Sunday 17 December 2017

book review : slow clothing

Did you know there is a new Australian sustainable fashion book on the market? Slow Clothing by Jane Milburn of Textile Beat. Could be the perfect holiday gift for that fashion lover in your life...

I love this beautiful, calming cover, which features the author's own creations.

The full title is Slow Clothing: Finding meaning in what we wear, and is Milburn's attempt to do for fashion what the slow food movement has done for the food and agriculture industries. I was lucky enough to be given a copy for review and wanted to share my initial thoughts with you before "baby brain" kicks in (though, in all honesty, baby brain may have arrived before Baby!)

One of my first thoughts when I saw the title was how much I love the subtitle. I wholeheartedly agree with the idea of injecting more meaning in our clothing. In my own work I've seen firsthand the difference between people who value their clothing and those who don't. While this book has a particular emphasis on making and upcycling your own clothing, I've seen the importance of value and meaning in purchased garments as well - the intention and thought going into what we wear has a strong influence on how much we buy, how well we take care of garments, and how long we hold onto clothing before donating and/or disposing of it.

But I digress...

Milburn has a wealth of knowledge on issues of fashion and sustainability, and her passion for clothing and textiles is undeniable. The book is broken into six chapters detailing Milburn's purpose, journey, Sew it Again and Slow Clothing projects, slow clothing manifesto, DIY techniques and final reflections about the future from various community leaders.

Milburn's Slow Clothing Manifesto

My favourite chapter of the book is Chapter 2, 'Authenticity', when Jane shares her journey to slow clothing. It's probably the social researcher in me, but I absolutely love learning about individuals' stories, especially when they are stories that have led to a sustainable transformation of sorts. Jane's story is a reminder that each of us have unique experiences that provide us with specific skills and interests to change the world around us. In her case, there are the sewing skills learned early in life, her role as a journalist, working and living in rural communities, hands-on environmental and leadership projects, and an ability to connect with people across each of these various roles and locales.

Jane also shares very personal experiences dealing with loss, addiction and depression, and how these impacted her journey to slow fashion. It is rare in the realm of clothing and fashion writing to find this type of vulnerability - no sugar-coating, no glamour, no jokes - and it greatly added to the message of the book about finding meaning in our clothing. It's only when we are honest and open with ourselves that we can find meaning in life, including having the ability to connect with our clothing in a valuable and meaningful way, and a way that impacts more than our own self-image but also the planet, our communities, and even people working in the global garment industry.

Other highlights include Jane's life lessons/insights that she sprinkles throughout the book, including these gems:
  • Making clothes to suit oneself is satisfying (I'd add that, if you're not a sewer yourself, altering and/or having clothes made to measure is also satisfying and confidence-boosting).
  • Being sustainable may cost more, but is worth it in the long run.
  • Embrace imperfection. Being perfect is impossible to maintain.
  • [When it comes to sewing a garment], just give it a go. Learning comes from doing. 

One example from The Slow Clothing Project - Emma Williamson
made this gown from a cotton sheet left behind by a former tenant
and a length of elastic - made with only two seams sewn!

And for sewing novices like me, Chapter 5 provides some extremely useful DIY techniques you can use to either mend your favourite garments or to get creative with upcycling of preloved clothing (whether your own or those you've found in op shops or markets).

I've had the pleasure of meeting dozens of sustainable fashion entrepreneurs in Australia. This book of Jane's experiences is yet another reminder of the progress that can be made by an individual with a passion, and the importance of sharing this passion with others to change the face of fashion. We may all come from different backgrounds, have different aesthetic preferences in clothing, and have different skills, but as Jane highlights in her book (as spoken by her colleague), "Leadership is an action you take, not a position you hold." In Jane's words:
"You don't need a title or a badge to be a leader, you can just step up."
As we wrap up another year, I think this is a wonderful notion to reflect upon. How can you step up to make the world a better place? No need for accolades or the spotlight, but just taking action for the sake of making a positive contribution. What experiences and skills enable you to offer something unique to the various issues and causes that need attention? We all have the ability to make a positive impact, if we just take the leap.

I love this take on the famous fishing quote - nice one, Jane!

On that note, I'd like to wish you and yours a joyous holiday season. Thank you for another wonderful year of sharing sustainability ideas. I'm signing off the blog now to enjoy the holidays, family, friends, and welcoming new Baby into the world.

See you all in 2018!
xxLisa

Wednesday 6 December 2017

ugly christmas sweaters

I'm sure you've heard of the "revival" of ugly Christmas sweaters.


