the environment, Keeper Foaming Hand Soap Pods are 100% biodegradable, vegan and pH balanced for sensitive skin.

Keeper Bottles and Pods come packed in recycled cardboard printed with plant-based inks and can either be composted or given another life and recycled again.

After a year of excessive hand washing, everyone seems to be well versed in the task (we think there could probably be a new event added to the Olympics!)

A hot tip though: right-handed people wash their left hand more and left-handed people wash their right more, give your dominant hand, some handwashing love too! www.keeperclean.com.au | @keepeer.clean

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Ocean Eyes Words + Illustration by O.J.Siebel

It was a cool, crisp afternoon tipping on the scales towards winter’s cold hand. A headland overlooking a vast stretch of empty, rugged beach was where I perched. As the sun began its descent over the horizon, my mind began to fall a little deeper into the trance of words that linger constantly just beneath the surface.

It made me think about the things that dither and tarry beneath the surface of things, physically and metaphorically; both a breath away and miles down deep. We feel emotions and the like from the bottom of our hearts, and yet our hearts are mere centimetres from complete exposure. We see things with our eyes that are out in the open, yet what we see is never even the half of things.

There sinking my eyes deep into the ocean’s dark blue eyes, sparkling with playful beauty and power. I realised, the sea showed so much of itself on the surface, and yet there was so much more I couldn’t see, an entire world I could never fathom deep down under that blue blanket of water.

Eyes are the most understated part of our body language. Do we meet people’s eyes when we speak? The opposite is also true, sometimes we hide what we truly feel, masking it with our voice and eyes. I can’t even tell you how many people I have met (myself included at times) who seemed to have it all neat and tidy, a well put together show. Only to get to know them and find their deep struggles and life issues, of which I would have been none the wiser. That’s just the thing about shows, they are made up characters; not real, not us.

This year and this generation, I believe it’s more important than ever to treat people not how we think they deserve, or how we see them, but with an unwavering standard of kindness, unwavering as the sea lapping the shore. Because how we treat people are the things that truly belong to us, they become our legacies we leave behind, the things people remember.

I wonder if we could try and see a little more, even when we don’t see and understand everything. Imagine if we could all (even try to) be kind no matter what kind of stormy, angry, shallow, dumping waves we face? Knowing mankind deep down is all alike, all needing the same things and all trying to do their best with what they have and what they know.

The eyes are the greatest piece of craftsmanship and detail, no camera will ever be able to capture what you can. Behind a camera is mechanics. Behind your camera (eyes)… a soul, a person with such incredible uniqueness, never before seen and never to be repeated. What picture of yourself and of others will you choose to capture?

I once heard a quote from one of my school teachers a long time ago, “everyone is worth getting to know” – I couldn’t agree more when it comes to seeing beyond what the eye can see, and daring to delve deeper past the shallows and into depth with people… the shallows allow us to be so self-sufficient, the depths is where we hold each other up, feet off the ground and facing the surging force of waves together.

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ZE RO WA STE L I FESTYL E When we talk about the zero-waste concept, three terms come into our minds. These include Reducing, Reuse, and Recycle. The main introduction of these terms’ dates back to the 1970s. The idea behind them was to decrease the percentage of waste products and help the government with its management.

However, in present times, it is a necessity for us as communities. Due to lack of resources, unattended consumption of those that are available, and bad impact on our environment, we are now forced to adopt these terms. The problem of waste is exponentially growing all over the world.

How to live a Zero Waste life?

In 2013, Bea Johnson (a US-based environmental activist, author and motivational speaker) came up with the zero-waste concept and 5 relevant terms.

Along with the Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle concept, she introduced Rot and Refuse terms. It is her framework of living a zero-waste life which is now adopted and acknowledged worldwide. Let us learn about all of them to get an idea of living a zero-waste life.

If all of us become responsible for the trash that we toss into the surroundings, our planet would be a much better place to live.

By using the zero-waste concept, we may become conscious of our consumption habits. By simply following Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Rot concepts, we can easily live a zero-waste life. It will surely transform our surroundings.

As each person’s situation is unique to them, here is a step-by-step method to assess and put into practice a low-waste habit that works for you. Remember it is not a race, so start with picking an issue you’re most passionate about and identify the solution which can break that habit everyday.

For example: If you’re a coffee-lover, the issue is single-use takeaway cups. The solution is packing a sustainable keep cup and changing your habits to ensure you remember to bring it to your local cafe each time you’d like to get a takeaway.

Learn from the past, the present and perfect your future zero-waste habits.

Refuse The first step towards zero waste is to refuse things that you do not need. For instance, you go to a mall and the seller offers you free items. If you think they are going to end up in your dustbin, refuse to accept them. Other than this, refuse to purchase a new plastic bag every time you go shopping, take your coffee mug with you to avoid disposable coffee cups, say no to excessive packaging etc.

Reduce Be mindful about the fact that what you need and what exactly you want, to buy during shopping. This step goes hand in hand with ‘Refuse‘ because it is very close to its concept. Also, you should focus on buy quality products that will last for a long time. So, reduce the consumption of low-quality products that need replacement after a short time.

Reuse Reuse and Repair are almost the same terms. Before you throw something out, first reflect if you can reuse it for the same purpose or some other thing. If it is damaged, if possible, then make sure you repair it for reuse. For instance, your smartphone is not working well. So, rather than buying a new one, you can look to get it repaired to extend its longevity.

