Hello belated 2012

Berlin Street Artist @Chxxx - created on the back of a cereal box


I'm back! Well I've been back for a while, it's just that 2012 has been a rather fruitfulness start of the year.

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I've been consulting on the implementation of an Environmental Management System for Sentia Media, for their Australian and New Zealand offices, with interest now being expressed from the company's Southeast Asian offices. Majorly awesome but everything in due course. What's amazing is that it all started from one office in Melbourne, to now being taken off globally! However, much is still to do. Greatest achievement has been the formation of the Green Team (official name not yet determined as the naming competition is still running). Working in conjuction with Sustainability Victoria has also been a blessing.

What I've found is you can only do what you can within your means but that shouldn't hinder you from any opportunity to create change.

"Senita Media Green Team is a program for staff, lead by staff"
Monetary investment is little but non-montary support in great.

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I've also started working as a "Story Teller" for a vintage clothing brand, creating original content for their blog through travel tales and the people who crosses pathes with them. What I love about this project is bringing pieces from a past life back to life again. A fine way of reducing consumption, while celebrating the individual that you are. In time, more will be divulge as we're still only in planning stage. So watch this space.

Design a Space VS Major retailers

Why hello Summer, so glad you could join us? Do you hear the sarcasm? Should you be surprised? While the planet's heating up, we're also seeing abnormal weather patterns. Summer should have started 3 weeks ago but all we've experienced are flash floods and the occasional balmy nights. Nonetheless, my annual ritual to find the perfect Summer sandal was still on. I do luv Melissa shoes but being made from plastic it ain't so great in Summer. So I went on the search.

While wondering down Melbourne's famous laneways, I came cross Design a Space , a retail space whose aim is to provide high profile space for emerging Australian designers. I luv how it gives a platform for creative talent to showcase their passion the way they choose to, without succumbing to the pressures of major players. This is where I found my Summer sandals.

Admittedly, there's nothing really sustainable about these Jaci Bailey sandals, except that they're made from a natural fibre and that they will be my forever Summer shoes until they die (fingers crossed they last, well they ought to given the price I paid for them!). But I have this belief, that by supporting local designers who assumingly are small businesses, they are in a position to create and function sustainably. The catch 22 is that they might not have the funds to do so. But that's the challenge. To say it cost more to operate sustainably is a cop-out. As I see it, while large corporations have the money to implement a sustainable policy, the sad facts are that (1) it's rarely communicated to be truly effective, (2) it's a marketing grimick so as to keep up with the Jones and (3) employees don't care as at the end of the day they're just a name on the payroll. A small business on the hand, are in a stronger position to make a change and to see it through. Changing culture is difficult especially in a large context but changing it in a small controlled environment is promising. If you start your business "right" in the inital stages, you create a culture where there is an understanding on how it should be run. In larger organizations, what I've seen and this is not primarily on sustainability but with daily operations is the culture of "if it ain't broken, don't fix it". If it's already difficult to change this attitude for greater efficiency, imagine the challenge it must be to change attitude for sustainability.

Hence, I have faith in small businesses than in large corporations.

Green Fields, Green Spring, Green Horse of course!

While there is quite some truth to Marieke Hardy's article, "The Melbourne Cup: It's a truly revolting spectacle", I still embraced 2010 Spring Racing Carnival festivities. You see the premise of Green Chic is about making small changes first, as small changes are found to be easier to retain as oppose to being hit with big changes. But it's also about generating thought and conversation amongst people who are not of similar thinking. And that is the challenge. To change the behaviour and thoughts of climate change sceptics but to do so in a non-confronting manner.

So, my motto for 2010 Spring Racing Carnival was based around the 3R principles - Reuse, Reduce & Recycle. Attending 2 race days Derby and Stakes, I made only 1 purchase and that purchase was an item that will have much reuse (already reused!). That item being a Derby Day"commissioned neckpiece" by Simply Phoebe (a local designer who uses remnant, reclaimed and vintage fabric to create her wares).

Fun times were had, winnings there were and bonuses there was! The bonus was Flemington's Green Fields initiative, an initiative demonstrating their commitment to raising awareness of environmental sustainability.