A few years back some hipsters thought it would be hysterical to rummage through op shops and their parents' closets to find the ugliest holiday sweaters to wear - ironically, of course. Then ugly Christmas sweater parties surfaced all over the place, including Sydney's sweltering silly season. Now there is even an ugly Christmas sweater day in the US.

Ugly Christmas Sweater Party via Flickr/Ramseymohsen

I'm not opposed to the idea of mocking the Christmas sweaters of yesteryear - there are some real doozies out there. Growing up I vividly remember a sweatshirt with a puff paint Rudolph (remember puff paint?!) and another with a Christmas tree strung with tiny ornaments hanging off the front. I was definitely a child of the '80s.


Honestly, I don't want to be the fun police. By all means, have a laugh at these sartorially questionable jumpers. But can you do me (and the planet and garment workers a favour) and please not buy a new ugly Christmas sweater?

Why buy a new sweater when this vintage
beauty is available from Ragstock?

There are now companies that specialise in new ugly Christmas sweaters like Tipsy Elves and Ugly Christmas Sweater, capitalising on this bit of holiday fun. Plus the likes of ASOS and Target also have ranges of ugly Christmas sweaters. Many of these are more "funny" than "ugly", but the they are all taking advantage of this recent holiday trend.

You know where I'm going with this, right?

This is a completely unsustainable mode of fashion consumption.

That's right, I used bold, that's how irritated I am at the concept of new ugly sweaters.

First of all, the origin of the ugly Christmas sweater revival was to find a genuinely used, pre-worn sweater and laugh at the original wearer of it - "Can you believe my Dad actually wore this monstrosity?!" And if you were willing to wear it out and about in Fitzroy or Williamsburg you'd have the additional glow from the knowledge that you paid as little as possible and didn't contribute to corporate greed by buying secondhand.



Which brings me to my second point:

Buying a new ugly Christmas sweater is essentially the same as buying into the fast fashion mentality - "I'll buy this ugly sweater to wear ironically or to a fancy dress party and then get rid of it after one or two wears."

And though the sweaters are not all cheap (retailing between US$30-$80), they are made of poor materials. Mostly made of acrylic, though sometimes with a little bit of cotton and/or polyester thrown in the mix. I've written before about the problems with microfibre pollution associated with acrylic and polyester fibres, and the amount of textile waste from consumers is staggering. These specialty brands do not rate anywhere on any of the garment labour standards schemes, and their supply chains are completely opaque, meaning the company either has no idea, or isn't sharing openly, who makes their (ugly) clothes.



And for those Aussies reading this who are tempted to buy an ugly Christmas rashie for their Christmas morning surf, consider this message is for you, too. Unless you are going to wear that tacky holiday rashie until it is threadbare, put it back on the rack and just wear a Santa hat like the rest of the Christmas Day surfers, okay? (Try the same one you wore last year, it'll probably still do the trick.)

Those brands of new sweaters that partner with Ugly Christmas Sweater Day ask you to make a donation to a children's charity - fabulous idea! But no need to buy a new ugly sweater from these shady businesses. Be like the cool kids - find a vintage one in an op shop, eBay, Rusty Zipper or Ragstock (or your Mum's wardrobe!) then take the money you would have spent on a new ugly sweater and donate the full amount to charity.

Then you'll definitely make Santa's "Nice" list.

I spotted this charming piece at Lifeline in Manly this morning. I suspect it's
pretty new, as it's quite cute, but at least you can rescue it from being
ragged or sent offshore if you are heading to an ugly Christmas sweater party.
Happy Holidays!
xx

PS - shout out to my clever environmentalist hubby who first pointed out to me the new ugly Christmas sweater websites and suggested I write a blog post.

Friday 1 December 2017

sustainable maternity fashion

If you follow me on Instagram you'll have been seeing some of my maternity fashion looks over the past few months. I thought it was about time I compiled a list of shopping sites and labels that have helped me feel stylish without sacrificing my environmental and ethical values. But you'll also notice that I tried my best to wear things already in my wardrobe as much as possible - it's been a fascinating journey for this sustainable fashionista!

Belly Belt
One of the first things I bought was a Belly Belt, which let me keep wearing my favourite Agolde jeans for months. There are two different sized belts, both with multiple hooks/button holes, to keep you in your favourite clothes throughout your pregnancy. You just need to make sure you have shirts that hang low enough to cover the belt. Designed by an Aussie - nice! - but also available in the US and the UK.




