Long black or short black? Sugar or no sugar? There sure are a lot of choices in our daily routine, but there is one choice which makes a difference above all else: fair trade. For millions of farmers, producers and communities right around the world, that little fair trade label equals phenomenally changed lives. From…
It’s nice when somebody creates something with thought; something that feels at once intimate and inviting. In terms of cookbooks, Julie Jansen’s independently produced Apricot & Apron Strings achieves just that: like a warm homemade muffin on your favourite chipped china plate, its charm is an irresistible one. Locally produced in Melbourne and printed on…
Akira presented a magical showcase on the last day of Fashion Week. And what a way to end a wonderful week! On show at the Box, models stood on low plinths surrounded by scattered lace and silk petals. A subtle soundtrack of twittering birds set a serene and ambient scene; a pleasant escape from the…
Many fashion designers have been inspired by Aboriginal art, however few have done it as strikingly as Roopa Pemmaraju. Her SS12/13 collection was a collaboration with Aboriginal artists from Coee Art Gallery, Desert Designs and Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation. Each piece features original artwork from many of today’s incredible artists including Jimmy Pike, Judy Napangardi…
Attention all market lovers – here’s an event with a twist! Forget finished products and fine crafty creations: Stash and Treasure is all about buying and selling materials in the raw. Bucket loads of notions, papers, material, haberdashery supplies and various other odds and ends will be on sale to help fulfill your wildest DIY…
After being to many a show at various fashion weeks, one can become somewhat tired of the same old sterile (yet sleek) locations. For their show at this year’s Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia, however, Ginger & Smart cleverly chose the grandiose setting of Sydney’s old David Jones’ ballroom. The old-world charm of the building…
Loving Earth are our Willy Wonka. No, we haven’t seen their factory, but anyone who can create 100% raw, organic, fair trade and sugar-free chocolate goodies that taste this good have to be working some kind of technicolour magic. Connoisseurs of those two most blessed of words, healthy chocolate, Loving Earth deal only in the…
Jase and Matt are two Queensland brewmasters hoping to bring the flavour of the kombucha buzz down under. Using strictly raw, organic, local produce and reusable bottles, they aim to have the wonder drink for sale at farmers markets and beyond using a glocal enterprise model. But what exactly is kombucha, you ask? Basically it’s…
Last Thursday, AYCC chair and leading Aussie environmentalist Anna Rose faced off against former Senator and renowned climate sceptic Nick Minchin on the ABC1 special I Can Change Your Mind About Climate. The documentary (and Q&A panel afterward) heavily divided the public, much like the issue of climate change – and its associated ‘realness’ or…
No, this is not a strange experiment in ultimate Jenga, it’s a fully functional wall that stretches 10m created from a kaleidoscope of bricks. The amazing creation belongs to the South Asian Human Rights Documentation Centre in New Delhi, an organisation dedicated to advancing human rights in partnership with United Nations.
Whether you’re a Mac person or a PC person, most of us spend more time with our flat-faced friends than our real life mates – an average of four to six hours per day (a conservative estimate we think!). Anything to make computer time more enjoyable is worth the investment in our books, and now…
In a brave and highly controversial move, Lush cosmetics in the UK spent yesterday performing ‘Live Human Testing’ in the window of their busy Regent Street store. The idea was part of their extensive campaign against animal testing in the cosmetics industry, and the apologetically bold move to turn the tables and use humans as…