Recycle Recycling can reduce waste at the fastest level than any other thing in the world. All you need to do is to sort out the same items and recycle them properly. For instance, you are working in your kitchen and you get a lot of vegetable leftovers after cutting. You can recycle them to make compost for growing food items at home.

Rot Rot means composting waste items. You might think of it as a tough task that requires a lot of time. Well, that is not true.

There are so many options to follow, such as vermicomposting where earthworms will do the job for you, etc.

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Benefits of Zero Waste There are multiple benefits that we can derive by following the zero-waste concept. Here is the list of the most prominent ones among them: Reduce Climate Change Zero waste helps in the reduction of climate change.

Recycling, reusing, redesigning, and reducing will play a key role in less energy consumption for new item production.

Thus, it will positively and dramatically impact the climate.

Minimise Pollution It can minimize pollution because less waste is going into landfills and incinerators. Also, statistics show that 42 percent of greenhouse gas house emission will reduce with this concept as a reduction in use, reuse, and recycling of already available ones will not consume energy.

Bea Johnson concept was to never dump anything that she can redesign and reuse for something else. Later, she started to share the idea on her blog from where it became popular.

Here we will learn about this concept in detail along with various benefits that it brings for us and our environment.

Let us start with expanding on the main concept first.

The concept of Zero Waste.

The zero-waste concept is all about responsible consumption of natural resources. It includes Recycling, Reuse, and Recovery of materials to avoid their discharge as waste and to protect human and environmental health. The processing of new materials consume a lot of energy and cost a lot of money. It also causes pollution as we throw reusable and recyclable materials into our environment.

Zero-waste advocates the idea of Recovery, Recycle and Reuse. This means that nothing should go to waste unless or until we can use it again. For instance, plastic shampoo bottles can be refilled with liquid for reuse when they get empty. Industries should introduce the refilling option for consumers at their stores.

Conserve Resources You can conserve a lot of resources due to less need for new items production. Products will be made to last for a long time, and the need for new ones will be very low.

Build Communities It benefits in building better communities by bringing equality. This happens when we reuse and redistribute food and other usable items among the people of our communities.

Creates Jobs It will create more jobs because new business for tailoring, recycling, and repairing will start. This means that there will be more local jobs for the community.

Supports Economy This concept supports the economy of a country. When everyone is using resources wisely, there will be less burden on the economy, thus it will flourish at a much better place.

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"The zero-waste concept is all about responsible consumption of natural resources".

Presently, the world needs the implementation of the zero-waste concept. It is the only way for us to conserve resources and reduce environmental pollution. The point of absolutely no-waste is not quite possible right now, but if we set our direction towards it, we surely can get a cleaner environment, many social and economical benefits.

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Tell us about your zero-waste haircare and the positive impact each bar has on reducing plastic.

Honua means the earth, sea and mountains in Hawaiian, and encapsulates the tropical, sustainable and eco-conscious ethos of the brand. The core range of bars are pineapple shaped and they come in cute colours and fun scents like Liliko’i & Hibiscus Star Fruit. The packaging features quirky surf, skate and yoga-inspired doodles, designed locally in Burleigh. I’m also currently selling around Coconut Citrus Sorbet limited edition pair, which come with travel tins. The bars are vegan and cruelty-free, handmade in Australia, pH balanced, containing only sustainably sourced ingredients, soap-free and contain no sulphates, parabens, silicones or phthalates. Each bar replaces 3 plastic bottles that would otherwise end up in landfill or the ocean. A new range of eight round bars is due to release around mid-2021 too, so watch this space!

Honua Bars Plastic is Forever. It does not bio-grade and harmlessly return to nature. It photo-degrades into smaller pieces of itself, continually polluting the environment throughout its life cycle.

If you choose to use shampoo and conditioner, you’re contributing copious amounts of plastic bottles each year into landfill. So how can you prevent this? Through the use of Conditioner and Shampoo Bars, depending on your hair length and volume, each pair can save 6 plastic bottles from ending up in landfill or our oceans.

We spoke to the beautiful founder behind Honua Bars, Sophie Thwaites and discovered how her quirky bars are making a huge step in the right direction for haircare and it’s impact on the environment.

For those yet to discover Honua Bars, who is this quirky flourishing brand and how did it come to be?

I started Honua Bars as a response to the plastic crisis we are currently facing, with an emphasis on ingredients that are responsibly sourced and gentle on your hair. I surf frequently and found myself frustrated by the amount of plastic shampoo and conditioner bottles I was churning through, knowing how little of it would actually be recycled and the ultimate impact on marine life. I started googling for alternatives and discovered shampoo bars, and was instantly in love; so much so that I decided to make them myself. I felt the available bars on the market weren’t particularly exciting, and I sensed a gap in the market for a bar that would appeal to a younger audience.

How does your zero waste haircare encourage the connection to self and the environment?

Besides environmental benefits associated with packaging, solid bars are a huge step in the right direction for the environment as unlike liquid versions, they need less water in the manufacturing stage.

Transportability is another advantage; they are lightweight and there is no risk of spills. Solid bars are also more concentrated compared to their liquid counterparts, therefore no need to repurchase as often and offering better value for money to consumers, making them more affordable in the long run. Often shampoo bars are made by small businesses as they are difficult to manufacture at scale.

What are the biggest Myths around haircare bars that you would like to debunk?