Here you can see how I've used the Belly Belt for months. In the photo on the left I'm wearing my perfect white shirt from slow fashionistas Good Day Girl, layered with a long tee by Amour Vert. On the right, I've paired my Belly Belted jeans with a wrap dress I've owned for over a decade and my fave black KITX blazer.


Bamboo Body
No fabric is perfect, but I typically avoid bamboo because often the process of turning hard bamboo into soft fabric uses a large amount of chemicals and the production often isn't highly regulated (and don't believe those "anti-bacterial" claims of this fabric, either). However, there are many sustainable benefits to the fabric, like using significantly less water than cotton, requiring no pesticides and being fast growing compared to the other trees often used to create viscose (bamboo fabric is technically viscose). And for anyone who has ever worn it, you know how comfortable, soft and breathable bamboo feels on your body. So...I have made some exceptions for my maternity wardrobe, as this seems to be a "sustainable" fabric of choice in this market.

 

This ruched, bodycon dress was one of the first pieces I bought (purchased from Glow Mama) and has lovingly stretched along with my growing bump. And I guarantee I will keep wearing it post-pregnancy, it's just so comfortable and easy, definitely going to hit at least 30 wears.


I also bought this Bamboo Body long-sleeve top at the same time, and again, I'm sure I'll keep wearing it. The shorts were purchased from online shop Milk & Love, and are 100% linen - heaven! Accessorised with Veja sneakers, Sseko natural leather tote ethically made in Africa, Toms one-for-one sunglasses and a necklace made from an upcycled skateboard deck.


Sorella Organics
I already knew about Sorella because they offer a range of beautiful organic cotton pajamas and lingerie, and they also have a maternity line. I bought myself this beautiful lavender nightie, which will be great for nursing, too.



Amour Vert
Not technically a maternity label, but one of my favourite ethical labels, and many of the items I already had in my wardrobe by Amour Vert helped me look and feel like myself as my belly grew.


This navy and white striped dress has been in my wardrobe for about four years now, and was the perfect dress for warm winter days and worked well into spring.


This sweater/jumper was a great option for early pregnancy days, as it allowed my little growing bump the space it needed to grow without showing it off too much (this photo was taken for a University of Sydney marketing campaign when I was about 4-5 months pregnant - great fun to walk through the mall having my photo taken, with shoppers looking at me intently like, "Is she famous?!" Nope - just passionate about sustainable fashion).


And this off-the-shoulder top is made of linen and is keeping me cool as the days heat up (though is just about too small to fit over my 8 month (plus!) bump). Incidentally, this photo was taken before I'd fully turned my office into a nursery -  another blog post coming once that project is done.

The overalls were a specific maternity purchase, and I fully admit there is nothing inherently sustainable about them. However, I have definitely worn them at least 30 times already, and hope to sell them/pass them along to another mumma-to-be when I'm done.


All the Wild Roses
I have practically lived in this dress from All the Wild Roses, and cannot believe I have ZERO pregnant photos of me in it - so instead I'll show you the non-pregnant version and you can use your imagination. Perfect empire-waist, boho-inspired, airy for summer and easily layered for winter. I am so in love with dress, and confident it's well-beyond 30 wears since I bought it last summer, and is still going very strong.



Queen Bee Maternity
I have enjoyed this website for buying a number of items like a belly support band made of organic cotton, bamboo maternity and nursing sleep bras, organic tanks and tees. Not everything on the site is sustainable, but I was able to find a number of small essential pieces, which made me  happy.

 
The Ten Active
Though not strictly "sustainable", these Made in Australia leggings from The Ten Active have been a saviour for my yoga practice. I kept wearing my usual leggings as long as possible, but as soon as I slipped on this pair of leggings I was in heaven. I felt at once supported and free to move in all the positions my body is craving. I have practiced yoga for almost two decades (wow!) and having comfortable yoga wear is essential.


I'll probably keep wearing them afterward because you can easily fold down the maternity support top, they are incredibly high quality, extremely comfortable, and I love the colour. Each purchase also supports the Humpty Dumpty Foundation, a children's hospital charity.


H&M
OMG - I can't believe it, but I admit I bought some items from H&M. They have a "Mama" range, and I bought a couple organic tees that had a bit of stretch to go over my bump, too. I have such mixed feelings about H&M's sustainability claims, but I wanted to be honest with you all and let you know I did enjoy being able to buy organic cotton maternity tops for a reasonable price from this fast fashion behemoth. I'm wearing a 3/4-length sleeve black top with my overalls in the photo below, and paired with a vintage head scarf and my favourite Birkenstocks.



