Summer is my favourite time of year: hot weather, holidays, and lots of catch-ups with friends and family. This year I’m fortunate enough to live in a house with a nice big deck so my Christmas wishlist pretty much revolves around sprucing up my deck and making it a lovely outdoor space to live in over summer! So dearest Santa, I would love if you could start by sending me these hand-woven bamboo tealight holders and some recycled paper bowls both from Oxfam. I’d be oh so grateful for a One Colour fair trade woven woollen throw for the chillier nights, and a Lhasa outdoor rug made from 100% recycled polypropylene. I’ll need somewhere for my friends to sit so I’m thinking some of these Mi So Covered handmade recycled fabric milk crate covers will be super helpful and, for the lazy days, what could be better than a fair trade Heavenly Hammock to sleep off the Christmas lunch?
Yes folks, it’s that time again – time to head into Brisbane City tonight for the next instalment of the BrisStyle Indie Twilight Market! If you’ve been before, you’ll know just how fab this market is – and if it’s news to you, then do yourselves a favour and check it out! You’ll find an awesome array of wares lovingly made right here in Brisbane – including homewares, bags, jewellery, softies, accessories and art. There’ll be Peppermint back issues for sale at the BrisStyle Promo table, and while you’re there you can also snap yourself up a limited edition BrisStyle tote bag to carry all your new-found goodies in! Check out bris-style.com for more details. See you there!
This coming Sunday, as part of ongoing World Environment Day celebrations, the Gold Coast will again be playing host to the region’s largest environmental festival, Green Day Out. Last year’s success means 2011 is set to be huge, with their Little Green Dress fashion competition taking centre stage. The competition will see fashion designers creating their pieces out of recycled, found and organic materials – all things we at Peppermint love! But it’s not just about fashion: there’ll be free live music, markets and a range of activities for the kiddies, including gardening, arts and crafts, and lots of cute Australian native animals!
Sukin have gone that small step further in their efforts to keep us all looking beautiful naturally. In support of the Keep Australia Beautiful campaign, they are donating $1 of all sales of their specially marked, limited edition Sukin Hydrating Body Lotion. Enriched with an infusion of aloe vera, nettle, horsetail and burdock combined with rosehip, avocado and jojoba oils, it will be on sale in selected pharmacies and health food stores from mid-July until August (or until stocks last). So, Keep Australia Beautiful aims to remind people of the simple things they can do to reduce their impact on the environment; and Sukin aims to create beautiful products made from simple, natural ingredients. A perfect team, if you ask us!
For the last 12 months, the lovely Nina O’Brien from Brisbane eco label Kindling has been working at the Blue Sphere ethical clothing workshop in Hanoi Vietnam, helping with garment design, pattern-making and training staff. Nina has had a fabulous time working with this great team, however her time with Blue Sphere is nearing its end, and so they are looking for a replacement for the next 12 months. Could it be you? You can apply for this position now (in the ‘Governance’ section), and if successful you will be fully trained and prepared for your assignment, as well as having travel, living and accommodation allowances when you’re there. Placing young Australians (18-30) on short-term assignment in developing countries around the world, the Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development (AYAD) covers a diverse range of sectors, including Education, Environment, Health and Rural Development. It’s an awesome opportunity to get some work experience in the fashion industry, help support fair trade, join a fantastic team and share your skills at the same time. Applications close May 27 so don’t dilly dally!
Fair Trade Fortnight is upon us, and here in the Peppermint office we’re coming up with different ways to get involved. Thankfully, there are hundreds of ideas at Fair Trade Fortnight’s website to give us all a little nudge in the right direction. Swapping to Fair Trade can make huge and real difference to farmers, workers and families around the world. If you’re interested in finding out more, why not show off your fair trade way of life by attending one of the events that are being held across the country for Fair Trade Fortnight. An added benefit to showing off your swap is the chance to win some awesome prizes. Fancy a 10kg block of fair trade-certified milk chocolate? Um, yes please…