One common myth around shampoo bars is that they are bad for your hair and require an ‘apple cider vinegar rinse’ or ‘transition period’. The tricky thing here is that there are in fact two types of shampoo bar- ones that are really just soap and soap-free ones like Honua Bars. A soap-based bar will not be pH balanced and will do your hair damage in the long run, as the cuticles are left open. Soap is fine for your skin; which is alive and can quickly regulate its pH back, but hair is dead and cannot. Vinegar rinses can mitigate this, but why damage your hair in the first place. A soap-free shampoo bar, however, is just like regular liquid shampoo minus the water, and thus if properly formulated will be pH balanced and treat your hair very well indeed.

With only 3 months in business, Honua Bars are already planning to give a portion to an ocean cleanup charity, once business picks up.

Be a zero waste hero and make the switch today! www.honuabars.com.au | @honuabars

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Vegan, plastic free and eco conscious hair care

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Where Does our Coffee Come From?

Words by Gabrielle Lincoln From seed to sip, here’s the run-down…

Over the course of our lives, we’re told many lies; storks deliver babies, crusts are good for you, Donald Trump will make America great again, and when an ice cream truck plays G​reensleeves ​it means they’re all out of ice cream.

When it comes to coffee the lines are often blurred between fact and fiction. If you’ve been a coffee drinker for any amount of time you’ll be familiar with words like ‘sustainability’, ‘traceability’ and ‘relationship’, but these terms hold very little value if not clearly defined or taken seriously.

After all, if everyone’s claiming to be sustainable, is anyone really?

We, coffee drinkers, make up 1 billion of the earth’s population, and according to ​World Coffee Research​ that number’s predicted to double by the year 2050. However, if things continue as they are, that demand cannot be fulfilled. With any global issue, there’s no point feeling helpless or overwhelmed.

Instead, we can all do our part to first acknowledge the true value of coffee by understanding where it’s come from.

So from one coffee lover to another, let’s discover the ​who, what, when, where and how​a cup of coffee came to be…

Sustainability: simply put, it’s the ability to keep existing. And our ability to keep farming, selling, and drinking coffee is increasingly at risk.

— GISSELLE GUERRA , PERFECT DAILY GRIND.

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From Seed to Green Bean

From Roast to Cup

As Julie Andrews once famously said: let’s start at the very beginning. If you’re already aware that coffee comes from a fruit that grows on a tree that grows on a farm, kudos. You’re already miles ahead of a lot of people.

Despite the misconception that all coffee tastes like… well, coffee... the taste of coffee is actually dependent on multiple factors: the location it was grown, the altitude, varietal, how it was washed and processed, and that’s all before it even hits the roaster.

Whether specialty, instant or Starbucks, coffee exists thanks to the hard work of 20 million farmers across 40 different countries and represents a lifeline for millions. It’s pretty cool if you think about it: the cup of coffee you had this morning could have come from Panama mountain ranges or a familyowned farm in Kenya. Or a blend of both!

Like many people in the agricultural world, however, coffee farmers are no strangers to hardship. They face extreme low wages while natural conditions, like unpredictable weather or pests, have the potential to put their entire crops at risk.

If push came to shove we (the end consumers) could easily survive without coffee, but we often forget that for so many their livelihoods literally depend on it.

When it comes to roasting it’s completely up to the roaster to decide how they want to roast, package and market the coffee.

This is why you’ll often see tasting notes (like blueberries, chocolate and shortbread) on the front of a roasted bag of beans. This doesn’t mean the coffee’s been flavoured or infused, rather, it is the roaster’s description of the coffee’s inherent taste profile. It’s more like an interpretation.

Finally, these roasted beans end up in the coffee makers’ hands. This could be a barista, or it could be you at home.

From here there are endless ways to make and consume this widely loved beverage.

So the next time you’re sipping coffee, whether it be a latte, cold brew, filter or milkshake, just remember where it’s come from and the very epic journey it’s been through.

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WHAT IS BIOPHILIC DESIGN and how can it improve health & wellbeing?

Biophilia is a concept at the centre of which is human’s innate attraction to nature. The term was popularised in the 1980s, as more people were moving into cities and getting disconnected from nature. The American biologist Edward O. Wilson observed that this shift went hand in hand with a loss of connection to the natural world and decreased wellbeing.

These beliefs and observations stand at the core of biophilic design – humans are naturally drawn to nature and not being able to access it has a negative impact on their health and wellbeing.

In the 21st century, even more, people are drawn from the countryside to cities, spaces are increasingly urbanised, natural beauty is disappearing and our connection to nature is fading away. Right now, more than half of all human population lives in cities – and in 30 years, the share is predicted to go up to two thirds. It is now more than ever that we could use nature being brought into our everyday lives when we can’t be in it.

How can biophilic design be implemented?

There are three ways in which biophilic design can encourage our connection to nature: direct experience of nature, the indirect experience of nature and experience of space and place. The elements of direct experience of nature bring nature into the indoor space in the most literal sense of the word. Plants, light and water are introduced to provide direct contact with nature – sometimes, even air can be manipulated to simulate the experience of the outdoors!

There are also some ways to provide indirect experiences with nature which can have similarly beneficial effects. For this purpose, spaces are built using natural materials such as wood and feature decorations such as images of nature. If a view of the natural environment is not available or an abundance of plants is not feasible for a space, this is often designers’ next best bet.

The benefits of biophilic design What difference does biophilic design actually make in a space? And how does it help improve your health and wellbeing? You may have noticed or heard before that having plants in your environment enhances your creativity and makes you happier or that opening your space up into nature does wonders for your mental health, but let’s walk through some of the research evidence for this: A 2016 study found that bad air quality correlated with the study participants feeling drowsy and scoring lower on cognitive tests.

