changemaker : carla cosgrove

Today I'm delighted to introduce you to changemaker Carla Cosgrove, the clever and stylish woman behind Candour Store, an online store with an alluring collection of non-toxic beauty product alternatives.

Candour Store just celebrated its 1st anniversary - Happy Birthday!!!

This online shop is beautifully curated, and since Carla has worked as a makeup artist you can trust that these products are not only non-toxic, they actually perform.

I recently *sat down* with Carla for a chat about what makes her tick and her dreams for the future, here's some of our conversation:

When did your 'green' journey begin?
My interest in social and environmental issues started quite young, as early as primary school, but like all worthwhile things it is an on-going journey of ideas. By the time I left home I was already doing some simple things like eating a vegetarian diet, recycling, using natural cleaning products, recycled toilet paper and reusable shopping bags; but on the flipside I definitely wasn’t considering things like where my huge wardrobe of clothes came from, the ingredients in my beauty products/makeup kit or the impact of my disposable coffee cups! — When you know better you do better, right?

Once I got better informed, it became easy to commit to connect the dots and start making more consciously “green” choices in all parts of my life and career. It’s really not difficult to be green these days with so much easily-accessible information and so many beautiful alternatives around!

What inspired you to create Candour Store?
I think all life’s good ideas come from a back-catalogue of experiences and smaller ah-ha! moments along the way. However, the thing that really kickstarted the creation of Candour Store was the moment I decided to get serious about creating a life and career that was more strongly aligned with my values; one that focuses on creating good in the world and sharing my skills in a way that helps others live happier, healthier lives.

There were so many experiences that came together to get the idea of Candour Store cooking. It had always made me sad to hear the people sitting in my makeup chair talking smack about their own or others’ physical appearance and, although I tried to ignore it, working in the conventional beauty/fashion industry had often given me the wrong gut feeling. Another big step in the journey was experiencing a face full of blisters as the result of using a product labeled “natural”. That ugly experience lead me to pick up “No More Dirty Looks” by Siobhan O’Connor and Alexandra Spunt— a book that helped steer my life in an unexpected and exciting new direction.

Your site is so visually appealing, what's the inspiration behind the look?
What a lovely thing to say. Thanks Lisa! I was lucky enough to work with talented Aussie designers Max Duff (brand identity) and Tabitha Emma (website design) to create a look and feel that reflects Candour’s central values. Our starting point was the word “candour”; which means to be frank, open, honest and straightforward (or “candid”).

Another major influence was the look, quality materials and genuine, personal relationships of the small boutiques of days gone by. I went crazy researching old photographs, stories, advertisements and packaging designs; then worked with Max (who also happens to be my little brother) to distill all my madcap ideas into a workable concept.

At its core, Candour’s aesthetic is about honesty, quality and the luxury to be found in simplicity.

Describe your dream day.
Ooooo…So many options! A dream day is always made up of lots of little unexpected happinesses, isn’t it? If I had to select just a handful of ingredients though, they would be: Waking up on foreign soil, a wonderful frock, some bright lipstick, coffee in the morning, exciting new adventures and characters all day and a glass of something delicious at night.

What is your favourite part of running Candour Store?
I am blessed with the loveliest customers, followers and suppliers. Chatting with my “regulars” over email, answering green beauty questions and receiving some beautiful thank you letters is undoubtedly my favourite part of running Candour Store. Getting to try out oodles of beautiful green beauty products isn’t such a bad gig either!

What is the most important lesson you'd like people to take away from visiting your site?
That “Green” doesn’t have to equal “hippie” any more. There are so many genuinely eco-conscious, luxe, toxin-free beauty brands on the market these days. Greenwashing is really prevalent in this industry though; so it’s important to always read your product labels and use the magical powers of the internet to get informed about what kinds of businesses and practices your purchases are supporting.

Any personal favourite products at the moment that we need to know about?
I’ve got so many, but for Summer I am really enjoying Eco Tan’s Organic Coconut Sunscreen. It’s contains skin-nourishing oils, soaks in nicely and is tinted too. It’s become my go-to for a quick moisturiser, light foundation and sunscreen in one.