Flemington Green Fields aims to reduce the environmental impact of the Flemington racecourse by creating tangible results through;

• Using 100% GreenPower for all racemeetings held at Flemington during the 2009/10 season
  
• Working with SecondBite, in conjunction with Peter Rowland and their panel of accredited caterers to redistributed unused food from Flemington. During the 2009 Melbourne Cup Carnival 1.485 tonnes was collected providing 3,000 nutritious meals to local charities; food that would otherwise go to landfill
• Extending its waste minimization program, recycling 271 tonnes and achieving 54% diversion from landfill (up from 26% in 2008), and setting up recycling stations across Flemington

I wouldn't be surprised if I was the only one at Flemington who happily took a photo of the recycling bins (yes I do get excited over the little things!). But what was also great to see was each marque were given their own personal recycling bins, thus punters had no excuse not to recycle. Nice one VRC!

Hövding means "chieftain" in Swedish

Hövding

Those crazy Swedes. Yes they do have style, and design must run through their blood but really could this work? Possibly when Winter 2011 hits (no pun intended), I will be more convinced. For now, I''ll just keep on admiring their styling!

Crafty Wears - made in melbourne

This weekend was dictated by the crafts but in a good way. A week or so ago, I came across Emily Green via The Design Files and was instantly drawn to her colorful brooches. A textile designer by trade, she combines digital prints and resin to create her colorful delights. I am so sold by them that I make my way into town just to catch her at Craft Hatch market, a Craft Victoria initiative, showing casing the works of 25 emerging designers each month. And what a great item to own. For the next day as I made brief appearances in Fitzroy/Richmond/North Melbourne, I kid you not, I was showered with glowing comments over my new brooch. Who would have thought this colorful little pick me up would be such a conversation starter! The only hiccup and my bad, was I kept telling people the designer was Emma Green rather than EMILY Green. If only I had just said Em Green, I would not feel so bad. Oh well.

So the brooch was my Saturday buy. My Sunday buy was another seek out buy. I had met Simply Phoebe at Finders Keepers market a week or so ago. At Finders Keepers Phoebe only had stocks of winter-ish colors left which didn't agree with my bright colors only mission. But all was not lost as she would be at Spring Fling, a North Melbourne Errol Street festival to spruik her wares. Of course I followed and now I am the owner of this neck piece, which is made from recycled material/offcuts (mine I´m told has curtain pieces). Definitely a tick in my sustainability books, thus LUV. Luv so much I no longer need a new outfit for the races rather another neck piece will do me just fine. Reuse (dress & head gear), Recycle (neck piece made from recycled outcuts, and heels from camberwell market) and Reduce (my purchases/consumption), is my motto for Spring Racing Carnivale 2010. Now time to get onto Phoebe to see if she can whip me up the perfect Derby Day piece! Stay tuned.

Hot to Trot

oh Camberwell Market, how I luv thee...

The term "Slow Fashion" seems to be popping up in conversation these days. While I'm not a fan of the term, I guess it does kinda make sense. "Fast Fashion" aka "Disposal Fashion" is not very becoming for it seems to represent an idea that one must constantly buy for the purpose of keeping up with the Jones. But seriously who gives a toss about what the Jones think. Life's not a dress rehearsal. Everything has potential and beauty. If it brings you joy, then go for it! At the end of the day, it's how you make it work that counts.

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So Sunday just past, not only was it sunshine and lollipops, I managed to score a pair of hot glossy heels, a beautiful vintage-sique coin purse and a brunch of lillies, all for $20. With Spring Racing around the corner, I am ready to show off em' pins!

Rules for rewarding buys:

• Never bargain unless the seller initiates
• If it catches your eye, ask yourself the question why it caught your eye?
• Buy it not for a rainy day but for immediate use

Snug as a bug in EDUN

EDUN is more than just nude spelled backwards.

Most of us are sold on items that are glamorized by celebrities whether they be A grade or D grade celebs. Luckily for me my latest buy has both the celeb and eco cred. Not that I believe in the "if I wear a celeb endorsed product I am living the high life." But I do like to think I’m in pretty good company.

EDUN is not just another celebrity endorsed brand. It is however another one of Bono's do good projects that raises awareness through fashion. But his mission is larger than selling T-shirts, shrunken blazers and slim-cut denim pants with metallic stitching. The collection co-deisgned by Bono’s wife (Ali Hewson) and Rogan (New York clothing designer), is founded on the premise of trade not aid and promotes sustainable communities. By encouraging trade in Africa, it fosters financial growth that helps more Africans become self sufficient and less dependent on aid. Ethical and organic fabrics are used throughout and produced under ethical guidelines.