According to a Learning Spaces report, students learning in spaces with an abundance of natural light improved 20% faster in math and 26% faster in reading.

A Japanese study found that simulating the natural environment indoors decreased study participants’ blood pressure and pulse rate.

An American study found that students filling in a satisfaction questionnaire rated their learning more positively if tropical plants were present in the room.

Hospital patient records from the US show that those in a room with a view of nature had shorter postoperative hospital stays and needed fewer analgesics.

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Sustainable Living with

HOME GARDENING Global warming and other natural catastrophes are causing a lot of chaos on Earth.

People are now aware of the current food insecurity situation and understand how difficult the future can turn out to be. Considering all of this, they are shifting towards growing their vegetables at home. This is ‘sustainable home gardening’ that is helping them eat clean food that is free of pesticide chemicals and preservatives.

At the same time, they are also playing their part in reducing the carbon footprint.

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WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE HOME GARDENING? Sustainable home gardening is a method of growing vegetables and fruits that do not involve the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides. It is a self-replication process that provides continuous harvest without damaging the environment and resources. Future generations can carry out the activities in the same location.

In other words, the sustainable home garden becomes self-sufficient for continuous food production. This is because it is using only natural resources like seeds, water, sunlight, and soil for this purpose. Moreover, the plant species are native to the gardener’s living area, and the nutrient source for the pants is compost that comes from garden waste. Therefore, the garden sustains its yield over and over again.

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CHOOSE RIGHT LOCATION

CLEAR & PREPARE THE SOIL

Decide location while considering the vegetable, fruit, or flower that you want to grow. If it needs long or short sunlight hours?

Decide accurate spot according to this. The field should not be sloppy, and uneven. It’s better to grow on the rooftop of your home if you have enough space there.

Get rid of sods (or turf) in the growing area by slicing with a spade. Remove rocks, grass, and weed residues. Add organic matter or compost. Till the soil (deep cultivationturning over and then breaking up the soil) for the final preparation and before sowing the seeds.

5 TIMELY WATER SUPPLY

Water daily until roots establish. After this, water according to humidity, rainfall, soil moisture level, and plant needs. Consider windy, cool, dry, cloudy, and sunny weather to fulfil plant water needs. To save and reduce consumption, water them in the morning or use a slow release dripper.

6 TAKE PROTECTION MEASURES

Use mulch to retain soil moisture, and to keep weeds out. Try row covers, to protect your plants from insect pests, cold temperatures and too much sun. Use natural sprays (refer to our sustainable pest control guide on the following page). Net, collar, and cloche your plants and vegetables.

SELECT WHAT TO PLANT

Choose the plant that adds to your table.

Plants those that you and your family like.

Grow those that grow within a short time.

Consider maintenance requirements that you can afford to practice for chosen plant species. Start slowly and with a small number of plants.

4 START PLANTING

Consider the weather and seasons for planting every vegetable and fruit species.

Understand information about planting depth, time, and spacing in advance. As a beginner, you can choose small transplants rather than seeds to grow. In the end, pat the soil with hands, and supply enough water.

7 WORK TO MAINTAIN

Pull out weeds before they spread. Pick and drop destructive insects into a sudsy solution, if you cannot deter them with other methods. Harvest immediately when fruit or vegetable are ready. Compost before you plant again. Remember even your compost can create seedlings.

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Tips to Make a Home Garden Sustainable There are a few important tips for sustainable home gardening that every practising home gardener should keep in mind. These are as follows: • Practice organic gardening.

• Mulch your fields.

• Use native plant species.

• Use water sprinklers to reduce water consumption.

• Save previous plant seeds.

• Use natural methods to control pests, weeds, and insects.

• Compost your green waste.

• Support local birds and bees by growing plants.

The main objective of sustainable home gardening is to control environmental pollution and chemical exposure to humans. By using biodegradable, reusable, and sustainable natural resources, this method shows that chemical-free food production is possible. We can ensure food security on Earth without harming its environment with chemicals and pesticides. If our generation becomes successful in adopting this mindset, the next generations will follow our steps towards making this planet a better place to love.

Sustainable & Natural Insects, Pest and Weed Control The use of natural solutions for insect, pest, and weed control helps us protect the environment. Moreover, they do not interfere with the quality of plants because of the nonchemical nature. So, the good news is that we do not need chemical-based pesticides, insecticides, and weedicides.

There are so many natural and sustainable options that can beat the problem quite effectively.

First of all, the best you can do is to focus on prevention, and if somehow you still face the problem, then follow the natural ways. Let’s start with sustainable prevention options, and then the natural eradication methods.

Focus on Prevention Prevention is always better than cure. By focusing on the plant health right from the start, we can ensure resistance in them against insect, pest, and weed spread. Add compost and mulch in the soil to promote the growth of beneficial microorganisms. They will protect the plants from insects and pests. Use pest-resistant plants as windbreaks and sunshade.

They will not allow pests to attack your main crop.

Regularly remove dead plants from the field. This will make sure that the insects have no hiding place around the plants.

Weed eradication should be done as soon as you observe them in the field. They will not be able to distribute their seeds and spread them around.

Even after prevention, the problem can still arise. Never opt for the chemical formulation, rather use the sustainable and natural solutions that will work towards removing them.

PEST CONTROL

Hunting: Garlic and chilli solution is an effective hunting option for pest at day time. During the night, you can go and pick them off to kill or throw away from the main field.