* * * * 

Secondhand clothing has also been essential in this journey. I relied on secondhand clothing from a dear friend, who gave me three pair of maternity pants that were so helpful in the winter months, as well as some extra t-shirts and a dress. My mother-in-law kindly bought me a few pieces from a secondhand maternity clothes sale in her hometown.  I bought a dress for my baby shower from eBay (see below), and a pair of dress maternity pants from ThredUp. Overall this maternity wardrobe of mine is a real mishmash of new sustainable items, pre-loved items, some pieces from my own wardrobe, and a few non-sustainable items.


As many of you would know, dressing your pregnant body is an unusual experience. You are constantly growing, but slowly so you don't realise how much your body really is going to change. I thought I'd be able to get away with a lot more clothes from my wardrobe, but I really couldn't as my body changed over the past 8 months. It's not just the bump, but my breasts have grown, my hips and thighs, too, and certain dresses I thought would definitely last throughout my pregnancy were outgrown months ago. It's an excellent practice in letting go of control, especially for someone like me, who likes to have full control of not just the style of my clothing but the sustainability credentials, too. I think I've done pretty well, though there were certainly a few early purchases that were not right (hello see-through leggings and non-supportive sports bra!), but I've also had a lot of fun dressing this version of myself.

If you have any other tips for sustainable mamas-to-be, please share! My number one tip - when in doubt, ask Google, and you'll be led to some incredible online shops.

Tuesday 7 November 2017

sustainable shopping: how to rock white sneakers in The Conversation

G'day!

I was asked to write this article for The Conversation, one of my favourite news websites because, as its tagline suggests, the articles are written with "academic rigour & journalistic flair".



So many articles floating around our social media newsfeeds (even from so-called "news" websites) are filled with opinion or hearsay rather than research. I'm not claiming to be a perfect researcher or writer, even I occasionally fall into the habit of making generalisations and assumptions based on things I read years ago. But the team at The Conversation are incredibly dedicated to having references for every claim, making its articles richly researched and backed up with fact. (They came back to me with plenty of questions and requests for sources/references backing up everything I wrote in my first draft of this article - they kept me on my toes!)

It's wonderful to know there are people dedicated to understanding the truth and not just opinion, don't you think? Here's the beginning of the article and link to the complete article on their website - enjoy! And please ask any questions or make any requests in these comments or on The Conversation's website.

* * * *

White sneakers look great with nearly everything on nearly everybody, so it’s no surprise they’re having a fashion moment. Adidas sold eight million pairs of their iconic Stan Smiths in 2015 (and that doesn’t include the lookalikes).
Nearly 800,000 Australians buy a pair of sporting shoes in any four-week period. This amounts to a staggering 10.4 million pairs sold every year. Globally, Nike sells 25 pairs of sneakers every second.
But have you ever considered the environmental impact of your favourite sneakers? From materials to manufacturing, they have a hidden cost – but it is possible to find shoes that don’t cost the Earth.

A pair of runners produces 13kg of CO₂

While little research has been done on the environmental impact of fashion, one study has found that the production of a pair of running shoes emits 13kg of carbon dioxide. The production of the materials involved, including leather, nylon, synthetic rubber, plastic and viscose, also takes an environmental toll.

Link to the full article

The only caveat I will add here about my admiration of The Conversation, is that I was disappointed they took out my comments regarding Adidas. Of course I love supporting small, independent, change-making brands (I'm sure you know that by now!), but Adidas has not been resting on its laurels. The company is taking strides toward sustainable material production and ethical labour practices. They are not perfect, but they are making a start, and I think that deserves some recognition.

xLisa

Tuesday 24 October 2017

fashioning sustainability

sharing research insights


I submitted my PhD thesis just over a month ago (insert happy dance here). After working on the project full time since 2014, it's hard to believe it is over. Well, nearly. It is with three readers, various experts in their fields around the world, who will provide reports and probably some suggestions to strengthen the analysis. So you can't call me "Dr" just yet, but you can bet I'll let you know when you can!

It's an odd in-between feeling, and yet when I hit that "submit" button I did feel an incredible sense of relief and pride at having completed this research.