Are there any products that you really wish someone would create a 'Candour' version of?
A really frothy, luxurious and toxin-free bubble bath would be wonderful!

* * * *

Okay, by *sat down* I mean I sat down at my keyboard and we typed to each other. But I'm certain we will meet 'in person' one day and I'm already looking forward to it - I can reconigise a kindred spirit when I meet one!

I hope you enjoyed meeting the changemaker Carla Cosgrove as much as I enjoyed chatting with her.  Why not head over to Candour Store to read more about her journey into green living and take a peek at the delightful online store? I suspect you'll be glad you did.

a tale of two handbags

Ahhh, the life of a sustainable fashion researcher . . .

I promise it's not filled with endless purchases (endless online 'window' shopping, maybe), but I did recently make two exciting purchases I want to share with you.

First, I ordered this stunning Moa Tote by Angela & Roi from Modavanti.

I had been looking for a structured tote for awhile, something to take with me to interviews and meetings, and researched a lot time before making this decision. And now that it's arrived, I couldn't be happier with my choice.

I was so excited when it arrived I took a picture of it in the box!

It is a black vegan leather tote, and the colour of the bag corresponds to the charity Angela & Roi donate to with each handbag purchased - my black tote meant that Angela & Roi donated $5 to the Melanoma Research Foundation. They currently work with 11 charitable foundations - have a look at their gorgeous (reasonably priced) handbags, and see where you'd like your money to go.

* * * *

My second purchase was this delightful black beaded vintage clutch.

I've been in the market for an evening bag for awhile, and my patience paid off! This charmer jumped out at me on my trip to Wollongong last week (for my first ever academic presentation - success!) when I stopped in the Fairy Meadow Antique Shop.  The detailing and quality is remarkable.

So, two bags, two very different styles, two ways of enjoying fashion sustainably.

* * * *

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness...

I wonder if Charles Dickens imagined that his famous opening line from A Tale of Two Cities would be as relevant in 2014 as it was in 1859?

Today we have the best knowledge and resources available to us at the touch of a button, our health and wealth is higher than ever, yet the world remains plighted with concerns of security, inequality and, of course, climate change. It can be so depressing to even turn on the news these days.

I know my handbag purchases won't halt climate change or sweatshops today - and some people will say I'm adding to the problem by making new purchases. But I also know that with each conscious choice I make, I'm shifting the way of the world ever so slightly. And when we all join in, and let these conscious choices flow into all aspects of our lives (including how we vote), we have the power to truly change the world.

xxLisa

finders keepers

I'm excited to announce I'll be at the Finders Keepers markets in Sydney (Eveleigh) on 13 December and will be signing books all day. Please come and say hi! 

I'll be with Carlie Ballard, so you can check out her gorgeous (sustainable) fashion pieces at the same time. If you don't know of her label yet, check out this article I wrote for Green Lifestyle Magazine a couple of weeks ago.

 

Have a great rest of the week!

xxLisa

celebrating

Last week the United States and China gave us something to celebrate - an agreement on limiting carbon emissions.

Wahoo!

In case you haven't been following the climate debates as closely as I have, here's the very basic rundown:

• International climate negotiations have been at a stalemate for years as countries debate how much action they should each take. 
• A major sticking point was that America wouldn't put a limit on its carbon emissions unless developing nations - like China - put a limit on their carbon emissions. 
• Now China and the United States have agreed on a deal - America will cut its emissions to 26-28% of 2005 levels by 2025, and China will reach peak emissions no later than 2030.

Sure, the details need sorting out, and President Obama now has to contend with his Republican Congress, but overall, as Paul Krugman says, "a major part of the anti-environmentalist argument has just collapsed."

And in my world, this is definitely cause for celebration.

Cheers, fellas, thanks for your dedication to the environment!
(Do you think this was organic wine?)

xxLisa

finding balance

There is a reason 'Finding Balance' is a chapter in my book - living 'sustainably' is a constant balancing act.

Don't get me wrong, there are many effortless days, when it has become routine to use all natural body and beauty products, separate my rubbish into various recycling elements and use my trusty travel pass to dash around the city via public transport.