Each pair of jeans is inscribed:

“We carry the story of the people who make our clothes around with us.”

I do luv Bono, I do luv U2, so naturally I do luv EDUN.

Good music, Rockin fashion, Strong ethics.

Findng treasure at The Treasury

Emma Grace - local fashion crusader with an appreciation for sustainability, brings us The Treasury.

¨The Treasury is about sustainable fashion – guiding people away from ‘throw-away culture’ and leading them back towards the way we used to live; where if something broke, you fixed it, and if you got bored of it, you made it into something new.¨

Welcoming us into her studio, she shares her craft and love of design with the unimaginative and proves that fashion and sustainability can live in harmony. For I, it was a case of killing 2 birds. My little box of beloved items that I no longer have any use for, a shame to trash and not really give away worthy, was to be given a new life. In what form? I was not quite sure but I was excited by the unknown.

While pieces I did construct, I had nothing on the other peeps who came loaded with goodies and ideas. De-constructed aluminum can bits, resin icecubes, typepad keys... I shall know for next time. And next time there will be as I am inspired. I´m now thinking a pair of cufflinks for the mister?

Intrigued? Well then, keep an eye out on Emma´s blog or if you want something like NOW, pop over to her website.

Emma also tells me she´ll be exhibiting some of her fine wares during Melbourne Spring Fashion Week at the Green is the New Black exhibition and cocktail night. Now that´s definitely worth a stickybeak!

So Ethic fills a void

Last Sunday I fought the gust of wind and rain to get to the pre-launch of Melbourne’s first ethical fashion store 'So Ethic'. Positioned at the new artisan retail hub known as Rebecca Walk (northern side of the Yarra, under the flinders street train bridge), 'So Ethic' fits right at home.

'So Ethic' is not your regular Oxfam, Off Ya Tree, Ishka kind of store. Owner Bhakti, is out on a mission to prove fashion can be chic whilst overcoming the misconception that ethical fashion is just a rainbow of mix-match threads. Committed to sourcing items solely from designers who are also committed to sustainability, the environment and human rights, one can pick up any item and be well assured it is either natural, organic, recycled, fair trade or artisan/handmade. Shopping has never felt so guilt-free and meaningful. I like it!

People of and visitors to Melbourne, I believe a void has been filled.

Steinan (Iceland) / KateTailyour (UK)

UNIDOT (UK) / COMO NO (France)

How to tie a scarf

The Live Below the Line Challenge has seem to overtaken my blog. Well that´s my fault cause I thought it would be great to blog about my so call adventures but I was wrong it´s blah like the food. Don´t get me wrong it´s a great challenge but I wish I was more creative when it came to food. I know what I like to order but when given certain constraints it pretty damn difficult. I miss cheese. Didn´t realize I had such a dependency on it.

Anyhoot, returning to normal programming...

I picked up this beauty from the trusty Camberwell market for a buck (that´s half a day´s food cost according to Live Below the Line). I´ve been eyeing off a lot of scarfs lately. Not just because of the Winter cold, where my scarf wraps around my neck blocking out the icy wind but for that fact my hair had gone under the razer blade more than it should have. Yes, I probably should have said something when the stylist hack into my hair but 1. I didn´t want to interupt his craft and 2. the damage was already done. So gone is hair that could be tied up to hair that when tied up looks like bum fluff. I´m still traumatized by the experience, so in seeking comfort and to hide the hair I wear a scarf/bandana. I´ve come across many fine scarfs but this is my latest find. I love the primary colors and circle patterns. Remains me of the fashion label Gorman, which we like as they are the consider pioneers of green fashion.

Why are scarfs so great? They are just so versatile. One scarf, many wears.

My favs:

Buekaroo Knot

Gypsy

And other ways to tie a scarf:

Gypsy

French Twist
Buekaroo Knot
Ascot Wrap
Butterfly Wrap
Rose Knot

Zooey Deschanel Chic

I wasn´t going to but now I think I will. I thought I had finally convinced myself I didn´t need a pair of Melissa´s Kali wedges but after seeing Zooey Deschanel in these beauties, I am back to being undecided. I was to buy a pair of boots this Winter to block out the cold and to jump puddles but now after seeing this picture maybe I don´t really need to jump in puddles??! Hmmm... I could wear these to work couldn´t I? I definitely can see them on the dance floor as well as doing the bike bustle. To jump or not to jump, that is the question? But what I do know is mention ¨businesschic¨ when making your purchase via MelissaAustralia online, you may just find yourself paying 10% less. Booyah!