The cover page, featuring a gorgeous illustration by my talented
friend Natalie Boog - thanks Nat!
Now that I've had some time to breathe I'm working on an Executive Summary to share with the industry, NGO and activist research participants. To say it is a challenge to distill 300+ pages into bite size data that will be interesting and useful to others feels like the understatement of the century. But why did I do this research if it wasn't to support a transition toward sustainable fashion practices, right?

I plan on publishing the research more widely in academic journals and a book (or two!), but all that will take time. In the meantime I thought I'd also share some of the interesting tidbits that came to light during my research here on the blog. Over the next few weeks I'll share some insights into sustainable fashion in Australia including:
  • consumer awareness 
  • entrepreneurial leadership
  • industry action and limits
  • social movement progress and pitfalls
  • shopping habits
  • the connections among all of the above
Ultimately my thesis puts forward a new approach to sustainable fashion activism that can apply to other sectors and has ramifications for how we address the wider climate crisis.

Thanks to all of you for being on this journey with me over the past 5 years when I first published Sustainability with Style and realised just how much work needed to be done on sustainable fashion.

I look forward to sharing more info with you all on my research, but in the meantime if you have any requests for blog posts, please let me know in the comments below.

xxLisa

Saturday 23 September 2017

climate optimist

This week I saw a new campaign floating around on social media asking people to pledge to be a #climateoptimist



Now, I didn't need any urging to be optimistic about climate change. Despite all the bad news that surrounds climate change, including the impacts already happening like increased extreme weather events around the world and climate refugees, I've been an optimist ever since I became an environmentalist.

Actually, I think that it's because I'm an active environmentalist that I am an optimist. I feel incredibly privileged to have met countless innovators and changemakers through my work, including through the green building industry, the sustainable fashion movement, and the many climate and renewable activists I've met along the way.  I know people who have launched social enterprises that recycle used fishing nets into skateboards and sunglasses, created transparent and ethical supply chains for textiles, made apps to help people shop more ethically, invented sustainability roles for themselves, and worked with big business and government to address larger systems and institutions. Simply put, there is so much activity, and so many people working on solving the climate (and other environmental) crisis, that there is no reason not to be an optimist.

I know not everyone can meet these people in their day jobs and hear about the latest innovations as they are being created and tested, so I thought I'd share some of the reasons why I feel so optimistic:


  • Global energy-related carbon emissions have been flat for three years in a row, even as the global economy grew by 3.1%. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a proponent for endless growth economics, but it's promising to see that we don't have to totally overthrow capitalism to address climate change (not right away, anyway...)

  • Australia's energy-related emissions decreased 2.3% in the year to June 2017, this brings us to 9.1% below 2005 emissions and 0.8% below 2000 emissions. Furthermore, emissions per capita are at the lowest level in 27 years, down 34.2% since 1990. Read all the details on the Australian Department of Environment and Energy website.

  • A global energy transition is underway. Renewable energy has grown by record levels once again in 2016, up 10% from the 2015 record to 161GW, and costs less each year, 23% reduction in investment compared to 2015. There is more investment in renewables than any other energy form. 

  • In the US, after Donald Trump announced pulling out of the Paris Climate Accord, a number of cities and businesses pledged to meet the commitments.

  • Australian researchers have identified 22,000 sites for pumped hydro energy storage to address renewable energy storage concerns.

  • The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation just awarded $20 million in environmental grants (as if I needed another reason to love Leo).

  • Fossil fuel companies are being taken to court by children, cities and states to pay the damages of climate change because the industry knew about the link between fossil fuels and climate change and failed to act (similar to the tobacco industry cases).

  • The Australian green building sector has decreased emissions by 62% and potable water use by 51% (compared to traditional building standards).

  • Interest in sustainable fashion is rapidly growing. I don't have any quantitative stats to share on this, however, given my own involvement in the movement (and my recently completely PhD research) I can attest to the increased interest from consumers, governments, industry and educational institutions. While not directly connected to climate change (though the production, use and disposal of clothing certainly adds to emissions), this growing interest in sustainable fashion signals growing concern and awareness of all environmental issues, and shows that a broad range of individuals care about these issues and want to play a part in the solution.
In short - passion and innovation change the world, and I see no shortage of either. 
This is the main reason I'm a climate optimist,
but there are too many to list.


I wouldn't be true to my activist self if I didn't add a final caveat: just because I am optimistic does not mean we can be complacent. We have a lot of work to do, and we need all hands on deck - citizens, businesses and governments. So while I am optimistic - and I hope you feel optimistic, too - I don't want to give the impression our work here is done.