Then there are days like these, when I find myself in an interesting eco-conundrum; the latest confusion is due to the delicious Pressed Juices store that has recently opened up in Manly.

I am seriously obsessed with these little bottles of goodness!

In addition to fashion and the environment, I have a passion for what I'll call 'health foods'. I am by no means an expert, there are plenty of other bloggers with that expertise. But I have been known to follow health food fads. First it was goji berries - I didn't love the taste but I kept tossing them into my cereal anyway. I quickly fell in love with Acai bowls (I could go for one right now, actually). And quinoa, kale and I have been in a serious relationship for awhile.

I've never been big into juicing, generally preferring to eat my fruit and veggies whole to take advantage of the fibre in the pulp. But something about the cold pressed juice craze has sparked my attention. I think it has to do with the claims of "up to 5 times more vitamins, minerals and enzymes" of other juices. Well, that, and knowing that with one green juice I can get a serious serving of leafy greens. It also helps that they are crazy delicious.

If you can't see the eco-conundrum I'm facing based on the photos I'll tell you - it's the plastic bottles. I confess I've had 4 green juices over the past 5 days, and I think I may get another one today. Yikes! That is a serious increase in my plastic consumption! Of course I am recycling the bottles, but I know that recycling plastic requires energy and the quality of the plastic is lessened with each recycle. There has to be another way!

I don't know that I'll follow this cold pressed juice craze for too long, and unsure it would be worth investing in a machine for myself. Besides, based on my schedule I don't know that I'd have the time to source all the ingredients and make myself one a day.

So, I'm afraid this isn't an eco-solution today, readers. In fact, I'm seeking your guidance. Do you have any suggestions on how I can participate in this delicious health fad without all the plastic? Or shall I just start communicating with these lovely companies, asking them for refillable containers?

xxLisa

give a fork

Last week I attended the fantastic Give a Fork launch dinner hosted by Sustainable Table at the fantastic Studio Neon. This year's Give a Fork theme is #wastefree, and the dinner was an excellent (and delicious!) excuse to talk about shifting our food habits so we waste less food and food packaging. We were treated to a scrumptious meal cooked by eco-wise Aaron Teece, the owner of Studio Neon.

The table centre piece featured produce from Harris Farms' Imperfect Picks.
Guests were allowed to take home the produce at the end of the night!

Smoked Onion Risotto with Organic 62 degree hen egg. As a way to
make this a #wastefree dish the chef used the skin from the onion
to create the stock to cook the risotto. Clever!

Imperfect Orange dessert - I'm drooling again just recalling
this orange zest sponge cake served with orange rind puree,
Jannei goat's curd, and dehydrated orange. Heaven!

Why the emphasis on food waste? Well,

• Australians throw away 1 out of every 5 bags of groceries they buy? That's 20% of our grocery budget right down the drain, about $1,036 per household. Ouch!
• 20-40% of edible produce is rejected before it even makes it to the shops, because they don't meet our expectations of the 'perfect' piece of food. So it is wasted at the farm level.
• Australians only recycle 36% of eligible plastic bottles, and globally we add 6.4 million tonnes of plastic into the ocean each year, a large proportion being food packaging.

This is the 'imperfect' produce I took home - I'm making eggplant parmesan
tonight, and last week that quirky potato made it into a soup and the asparagus
into a frittata.  Just because they look different doesn't mean they taste different!

Two Give a Fork ambassadors were on hand to share their personal experience - Take 3 Founder Tim Silverwood and writer Sarah Wilson of I Quit Sugar fame. We also heard from the effervescent Ronni Kahn, CEO and Founder of OzHarvest.

Good onya Tim! My hubby is a devout 'Take 3er', which
can easily turn into taking 4, or 5, or, you get the idea.

I didn't realise that the I Quit Sugar recipes also work
toward a waste free kitchen (or pretty darn close, anyway)

Aside from the speeches, we viewed a short documentary titled Waste Deep, which covered everything from the problems with plastic in our oceans (here are some stylish solutions to the current problem) to how we buy and cook our groceries.

This is all the waste that was generated from feeding 40 people - incredible.

