8 Easy Eco Wins: Eyeshadow Upcycle, Seed Stashing And Snack Hacking
- Words by Peppermint
We get it! You want to save the world, but you’re a busy person with a job to do and a new season of The Bear to get through. Rest easy, dear friend, because we’ve gathered eight low-effort, footprint-lowering things you can eat/buy/do in a jiffy – no superhero cape required.
1. PERFECTLY IMPERFECT
First, let us say we love Flavedo & Albedo for its zero-plastic commitment and cute, colourful tins. But there’s one more reason it’s won our hearts: while many companies destroy less-than-perfect products, Flavedo & Albedo sell their not-quite-right eyeliners, eyeshadows and illuminators at a discounted price in their ‘Imperfect Picks’ section, now permanently on their site. According to the brand, about five per cent of all makeup produced has some kind of factory fault – a scratch, damaged packaging, wonky lids, that kind of thing – and industry practice is to destroy this completely usable stock.
2. SEWING SEEDS
What to do when you’ve used up all that lovely eyeshadow? Our Sewing Coordinator, Laura Jackson, has a plan. Having used Wondery Skin Food’s tinted sunscreen and cleansing balm for years (another lovely plastic-free brand), she has a stockpile of air-tight tins filled with seeds saved from the kitchen. “I always note where the herb/vegetable came from,” she says. “Some tins say ‘Nanny’s house’ because she’s always good for sending over a pumpkin that has spontaneously grown in her garden.”
3. TAKE THE PLEDGE
OK, technically, this eco win will take some time and a whole lot of careful consideration. But the actual act of signing up to Remake’s No New Clothes 90-Day Challenge will only take a few minutes. And just think of all the time you’ll save once you’ve given up shopping! Remake, a collective that fights for human rights and climate justice in the clothing industry, encourages pledgers to pause on the purchase of new clothing and prioritise re-use or secondhand. Reduce your carbon footprint, build healthy psychological habits, limit the waste you send to landfill, and keep your hard-earned dollars from companies that don’t provide their garment workers with living wages or safe working conditions. Time well spent.
4. BEST DRESSED
Want to buy secondhand but don’t have the time or inclination to rummage through thrift finds? There are lots of online op shops to help you find the preloved dress of your dreams. Dear Little Panko has a curated collection of women’s clothing from many much-loved Australian brands, in up to size 20+, while Good Sammy caters to all, with 100% of profits being reinvested into providing jobs and training opportunities for people with disability. The Closet prides itself on being ‘Australia’s largest online fashion thrift store’, and since its beginnings has processed more than 100,000kg of used fashion items. Meanwhile, the iconic RetroStar caters to all your vintage needs, and Restated serves up vintage to men (one area where men don’t dominate the conversation!). It’d be remiss of us not to mention Depop, eBay and Etsy – there’s a whole world of once-loved clothing out there, ready for its new owners!
5. IN THE BAG
We all know plastic bags are trashy, but with so many online businesses sending their wares in reusable cotton bags now, it’s hard to know what you’re supposed to reuse them all for. Our tip? Save them for stashing shoes in your suitcase when you travel, as handy produce bags to hold your fruit and veg or as a portable, reusable cutlery kit. Or save the prettiest ones for storing kids’ toys, jewellery and toiletries. Or get stitching! Use the fabric for scrap-busting projects – patches for clothing (like Laura’s denim handiwork above), scrunchies, small purses… the options are endless!
6. NOT ON YOUR WATCH
Does your passion and purpose need a little push? Here are five sustainable fashion films, shared by Fashion For Good, that may not be on your radar. Get comfy, pop some corn, expand your knowledge and fuel your passion for making a difference.
7. KERNEL OF TRUTH
Popcorn you say? Kate Hall AKA Ethically Kate, has a quick, simple recipe for you, minus the usual waste. Grab some kernels from a bulk food store, chuck into a paper bag, microwave for 2-4 minutes and add the toppings of your choice. Too easy!
8. MEND AND MAKE DO
Learning how to mend your clothing is a small act with a big impact. As we shared recently, 200,000 tonnes of clothing end up in landfill each year – almost the equivalent of four Sydney Harbour Bridges. Resurrect your wardrobe faves by getting up to speed with some simple techniques, like this list of five easy stitch fixes from Remake, this cute star hack from Ocrafts Girl or have a trawl of this visible mending inspo on TikTok. Need a little more direction, with a coffee and a croissant to save the day? Who doesn’t? The Lily Adelaide Upton’s Mini Stick and Stitch Kit is here to fill your cup (or holes), sans gluten.
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TOGETHER WE STITCH RETURNS! 🪡✨
Ditch the dishes. Clear your cutting table. Pop the kettle on. Because Together We Stitch is back from 15 to 22 March for seven joy-filled days of sewing, learning and reveling in the joy of shared community, no matter where you are in the world!
Hosted by Megan from @SewAndTell.Co, this global online sewing event brings thousands of makers together for a week of practical know-how, confidence boosts and those “why didn’t I know this sooner?!” moments.
This year’s line-up is packed with masterclasses and practical inspiration, like:
🪡 Simple knit finishing tricks to make your garments look store-bought by @SewAndTell.Co’s Megan Linley
🪡 Troubleshooting your sewing machine by Jenni Miller from @LetsGetSewingNow
🪡 Hands-on pattern adjustments for sway back from @GinaReneeDesigns
🪡 An interview with Brandon Hayden from @HappilyDressed about building a garment around the fabric you love
🪡 Iron Care 101 by @MicheleMuska
🪡 Kate Boyle from @MindMovementHealth shares posture tips and exercises to help prevent sewing aches and pains
🪡 An easy jeans-to-skirt upcycle project from @LaCreativeMama’s Victoria Martinez Azaro
🪡 DIY custom fabrics and creative craft-room upgrades by Stephanie Young from @So_Stephanie_Says
🪡 Plus choosing prints with intention, making your dream wardrobe a reality, and meeting the creator of Project & Cut, Clinton Blackmore to talk all things PDF pattern future
Together We Stitch is all about expert-led sessions, creative demos, practical tips you can take straight to your sewing table, and a community that celebrates every win along the way. Join live or catch the replays when it suits you.