What do you think? Are you a climate optimist? Why? Why not? I'd love to hear from you, so let's keep this important discussion moving.

xxLisa

Tuesday 19 September 2017

i heart nudie

Do you have items in your wardrobe that haven't fit for years? And you keep thinking, "maybe one day?"

Normally I get rid of those items - no need to not love everything in your wardrobe, I always say. But I've had a hard time saying goodbye to these black skinny Nudie jeans. Probably because I just LOVE Nudie. They have been committed to organic cotton for years, offer free repairs for the life of your denim, sell pre-loved jeans in their stores, recycle denim that's beyond repair, and have embraced sustainability long before it became trendy.

But, I bought the wrong size. Well, I think I'd hoped they would stretch a bit with wear, and they certainly did not. So - off to eBay for these beauties! They are barely worn, hence the sale rather than donation. Waist 29, length 30, high waisted, skinny High Kai denim.

If that happens to be your size, check them out on eBay.



Otherwise, next time you're in the market for new denim, check out Nudie and enjoy wearing high quality, organic cotton denim.

As proof of their commitment to repair - here are a couple snaps of my husband's Nudies, repaired twice now (and another pair is currently being repaired as I type).




Thanks, Nudie, for your complete embrace of sustainable values throughout the life of your products.

Friday 11 August 2017

long live the manly food co-op


If you've read my book you'll know that the Manly Food Co-op and I got off to a rocky start. What is up with all these bins? Am I really meant to bring my own containers? What do all the different prices mean? And how much did I just spend on olive oil (while distracted from the beautiful Brazilian checkout boy)?


Fast forward 8 years and I am a Manly Food Co-op pro (it helps that it moved to a larger, brighter, swankier space). My husband and I can collect our containers from home and do a "big shop" in about an hour - including getting all the beautiful organic, local, packaging-free ingredients for two flavours of homemade muesli, stocking up on pantry essentials like rice, legumes, and nuts, and gathering whatever produce strikes our fancy. Ty has volunteered off and on over the years, and this year I've been volunteering as Director of Sustainability. We honestly don't know what our lives would be like without the Co-op.

Unfortunately we may soon face the reality of a life without the Co-op and the sense of community it brings us. The Manly Food Co-op is facing closure if we don't raise $50,000 (AUD) by 20 August. That's just over a week from now! The details of why we need that amount and what it will be used for are on the Pozible crowdfunding site, so I won't get into it here.

What I do want to say here is how important I think places like the Co-op are for building community and for offering the potential to radically change our food system.

When the Co-op was founded over 21 years ago by Keelah Lam and other local environmentals, they had a vision to offer clean, affordable food to the Manly community that was better for the planet and better for people's health. Those same values drive the Co-op today, and are as important as ever as governments and corporations seem hell bent on keeping polluting, wasteful practices as the norm. If you watched the War on Waste and saw the latest report about how some of our recyclables only get recycled 50% of the time you will know the importance of avoiding packaging in the first instance.

As we like to say at the Co-op, we never had to ban the plastic bag, because we never used it in the first place.

In addition to waste avoidance - and pollution avoidance (and health benefits) of buying organic - the community of the Co-op has enormous revolutionary potential. As I've been writing about in my thesis lately, the way to change practices (like grocery shopping) to be more sustainable is not to focus on individual behaviour change, but to focus on creating networks and building connections. Building networks provides emotional support, but also supports multiple ideas to come together to start to change the system itself, which then enables everyone to have a more sustainable shopping experience.

This week I've been blown away by the passion of the fundraising committee - including my husband. It seems I have fallen even more in love with him this week (had no idea that was possible!) as I've seen his fighting spirit come alive, and heard him speak with tenderness of the love he feels for the Co-op as he contacts some of the 600+ Co-op members to raise the funds to save the shop. In less than 2 days they have raised over $12,000. I have witnessed the power of community, the power of this network, as it is rallying together to save an institution they love.

If you are passionate about stopping food and packaging waste, supporting organic farming, and the idea of changing the food system to be more sustainable, equitable and healthy, can I ask you to do me a favour and donate to the Manly Food Co-op fundraising campaign? If you are a local, you can contribute while getting (or renewing) a membership, or take advantage of some awesome rewards (like a sailing excursion or a tour of Keelah's house and beehive!). If not, consider it a donation toward a space that is trying to set the standard for a new way of providing food.

Long live the Manly Food Co-op!