Pest Predators: Birds eat the pests like aphids, caterpillars, snails, slugs, etc. Add a space for them to live and provide food as a bribe.

They will automatically visit and do the job for you.

Barriers: Use shallow water containers to avoid slugs and snails. Also, they are unable to crawl on metal material, so add a barrier made of copper to keep them away.

Disguise: Pets attraction for plants come from their come and shape.

Polyculture could be confusion and disguise for pests. Also, the use of CDs and scarecrows can further benefit in the process.

WEED CONTROL

Mulching: Weeds cannot grow without light, so covering the plants with mulch can prevent weed infestation.

No-Dig: Rather than digging, deal with weeds by hoeing. You can also use a sharp spade to remove the top of the weed. Digging bring weed seeds to the soil top, so never do that.

INSECT CONTROL

Use Baits: You can buy an effective bait for insects and place them where you observe the highest population. Do this for each section of the field to ensure proper eradication.

DIY Repellents: You can make a solution of cucumber, mint tea, garlic, citrus oil, lemon juice, coffee, and cinnamon to prevent insect spread. You have to just spray the solution over them, and they will die in a few seconds or maybe minutes.

You may observe that the weed, pest, or insect spread is out of control, and natural remedies cannot help you. Well, in that case, use the least toxic solution. You can choose plant-derived pesticides and horticultural oil to protect the plants. However, the top priority should be to prevent the problem as much as possible. It is the most sustainable and finest solution to this problem.

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Pest / Insects

Nitrogen Deficiency

Signs: If there isn't any visible insects on the leaf, than look for eaten leaves.

Solution: Determine the type of insect and find one of our nature insect sprays to prevent them from coming back.

Signs: The veins of the leaves begin to yellow and gradely the edges do too.

Solutions: You can sprinkle your leftover coffee grounds over the soil or again re-pot with a rich organic compost

Overwatering

Iron Deficiency

Signs: Leaves dropping off, yellow or wilted.

Solution: It is important to ensure your soil has sufficient soil drainage to prevent rotted roots. Small rocks and/or sand are great to use to raise your plant bed.

Signs: The whole leaf becomes yellow, whilst the veins remain green.

Solutions: Grab yourself a pH reader from your local hardware store or gardening centre and determine the pH level of the soil and adjust according to the plant.

Dehydrated

Potassium Deficiency

Signs: Leaves curl and start to dry out when your squeeze the leaves they crumble.

Solution: Ensure you water your plant regularly a minimum of once a week, each plant is different so be sure to do your research to keep them thriving.

Signs: When the edge of your leaves start to yellow and make their way to the centre.

Solutions: Re-pot with a rich compost consisting of veggie and fruit waste, alternatively pop citrus rinds in the soil.

Lack of Sunlight

Magnesium Deficiency

Signs: Your leaves will droop and look lifeless.

Solution: Reposition your plant’s location to enable it to have adequate sunlight.

Signs: White appears close to the green veins.

Solutions: Add Epson salts or lime to your soil or re-pot, with an organic compost which has magnesium.

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LIQUID GOLD

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HOW TO TURN RINSED RICE WATER INTO LIQUID GOLD FOR YOUR PLANTS Rice water has very small NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorous, K for Potassium or Potash) qualities. So don’t use it as a replacement to fertilise your plants. Instead it’s the starches that are the key ingredient. It cultures and feeds the beneficial bacteria call Lacto Bacilli that can help feed the good fungi like mycorrhizae. Which in turn feeds the plants roots, making it grow stronger, healthier and more resistant to diseases.

Rice contains starch, which gives the rice water its opaque, white colour. These starches are beneficial to plants, encouraging healthy bacteria that grow in the roots. Rice water is a well-known nourishing organic fertiliser for plants. But not many might be aware of its use as a pest control. Insects like fruit flies, plant lice, flea beetle, aphids and other pests can be reduced using rice water.

Here’s a simple method of collecting this type of microorganism. Lactic acid bacteria can be collected from the air.

Step 1. Pour rice wash (solution generated when you wash the rice with water) in a glass container. Allow air gap at least 50-75% of the container. Cover the container with a lid loosely.

Materials Required Rice Jar with a lid Milk Strainer Molasses or Sugar If you’re wanting to make a larger batch, ensure you have a large container or a handful of jars to store airtight and out of direct sunlight.

Step 2. Allow the rice water to ferment for at least 5-7 days, avoid direct sunlight. Lactic acid bacteria will gather in 5-7 days. Rice brain will be separated and float in the liquid, like a thin film, smelling sour.

Step 3. To get pure lactobacilli, a saturation of milk will eliminate the other microorganisms and the pure lactobacilli will be left. In 5-7 days, carbohydrate, protein and fat will float leaving yellow liquid, which contains the lactic acid bacteria. You can dispose of the coagulated carbohydrate, protein and fat, add them to your compost pile or feed them to your animals.

Step 4. The pure lactic acid bacteria serum can be stored in the refrigerator or simply add an equal amount of crude sugar or molasses, (to keep the lactic acid bacteria alive at room temperature). Now, these lactic acid bacteria serum with sugar or molasses will be your pure culture.

Step 5. To use, dilute this pure culture with 20 parts of water. Remember, we are dealing with live microorganisms and chlorine can kill them. Two to four tablespoons added to the water of one gallon can be used as your basic spray.

Note: Lactic acid bacteria serum can be applied to plant leaves to fortify phyllosphere microbes, soil and compost. For any kind of imbalance, it will be in the soil or digestive system, lactobacilli can help.