Head to togetherwestitch.com or hit the link in bio to save your seat. 🪡
#TogetherWeStitch #SewingExpo #SewingInspo #MeMade #SewingCommunity #SewistsOfInstagram
Coffee begins long before your morning cuppa! ☕️
2026 has been declared the International Year of the Woman Farmer, led by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the @UnitedNations. It’s a global spotlight with a practical purpose: to recognise women’s indispensable roles across agrifood systems, and to push for the changes that still haven’t arrived evenly, like equal access to land, finance, training, technology and decision-making.
Into that bigger picture steps Elizabeth Duna, a coffee farmer from Papua New Guinea and the chairwoman of the Keto-Tapasi Progress Association. Elizabeth is also the only female chairperson across the @FairtradeANZ cooperative network in the Pacific, overseeing farmers across the association and helping ensure Fairtrade standards are met.
We had the privilege of chatting to Elizabeth (just in time for International Woman’s Day this Sunday, too!) about what’s been growing and changing within her cooperative, what ‘fair trade’ means to her, and the hopes that manifest in a ‘simple’ bag of coffee beans.
Link in bio ☕️
#FairTrade #FairTradeCoffee #InternationalWomensDay
DIFFICULT ✊🏻✊🏽✊🏿
The collab we needed for International Women`s Day… and every day!
From @DangerousFemales:
"Hands up if you’ve ever been called difficult behind your back, to your face, or by an Australian Prime Minister during a Q&A?
DIFFICULT by Grace Tame, in her own handwriting is… one word: ICONIC!
100% of profits from our tees are donated, 100% of the time. Funds from this @TamePunk tee will go to @BerylWomen_inc, a First Nations led women’s refuge in the ACT.
Kinda ironic, don’t ya think?
Supporting an org in the parliament state with words from a politician for Australia’s longest running and underfunded women’s refuge.
Thank you @TamePunk for being difficult." 🫶🙌
Link in bio to get behind this tee!
#InternationalWomensDay #DangerousFemales #GraceTame #Difficult
NEW PATTERN ALERT 🎉
She’s giving comfort, she’s giving style, she’s giving palate-cleansing sewing. There’s nothing quite like an easy breezy dress that’s not only a dream to wear but a delight to sew, and the NEW Peppermint Myrtle Shift Dress delivers!
Cute, classic and cool with a touch of retro: the Myrtle Shift Dress is a beginner-friendly make with sleek lines and elegant curves. Bust darts are in play for shaping and spacious pockets to hold all your treasures. Top-stitching detail around the neck and armholes invites creative contrast threads and the keyhole loop closure at the back neck begs for a feature button (or a tie closure!).
Myrtle cuts above the knee with options to customise the length. Don’t think she’s reserved for hot weather either: try a heavier-weight fabric to turn your Myrtle into a pinafore-style garment for layering.
For our fabrics we chose two from @Karmme_Apparel – the bold Rottnest Stripes in a lightweight, soft-drape cotton, and the quality linen in the handpainted Mexico Collection. Karmme also stocks darling tassels so we popped a hot pink one on as a closure!
The love child of Imby Langenbach, Karmme Apparel (fittingly pronounced ‘calm’), is a haven of boho apparel sewing patterns alongside complementary fabrics steeped in tradition with modern iterations from Jaipur, India. Hand block-printed and digitally printed soft cottons produced by Indian artisans showcase rich colours and designs from Imby’s travels, perfect for showing off me-made masterpieces.
Our dresses were superbly stitched by our sewing manager @Laura_The_Maker, and modelled magnificently by Shannon @Pins_And_Tonic and Serah @SerahSews. And that perfect pink wall was courtesy of the good folk at @ShareTheDignityAustralia, an organisation that aims to bring dignity to women, girls and those who menstruate who are experiencing homelessness, domestic violence and period poverty.
Get making the Myrtle – the only question is, can you stop at just one?
Link in bio 🪡
Photos: @KelleySheenan
Sewist: @Laura_The_Maker
Patternmaker: @GarmentaApparel
Models: @SerahSews and @Pins_And_Tonic
Fabric: @Karmme_Apparel
#PeppermintMyrtleShiftDress #PeppermintPatterns
Connection 🫶🏻
Such great ideas from @GrowWithColby:
“A common theme I noticed in 2025:
Everyone is craving more connection.
Use these friend nights to make it happen in 2026.
Send this to the people you want to do these with.”
#Connection #Friends #Community
No bull - these pants are the cat`s (or cow`s) pyjamas...
Jenny from @RhubarbSundays:
And they are done! My @PeppermintMagazine #PeppermintFernPleatedPants made using a gorgeous fabric from @IndyBindyFabrics! I absolutely love this fabric! It’s soft and drapes beautifully. And the best thing about it is that, from a distance, it looks like an abstract print and then you look closer and theres a curious bull looking right at you. 🤣🤣 🐄 🐮
Really happy with the end product. They are very comfy! I didn’t make many changes to the pattern. Just a touch more room in the rise and a little bit off the waist. I’ll post some closeups of the details tomorrow when I actually take them off. 🤣 "
Grab the pattern from the link in bio!
#PeppermintPatterns #IMakeMyOwnClothes #ClothesThatFeelLikePyjamas #SewersGonnaSew