Monday 31 July 2017

aloha good day girl

This weekend I had the absolute pleasure of attending Good Day Girl's Summer fashion show. (If you haven't heard of them already, check out this post I wrote about their incredible business model earlier this year.)


This may have been the most fun I've had a fashion show ever. There was such a good vibe in the room, which was filled with their dedicated clients, and Sophie and Alexia turned on the charm with tiki-themed music and cheeky pineapple sunglasses (you can spot a few atop the heads of the guests above!) as they told us about the collection, their collaborations, and their use of sustainable materials.

This top was definitely one of my faves - and the cute
tote is by Made in Mada, handwoven raffia as part of
a Fairtrade certified organisation in Madagascar.

One of my favourite elements of the show was that clients were able to feel the fabrics of the various looks - this was not fashion for fashion's sake, but fashion for people who love to wear beautiful clothing, and reminded me how much Alexia and Sophie understand how women choose clothing. What is the first thing you do when you see something you love? You reach out to feel the fabric, of course (followed by a glance at the price tag, but we feel the fabric first...).

The cupro fabric was an absolute show-stealer. Looks,
feels & wears like silk but is made of a cotton 'waste' product.

I also loved the diversity of the three models showing the collection - a beautiful reminder that beautiful clothes are for every one, no matter your shape, age or ethnicity. Thank you, Sophie and Alexia!

The scarf featured here is part of their collaboration
with Cloth & Co, hand-loomed silk and cotton - pure luxury.


I wish I had better pictures for you, but I was not on my A-game. Check out the entire summer collection on their website, and if you're in Sydney, Melbourne or Perth, schedule yourself in for a private styling session to view and try on the collection in person.

Sydney: 31 July - 19 August
Melbourne: 21 - 23 August
Perth: 24 - 26 August

Once you've made your selection and been measured up, your made-to-order beauties will be created just for you and delivered just in time for summer.


Bring on the heat!
xxLisa

Tuesday 11 July 2017

plastic microfibre pollution

My latest sustainable fashion obsession is the trouble with microfibre pollution.  If you haven't heard of this before, the Story of Stuff have done a great video explaining what it is.

Essentially, tiny microfibres come off our clothes when we wear and wash our garments. You know, those little bits of fuzz and fluff. It's normal, of course. Fabric is woven from threads which were spun together using millions of pieces of fibre of varying lengths. It makes sense that they would fray and shed over time.

These microfibres are tiny, visible only through a microscope.

The real trouble comes with synthetic clothing. When these minuscule synthetic fibres break off our clothes, they never break down. Natural fibres like cotton, wool, linen and hemp have the ability to biodegrade, but just like plastic, synthetic fibres cannot naturally biodegrade. Most of the fibres are captured by our washing machine filters and by wastewater treatment plants, but unfortunately many of these fibres are too small to be captured and have been found in our water ways, our ocean, and inside fish, where they occasionally become embedding in the fishes' bodily organs. Just like other microplastics, whatever eats any of these fish, eats the plastic - including bigger marine creatures, sea birds, and (of course) humans.


One of the most painful ironies for me with this situation is that so much research has gone into creating recycled polyesters or other fabrics made of recycled plastic (including many labels I love and have recommended over the years); now it seems we may have just been recycling plastic into a form that makes it easier to send microplastic pollution into the world.

This week I am participating in an online conference called the Lives and Afterlives of Plastic, and have uploaded a video presentation - it's available on the conference website and on my YouTube channel (my first video!). It's about 20 minutes long, and gives an overview of the problem, the early proposed solutions, and my thoughts about where we need to go from here. If you've ever wanted to come to a guest lecture of mine, this is the next best thing! I'd love for you to take a look and let me know what you think!


In the meantime, it's a good time to start to really look at the fabric of your clothes, particularly if you're making a new purchase. Of course it's really hard to avoid all synthetics, but if we at least start paying attention we can start to ask why synthetics seem to be used in so many goods, and seek other options when possible. And there are a couple interim solutions, like the Guppyfriend washing bag, that you may want to consider if you currently have a lot of synthetic fabrics in your wardrobe. But, as I say in the presentation, this is not one for the wearers and buyers of clothing to solve. This is an enormous industry problem, and will require much collaboration and continued innovation.

Take care until next time,
xLisa

Wednesday 28 June 2017

thala beach getaway

Last week I escaped the winter for some much-needed R&R with my beautiful hubby. We decided to head to lovely Tropical North Queensland, a favourite region of ours. In fact, this was our fifth visit since moving to Australia 13 years ago.