S U S TA I N A B L E SELF-CARE MADE SIMPLE The normal way we adapt to any regions of helpless self-care is to disengage from our bodies. The vast majority of us experience our days unaware of or ignoring the side effects that our bodies are attempting to try to communicate to us. At the point when we stop focusing on these signs, we are unable to differentiate our bodily needs consistently, creating an even greater disconnection from ourselves, and ultimately an unhealthier physical state of mind and body.

It is critical to pay attention to your body early on and as you embark on your journey of connection to self you will encounter a more joyful and easier life. Find your self-care routine with beautiful eco-friendly and sustainable products.

Photographer turned skin care enthusiast! Meg founder of Stone + Elk developed the range for her love of organic elements, skin care and creative design!

There are not many things in life as rewarding as a clean, refreshed and clear face. Refreshed skin leaves our complexion glowing and doubles our confidence. Unfortunately, with such luxury, it can be extremely difficult to discover skincare products perfect for your needs. You wouldn’t eat toxic chemicals, so why would you consider putting them on your skin? With this, there has never been a better time to turn to organic and natural skincare suited to the specific needs of each individual.

Stone + Elk is made up of organic and raw essential plant oils. These oils are extracted from plants in a way, that retain their original properties. Extracts of plants (which create the essential oils) are considered more effective in implementing the benefits of the plant and are 100% natural and safe to soak into the skin for optimum results. If organic + pure essential oils are used properly, they can be both environmentally sustainable and economical. Granted, one drop of any essential oil does represent a lot of plant material, so use that precious drop wisely, understanding and honouring its potency.

Stone + Elk currently offers three key organic skin products: ‘Naked’ skin food - is a small blend of concentrated, organic ingredients to target multiple skin woes. This is our ‘all in one’ blend with floral notes of lavender and geranium calming the nerves and the skin.

STONE + ELK SELF-CARE THAT’S N AT U R A L LY S I M P L E

Organic rosehip + blend - Rosehip oil is rich in essential fatty acids and antioxidants, which are integral for tissue and cell regeneration in the skin. This oil has been used for years and years as a folk remedy for wound healing, as well as the reduction of scars and fine lines.

Organic hemp seed + blend - perfect for scarred and blemishprone skin to smooth out the daily stress our skin endures.

Perfect for face and bodies of all types. www.stoneandelk.com.au | @stone_and_elk

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Kin North

After falling into the trap of defining her worth by how much she worked, her title, and how many balls she could juggle at once. Resulting in an epic burn out. Tresna Lee (founder of Kin North) created Kin, “to shine a light on our need for rest and those joyful moments between the busy, where we find sparks of creativity, calm and connection”.

Tresna loves the daily ritual of burning Japanese incense and how it helps find that space. Creating a core range of premium incense was always part of her vision and now after years of work she is thrilled to be sharing her very first, called Home.

Where did you draw your inspiration for ‘Home’?

I worked with Chikako Perez in Japan to create Home. Chikako was born into an incense making family and studied fragrance design in Grasse (France), where she met her husband. Together their company, Tokyo Kodo, mixes multigenerational incense expertise with French perfumery techniques. They produce incense unlike anything else you’ll find in the world.

I love that scent has the power to transport us to our deepest memories. I wanted our first incense to conjure a deep sense of nostalgia, comfort and inner remembering.

The biggest inspiration was my childhood growing up in my grandparents home. It was a childhood of scents - earth, trees, knitting wool, my grandfather’s cologne, something sweet baking in the oven…

Home is made with 10 different ingredients including Buddha Wood, Cedar, Cinnamon and Clove and it immediately transports me to those memories.

What makes Japanese incense so special?

I’d dabbled with cheap bamboo core incense in my teens and freaked out my parents who thought I was burning down my room! When I tried Japanese incense 10 years ago I had an awakening to what quality incense could be.

When you burn bamboo core incense, you also smell the bamboo burning and get excessive smoke. Other forms of incense are made using an unscented piece of compounded wood dipped into an essential oil. True Japanese incense differs from the ‘dip’ and bamboo style in that every ingredient that makes up the stick is part of the fragrance journey.

Creating true Japanese incense involves mixing a precise blend of wood powder, herbs, spices and fragrance with a natural binding material and water. It’s mixed, like a giant batch of dough, and extruded into spaghetti-like strands before being cut and dried slowly over a number of weeks. It’s a delicate process that has been replicated in Japan since around 500AD. How do you choose which incense to burn?

Incense made in this way can be experienced differently depending on the time of day and even the weather! I find different notes become more pronounced, or I’ll smell different layers depending on my mood.

If I want to feel inspired, I burn Tokyo Kodo’s Wisteria du Japon, as it coaxes my creativity. When meditating and journaling I burn Tokyo Kodo’s Magnolia as it soothes my overactive mind and inspires intuition.

I burn Home incense at any time sometimes in the morning to ‘wake up’ our house and also in the evening as we get ready to sleep. Incense has become the scented punctuation marks of my life.

How does Kin give back to charity?

I don’t usually make a big deal of how I give back in society, as it’s something that I’ve always done. It was modelled for me from a very young age, so it feels quite natural that we would share what we have and continue to grow our awareness of how our actions impact others. That said, awakening further to my own privilege is something I continue to work on.

As a business I make monthly contributions to Pay The Rent, and choose organisations and charities both locally and overseas to support throughout the year as I feel called. One that I’ve been regularly donating to during Covid-19 is a small grassroots program in Bali, Feed Bali, who is giving food packages to families who are suffering without the tourism trade.