* * * *

I left feeling inspired to host my own Give a Fork dinner - my hubby and I decided to tackle a low-food waste Thanksgiving meal next month - why don't you consider hosting one as well?  Sustainable Table has provided a free eBook talking you through easy ways you can reduce your food waste at a dinner party, and in your kitchen everyday.

Any money you raise goes directly to funding Sustainable Table and the great work they do in educating Australians on sustainable food practices, and working with projects in developing nations to ensure communities have a safe and ongoing provision of food. 

I'll be in touch with an update after Thanksgiving!

xxLisa

plastic fantastic

- I love plastic, I want to be plastic -

Andy Warhol

Well, I don't feel the same way as Andy Warhol, but it's fair to say I have a love-hate relationship with plastic. The convenience and safety aspects are hard to beat, but the environmental damage being done as this material infiltrates our land and oceans is beyond destructive. (You can find the shocking statistics at the end of this post).
 

This image is from the film Midway, a stunning (in terms of beauty
and shocking destruction) documentary about the island in the North Pacific
and the havoc being wreaked by plastic on its animal communities.

The situation is bleak, I don't want to sugar coat it, but there are things we can all do to improve the status quo. The rest of this post highlights some very clever and creative people out there who are doing their part to reclaim and recycle (and upcycle!) our plastic pollution into beautiful new products. Perhaps you'll be inspired to find yet another use for our used plastic.

What do you think of these solutions to our plastic problems?

G-Star Raw for the Oceans
The much-hyped range of G-Star, in collaboration with Pharrell Williams, has hit stores. This line of denim, tees and sweatshirts uses Bionic Yarn - created from plastic collected along the coastline - to divert plastic from the oceans and make a sturdy fabric.

As Pharrell and Bionic Yarn founder, Tyson Toussant, say, "Wear the responsibility for Big Blue."

Bureo
I'm oh-so-proud to say I know one of the founders of this ingenious company that turns used fishing nets from Chile into new skate decks for everyone. (Special prize if you can guess which character he is in Sustainability with Style).

Bureo, which is the word for waves in the native Chilean language of Mapuche, completed a successful Kickstarter campaign this year. Between working with Chilean fishers, setting up a recycling and manufacturing facility, and telling the Bureo tale around the globe, this team has been busy! Thank goodness they have new boards to get around in style.

The Minnow is now available - order yours on their website -and take 30 square feet of nets out the ocean.

                                                    

Teeki
This is not the first time I've mentioned Teeki - and probably won't be the last. This activewear label pushes all the right buttons - recycles plastic into clothing, creates some of the hottest prints and designs I've ever seen on yoga pants, uses Zero Waste printing technology, and celebrates health, the environment and self-love.

Thank you Teeki!

* * * *

So now there is even more you can do to help with our global plastic problem. In addition to saying no to plastic bags, using a refillable water bottle and recycling all your household plastic, now you can also take some of that plastic back out of the oceans and landfill with some eco-conscious choices. And maybe just make plastic fantastic, again.

* * * *

Why is it a love-hate relationship with plastic?

I love my lipstick tubes. I love the convenience of my click-and-seal food containers. I love the sleekness of my computer-mouse. I know this shiny, flexible material has made our lives safer through medical supplies. Once you start looking around, you can see how much plastic is part of our daily lives and instances where it has, in fact, improved our way of life.

But our reliance on this petrochemical-based material has gone too far. And I hate the environmental damage caused by our irresponsible use of plastic.  Just a few stats:

• Australians use enough plastic bags each year to wrap around the globe 42.5 times. 
• Australians only recycle 36% of their plastic bottles, sending at least 373 million bottles to the landfill each year - if they make it that far. 
• Globally, 6.4 million tonnes of plastic are dumped into our oceans every year. 
• An estimated 40 million pounds of plastic has accumulated in the North Pacific Gyre alone.
• Between 57,000 and 135,000 whales are entangled by plastic marine debris every year, and likely millions of birds, turtles, fish and other species are affected by plastic debris - including digesting it.

Between convenience packaging, poor recycling rates, and fishing lines and nets being discarded, plastic has taken over our land and our water, and it's impacted us all. So please, start taking action today.