This was meant to be a relaxing holiday - no action and adventure for us this time around - and so I was delighted when I came across Thala Beach Nature Reserve and Lodge. Eco-certified for Advanced Ecotourism and recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, the lodge and bungalows set amongst the trees offered the perfect site for our winter escape. Just 15 minutes south of Port Douglas, I don't know how I'd missed this gem on previous visits.


Driving onto the Reserve we wound through a stunning coconut grove that the owners planted when they bought the land in the 1970s.


The owners of Thala have worked tirelessly to replenish the grounds after about two-thirds of the 145 hectare property was transformed from a definite sugar plantation into the natural wonderland it is today. I am in awe of the dedication of the owners who lovingly restored the land to the point that local plants and native wildlife now thrive on their property. We were spoiled by multiple nature walks on-site (they offer complementary guided walks, too, which we didn't take advantage of), as well as a stargazing evening where I saw the longest shooting star I have ever seen in my life, plus the rings of Saturn and the red stripes of Jupiter through their telescope.  I was truly in nature and science heaven.


We got lucky and were upgraded to a one of their Coral Sea bungalows, and honestly this was the view of my dreams. A charming bay surrounded by a eucalyptus forest, and perfectly positioned to enjoy afternoon sun and the beautiful colours of dusk. The lodge was built using sustainable building practices and materials, and designed specifically to fit into the environment. Apparently the space was approved for 6,000+ hotel rooms! They settled on less than 100. It's no wonder this resort was awarded the highest possible Eco-tourism certification.



Now that I'm back home I sure am missing the sound of the lapping waves while I fall asleep...


Many days we walked through the lovely forest trails to Oak Beach, a long stretch of natural beach with white sands and a stunning backdrop of green headlands. There are fallen coconuts scattered throughout, and a few hammocks strung in the shade of the coconut trees, and I was content to simply stare out at the beautiful surrounding for hours.

That's me! And the closet bikini shot you'll get of me on a public website.
If you were able to see it, I'm wearing an adorable suit by ethical, surfer-chic,
California-made label The Seea.

Looking down the beautiful coastline - the drive from Cairns to Thala is
incredibly beautiful as it hugs the coastline on the beautiful turquoise sea.


I was surprised how little "beach reading" I did, actually. I'm an avid reader, but I found myself just staring and daydreaming more than anything. I truly found my bliss spot at Thala Beach Nature Reserve and Lodge, and I hope to return in the coming years.

Despite the pristine nature of the beach, there was still some nasty plastic bits that made it to the beach - here's our little collection.



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Enjoying some forest bathing in the Daintree.

We did spend one day in the rainforest exploring Mossman Gorge, but otherwise this was a super-chilled break. Out of character for the two of us, but so appreciated!





This tiny snail was probably 1/4 cm, and a delightful reminder of the
importance of slowing down and observing the wonders of nature.

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We did not spend a day on the Great Barrier Reef this time around, though I have had the pleasure of swimming and snorkelling the Reef a number of times on previous trips.  A couple of years ago I wrote about the Great Barrier Reef. The situation is even more dire today, particularly in light of the Federal and Queensland governmental support of the Adani Coal Mine. This mega mine poses direct physical threats to the Reef as coal is transported out of Australia, but the biggest threat to the Reef is rising global temperatures. The latest reports suggest the Reef is officially dying. Warmer waters are to blame for the past two years' coral bleaching on the Reef, and we have lost 50% of the Great Barrier Reef over the past 30 years due to pollution and warming. However, I'd urge you not to think this means the region is not worth a visit. The Reef is still spectacular, and once you are amongst it personally the value of this magnificent World Heritage Area really become apparent. Besides, between the Reef and the other World Heritage site - the Daintree Rainforest - you are truly amongst some of the world's most beautiful natural sites.

If you're as frustrated as I am about the Adani project, head over to the Stop Adani website and learn how you can get more involved. You'll be armed with further information about just how problematic this mine is - it's taking more than it's giving to Australia, and will undoubtedly steer us away from our climate targets.

Until next time~
xLisa

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P.S. - I know some bloggers accept free holidays to destinations in return for articles, but this holiday was completely organised and paid for by yours truly. My opinions above are an unbiased, honest reflection of how much I loved our stay, and I hope some of you get the opportunity to stay in this magical place.

The views from the bar and restaurant were spectacular!