I have a deep connection with Indonesia, and source some of our ceramic incense holders from Bali, and want to give back to those who have given so much to me. www.kinnorth.com | @kinnorth

Going vegan is the best option to reduce bad impacts on our environment. It is now a well-known fact as many authentic studies reflect the same results.

A study carried out at the University of Oxford shows that a reduction in meat and dairy items consumption by every individual can decrease their carbon footprint up to 73%. This is how impactful it can turn out to be for our surroundings.

Conserves Water Due to drought and mismanagement of water resources, many people face water scarcity issues every year. Also, the livestock consumes a lot of amounts and pollutes it at the same time. Other than this, more livestock means a higher demand to grow plants to feed them. These plants will consume a lot of water in the process. So, it is negatively impacting water resources in all possible ways.

According to statistics, we need 200 times more water to raise one pound of meat in comparison to one pound of the plant. We can save 15,000 L of water by replacing one-kilo beef with veggies.

Cleans the Soil Raising livestock leads to soil weakening and erosion hazards. To make room for them, we cut trees and plants that are of great value for soil and human health.

According to an estimation, we lose almost an area equal to Panama every year due to deforestation for raising livestock. It adds a fair share to climate change and global warming. However, if we go vegetarian, we will grow more plants that will enrich the soil with nutrients and provide long-term resilience to deterioration.

Reduces Energy Consumption A lot of energy consumption is involved in the livestock raising process. Also, the process takes a lot of time feeding the animals until they reach a suitable age. During this, they consume a lot of food which we could use for better purposes otherwise.

After this, when it’s time to consume these animals, we send a lot of resources in transporting and refrigerating them. However, if we consider energy consumption in the case of plants, it is 8 times less than animals.

Purifies the Air Long ago, scientific research has provided evidence about the plant’s ability to clean the environment. Also, it is known that livestock is the source of the highest percentage of pollution in the world. It is even more than what buses, cars, ships, and planes cause. So, if more people become vegetarian, the need for animal species breeding would be least required.

Final Thoughts!

Above all the environmental benefits that vegan food provides to our planet, it is a great friend of our bodies too. Even fruits and vegetables have certain nutrients that meat does not have. Going vegan will help you actively decide the right food choices that will ultimately benefit your body and the environment at large. Considering all the benefits of going vegan for the environment and your own body, we are sure that you will seriously think about adapting to this lifestyle in the present or future.

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Yogurt Bowl with Roasted Chickpea Fig Salad INGREDIENTS Figs Rocket olives Cucumber Red Capsicum Edamame beans 1/2 cup Chickpeas Natural Yogurt Pita Bread Lime Salt & Pepper Oil Dukkah

METHOD Preheat oven to 200ºC with a rack in the lower third. Rinse and drain chickpeas; wrap in a clean kitchen towel to remove excess water. On a baking sheet or nonstick tray, toss chickpeas with 2 tablespoons oil, 4 teaspoons dukkah, 1 teaspoon salt, and a few grinds of pepper. Roast, shaking baking sheet a few times, until chickpeas are golden and crisp, roughly 20–25 minutes.

Whilst your Chickpeas are roasting away, chop your cucumber, figs and capsicum (you can also choose to roast your capsicum slightly in the last 10 minutes). Remove the pits from your olives, rinse your rocket leaves and toast your pita bread.

ASSEMBLE & SERVE Grab yourself a bowl and spoon a few tablespoons of natural yogurt (to create the base of your bowl) and then add your roasted chickpeas. Layer the rest of your ingredients (Figs, Rocket Leaves, Olives, Cucumber, Red Capsicum, Edamame Beans) and serve with a side of Pita Bread and a drizzle of lime. Enjoy! *Add according to your taste and don’t be afraid to experiment with different ingredients.

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Kumhara Clay Kumhara Clay is a small one woman show, with each piece designed, handcrafted and glazed by Alicia.

Transforming clay with careful hands into a functional piece or something to be admired. We had the pleasure of learning more about Kumhara Clay and how Alicia, uniquely crafts her pieces.

Who is Kumhara clay?

Kumhara Clay has slowly evolved through a combination of luck, perseverance and support. I have always wanted to provide aesthetically pleasing functional ware for the conscious individual. I have a background in nutrition and a love of food which may be the driving factor to create functional ware, I want my work to encourage the coming together, enjoying and sharing a meal with family and community.

What led you to working with ceramics? Are you self-taught or did you learn your skills from someone else?

I was in Dharmasala, India and saw some beautiful ceramics in a store and from that moment I was on a hunt to locate some classes. I was lucky enough to be taught by Divyam in Delhi initially. I then took a few classes when I came home. I moved to Warrnambool and spent two days a week with an artist by the name of Barry Tate, I started to develop my glaze making knowledge and feel more comfortable on the wheel.

We would also do some really interesting things such as three-day wood firings, this would take several weeks to prepare for and would always be an exciting event. I am now studying a grad dip in ceramics with one class left to go, though this has been put on hold due to COVID-19.

How would you define the style of your work and how has it develop overtime?

My work has an earthy element to it due to the tactility of the pieces. I am continuously drawn to dark, textured clays and white glazes. I have a certain style in my mind that I feel I am yet to achieve, it forever feels like an ongoing exploration of the “perfect” glaze and maybe that’s the way it should be. This desire will continually encourage me to develop my knowledge and test my skills.

How do you balance your time making your pieces and running a small business?