Why Melissa? This is why.

*ps - 500 days of Summer, anti-Sex and the City styling but still wonderfully chic

Winter Woolie

Trying to live sustainably also involves consuming sustainably. While I could use the excuse 'with the weather being so damn cold I need a new Winter wardrobe', I decided to rework my Summer gear to be Winter friendly. Why keep good clothes stored away? So I take to the layering trend. The only problem which is a major problem is that it doesn´t give you any warmth. So maybe I do need 5 new sweaters and 5 new long sleeves? Of course not! What I do need and end up buying is a long sleeve Australian merino wool thermo undergarment which I will say I have worn as an outer garment, I call it versatility! Back to the layering but now I'm now warm and toasty thanks to my winter woolie!

I bought this one from the Queen Vic Market. I love the Queen Vic. You can grab yourself a filling borek from the deli for $2.50 (2 vegie options on offer yay!) or plonk yourself down at Invita, a wholefoods cafe offering freshly prepared gluten free vegetarian/vegan foods made on premises with organic ingredients wherever possible.

Life is good sometimes, especially when it´s easy on the pocket!

Style over Fashion

¨Anyone who´s rich enough can look polished, but style is much harder, requiring a good eye, good posture, the nerve to be quirky and the confidence to carry it off.¨

- Mark Patrick
[fashion designer cum journalist cum PR & events organizer extrodinaire]



My type of style
photo credit to Vintage is the New Black

Thrifty Thursday - part 2

So continuing on from Thrifty Thursday part 1, I give you the life of the Savers skirt. Short and sweet.

as a skirt


as a top

as a dress

Thrifty Thursday - part 1

So we have Mondayitis, Tight ass Tuesday, Hump day Wednesday and TGI Fridays but what's Thursday? Can someone enlighten me?

On Thursday, I set myself the task of operation clean out. Although I'm gradually converting to a minimalist lifestyle, having experienced life on limited funds I've also come to live with the "it might come good on a rainy day" rationale. But things are back on track and it's time to de-clutter with the new attitude of "why let it sit there when someone else could get some use out of it. I'll deal with it when I need it".

So I loaded up the car and took a trip down to Savers on Sydney Road for the big drop off.

I´ve heard good things about Savers but have never taken the time to pop in for a geezer until now. And boy was I charmed. From the young chap offering his help to lug the stuff from my car, to being given a Savers rewards card for donating, to finding a new skirt. And to top it off, staff are quite hard working and pleasant. It´s a shame you don´t get this kind of dedication at high end stores.

I could have bought loads but the goal was to de-clutter and not accumulate. So I just ended up with this skirt but in my eyes it´s more than just a skirt. Stay tuned for part 2!

Items that I had to exercise self control over were a pair of bamboo thrones and an ivory dress which would make an amazing modern day vintage chic wedding dress... where art thou Green Romeo?!

From this... to this

Such a rewarding day and for this I shall now refer to Thursday

as Thrifty Thursday!

goo goo over Gucci

Not that I would spend $4,055 on a piece of costume jewelery but if I so happen to be strolling down Fifth Avenue New York and was invited to select an item for keeps, I would go for something like this necklace from Gucci´s Bamboo collection.


The Bamboo collection came about in 1947 when Gucci craftmen had to muster all their powers of innovation to think their way around war-time shortages. The collection is now regarded as timeless and has found itself a place in design history.

eco fact: Bamboo is a perennial evergreen. It´s fast growing and is an easily renewable resource that is grown with little to no use of pesticides or herbicides.

Gucci Group & Sustainability

Gucci Group continues to retain their place as industry leader by being the first to team with Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design to develop the first Ph.D Scholarship in Sustainable Technology for future luxury. The group believes that cutting edge design, science and material innovation hold the key to developing new methods and processes that will assist in defining the future of craft and manufacturing, and help ensure the future for luxury brands that will take into account environmental concerns and climate change.

As to their current practices, the Gucci Group has change some of its own business practices permanently to include not using rain forest-destroying paper. This means the group’s many high-end fashion brands such as Yves Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, Stella McCartney and Alexander McQueen will also have to switch over to recycled or FSC-certified paper products. By 2010 end, expect greener shopping bags, though byo reusable bags is still highly encouraged.

GORMAN - pioneer for sustainable fashion

I'm not a perfect person and I don't deny that fact. Although I have given up eating meat for environmental reasons, I just can't give up leather goods. Yes, a contradiction and that is my weakness. But if I can make the right purchase decision then I feel I can justify my purchase. For me, when I buy a leather bag/shoes/belt, I know it will last. I like to think of myself as a minimalist, so when I buy a new item I generally will use it til it dies. What died recently? My everyday bag. What did I get to replace it? A leather bag from Australian label GORMAN.

Gorman is a label that takes a strong stance for environmentally friendly practices. Not only has Gorman launched a sustainable Organic Collection made from organic fibers and yarns, the label also focuses on insuring all the business’s practices are as ‘green’ as possible. Everything from the light bulbs to reduced Gorman packaging for products has been given thought.

what gorman has done so far...

1. switched to 100% recycled green power in all gorman stores.
2. reduced our garment packaging by 90% and always looking at ways to reduce it further.
3. switched to recyclable packaging such as LDPE quality polybags, if needed at all.
4. each time a customer rejects a shopping bag we donate the value of the bag to Friends of the Earth.
5. customer shopping bags are made from 100% recycled paper.
6. reduced garment miles by investing in our Vietnam factory and producing more ‘end to end’ clothing within close location.
7. $5 from each green&serene tee sale goes to Friends of the Earth.
8. created eco-friendly christmas window decorations in collaboration with Green & Blacks Organic chocolate.
9. as a team we continue to make an effort to reduce our car and flight kilometres. locally we opt for cycling and walking whenever possible.

Ethical Clothing Australia

Ethical Clothing Australia logo

While researching for my masters paper, I came across the Ethical Clothing Australia website.

What was previously known as the Homeworkers Code of Practice and the No Sweat Shop label is now simply known as Ethical Clothing Australia.

With funding from the Commonwealth Government, Ethical Clothing Australia have developed an accreditation system that centres on participating businesses ensuring their Australian-based supply chains remain transparent so any instances of exploitation can be identified and addressed. In a nut shell, they make sure Australian workers receive fair wages and decent conditions.

Accredited brands under this scheme are licensed to display the Ethical Clothing Australia logo on their Australian-made garments.

High hopes exist for this logo and for an ethical Australian fashion industry that supports local and ethical manufacturing.

Check below to see if your brands have made it on the list...
...phew I see CUE (Veronika Maine) & Jets, high 5!

credit to Cult of Clothes for Veronika Maine store shot

Accredited Brands
Businesses that are Accredited and licensed to display the ´Ethical Clothing Australia´ Trade Mark on their Australian-made garments. (As of 5 March 2010).

• ADA
• Bardot
• Beauteston
• Blue Gum
• Can't Tear Em
• Classic Sportwear
• Collette Dinnigan
• CUE
• Dayoub Clothing
• Dina Corporate
• Dowd
• Fabri Cell
• Qualitops
• Harmony Fashions
• Jets
• King Gee
• Lifestyle Australia
• Monkey & the Brown Man
• Mr K
• New Model Beauty Queen
• NNT
• Pinnacle
• Poppets
• Puma
• Rayona Frock Manufacturing
• Redbox7
• Snugglerite
• Surrey Clothing
• The Social Studio
• Totally Corporate
• Tuffa
• Yakka

Melissa shoes

I heart Melissa shoes and it´s all thanks to Chez of http://www.businesschic.com.au/. Not only am I indebted to her for introducing me to Melissa shoes, I also am high 5-ing her for the 10% discount we all get from any full price purchase, that´s right folks I did say WE. So don't forget to mention you were sent by businesschic.com.au when you make your purchase at http://www.melissaaustralia.com/.

Why I heart Melissa shoes? It’s not just because these beauties are a piece of art in their on right but because they take on a fair and conscious view of design. Melissa understands that we need to protect our natural resources for future generations, which is why sustainable development is the cornerstone of their work and is key to their economic development. I love the fact that Melissa believes they have an obligation to produce without damaging the environment.

i am so in love...