This is something I am endlessly trying to juggle as I’m sure many people who run a small business can relate to. There are several different hats that need to be worn throughout the day and week. I try to create boundaries when it comes to checking emails and social media. However, the perfect balance is something I am always trying to achieve despite it being difficult to obtain.

Are there sustainable methods of using clay and how are you using clay in the most sustainable manner possible?

I have a few sustainable practices in place such as ensuring all clays are sourced within Australia to reduce carbon footprint.

Any offcuts of clay are recycled, all plastic that the clay comes in is reused for packaging purposes. All materials used in wrapping and packaging will be either recycled from friends and local businesses or recyclable. Eventually, I hope to use solar panels to run the kiln.

What is on your mind when you are shaping the object?

I think it is always changing depending on what I’m making and my frame of mind at the time. I am always thinking about the shape I am trying to complete, this may be in the forefront or the back of my mind. Sitting at the wheel is a nice time to reflect. I also listen to a lot of music and podcasts.

What are the benefits of creating small-batch ceramics?

There are many benefits to this, small-batch ceramics have less impact on the earth especially if the maker incorporates sustainable practices. There is also the obvious benefit of supporting an individual rather than a large corporation who may not consider the current state of our climate.

Tell us about your latest collection?

I have a few things going on at the moment, some have come to fruition and others are still working their way around in my mind.

Something with a soft, semi-matte feel, maybe that’s all I’ll say on that for now.

Photographed by Leslie Carvitto. www.kumharaclay.com | @ kumharaclay

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ECO DIRECTORY TO SAVE TIME AND HAVE PEACE OF MIND

Our eco directory launching in late March will highlight an amazing range of zero-waste stores, brands and products, regenerative farms, green builders and services, eco accommodation, ethical fashion, sustainable eating and an array of eco-services, suited fo r all aspects of your life. We want to take the stress out sifting through to find the perfect mindful business.

Ifyou're a Brand

Our new Eco Directory gives brands and businesses a welcome place to showcase products and services, that are environmentally conscious and ethical. Companies reach an enthusiastic audience hungry for mindful products that can empower a simpler, more eco-friendly life. Feature your business, art, music or event in the Small Collective Eco Directory.

Join for Free today. Learn more and get started via @smallcollectivedirectoy

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The perfect gift for all occasions Looking for that perfect gift for an upcoming special occasion?

These two brands are the perfect gift to impress. Create unforgettable memories with a meaningful gift for their important day. Though keep in mind you don’t need a special occasion to send your love with a gift.

The Intrinsic Aroma Co. The Intrinsic Aroma Co. was founded by Karina over a year ago. It began as a personal passion for non-toxic products and a way to eliminate plastic packaging for her own personal use.

It is as a result of this personal ethos that she has ensured the products are made with plant-based ingredients without harmful chemicals. It is well known that these chemicals are absorbed into our bodies and washed into our waterways affecting the environment and living creatures.

The packaging is designed with the health of people and the planet in mind. Glass jars are used to protect the products from BPA and other contaminants. The outer packaging is all recyclable or compostable enabling it to break down and add to the earth naturally. theintrinsicaromaco.com.au | @theintrinsicaromaco

Hello Petal Home of the plantable card Sustainably handcrafted on 100% recycled paper, Hello Petal cards are embedded with Swan River daisy seeds and are intended to be planted once read.

These thoughtful cards are changing the way you give, with your words of love literally blooming into wildflowers. Hello Petal pledge to donate 1% of every sale to Greening Australia and are a proud plasticfree business. Say goodbye to the days of hoarding cards in your cupboard and hello to beautiful blooms with the perfect eco-friendly present.

Read. Plant. Bloom. www.hellopetalcards.com.au | @hellopetalcards

Small Collective MAGAZINE

Thank you For supporting the Small Collective au and all the beautiful Creatives, Brands and Organisations throughout this issue. We hope your mind was open to new and amazing things featured in this issue.

If you are a mindful Brand, Individual or Organisation doing amazing things we would love to hear what is next install for you, via our submission tab on our website.

If you loved this issue, stay tuned for our next issue coming in June 2021.

Don’t forget to tag @small_collective, we love getting to know our readers! www.thesmallcollective.com.au

Small Collective MAGAZINE

SMALL COLLECTIVE ISSUE

1 MAGAZINE = 1/2 A DAY OF EDUCATION An important part of creating this magazine was knowing that it wasn’t adding more rubbish to this world, so we wanted to ensure that the printer we chose shared the same values. With this in mind, we found a printer that enables our magazine to be printed on eco paper with eco ink. Another important attribute was having the opportunity to support a nonprofit. Here through our beautiful printer who is partnered with CARE Australia, we were able to make this happen. Through each print, a percentage of funds are donated to support a project run by CARE Australia, in Cambodia. These Projects support girls from ethnic minorities through primary school. They also have projects in Nepal and Tanzania with two separate grassroots organisations. One funds skills training for women and the other provides education scholarships for girls in primary and high school. Previously they have also funded projects in Sierra Leone and Uganda, focusing on small business training and scholarships for girls in primary and high school.

Each print run measures our impact on ‘Education days’, so for every purchase, our printers let us know exactly how many days are helping to fund each project. Our Printers work closely with their charity partners to work out exactly (as close as possible) what an education day costs for each specific project, factoring in everything that is needed: school fees, uniforms, books, sanitary products, transport, etc. They do this because its more powerful than using a percentage of profits, as the impact is very tangible for customers and clients.

So every time you and a friend buy a magazine, you fund one day of education.

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