Home Truths #10pcs91days

Today was the last day of my version of GreenByDesign 10 piece challenge and not only was I glad for it to be over, I was actually happy to spend the day ill in bed so that I didn't have to think about what I was going to wear on my last day.

I was over the challenge for a couple of reasons.

Relying on 10 pieces meant constantly doing the washing even when I didn't have much to wash. I would either have to wait til there was enough for a full load or I would have to hand wash the clothes instead. Either way, my favorites started to wear and fade from the constant washing and it became quite an inconvenience.

Life also became dull. As I work in an office environment, most of my pieces had to be work appropriate, which meant clothes had to be pretty basic aka plain. The problem with this was that it would then filter over to my weekends and evenings, thus I could not separate work from my personal life.

What I found from doing this challenge was that I like variety and not having variety surprisingly affected me. I felt I couldn't express myself and I felt restricted. Restriction does not sit well with me. This challenge required me to constantly think about what to wear, when to wear, when to wash, which although doesn't seem like a huge ask, for me it was as I couldn't be my carefree self. I didn't have the luxury to purchase new pieces I came across since I wouldn't be able to wear them, so what was the point.

This challenge did bring about some home truths. I never thought of myself as the vain type but maybe I am just a tad. I definitely don't want to be one of those people who, as Tim Jackson puts it, "spend money we don't have on things we don't need to create impressions that don't last on people we don't care about". But I do in my life want to have choice and I want to spend time thinking about the bigger things rather than wasting it on scheduling my washing and wears. Moderation is the key.

Another challenge, not quite enjoyable but muchly welcomed for now everything I buy will have meaning and appreciation.

¨In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different¨
- Coco Chanel

London Calling: Emma´s Birthday

Em is one of my besties, who has set up home in ol´ London town. I miss her dearly but London seems to agree with her (maybe not in the colder months, luckily for me she gets aways from the cold by coming home!).

Anyhoo, it was her birthday last week. Now being eco, we bang on about buying local. So what happens when the gift recipient is overseas? Even though the gift is small, sending something from Melbourne to London still contributes to air travel miles, right? So for the convenience as well as expanding the green chic love, I went on the search for UK ethical/environmental online stores. I did come across several but it was Love Eco that appealed to me the most. A UK based online store selling ethical and eco-friendly alternatives that are in touch with modern life and trends.

I have always luved Robert Indiana´s famous LoVE design, so when I saw it printed on a cushion at Love Eco, I knew I had found the gift for Em.

What I also like about Love Eco is they tell you the eco-ness of each item they stock.

The LoVE cushion:

• Handmade in the UK.
• Cover is made from felt that is made from recycled plastic bottles
• Inner cushion is made from recycled fibre filling covered in organic cotton muslin (both also made in the UK).

Thanks so much Becky (@loveeco) founder of Love Eco, for all your communication and help! It was such a pleasure dealing with this lovely being and she was ever so accommodating with my extra requests!

In good company: Copenhagen Cycle Chic

Yesterday I found myself in the presence of greatness. As part of the State of Design festival Mikael Colville-Andersen, founder of Copenhagen Cycle Chic ["The Sarotrialist on two wheels"] and Copenhagenzie, presented what he believes to be the Four Goals for Promoting Urban Cycling.

Four Goals to Promoting Urban Cycling:

1. A2B-ism – focusing on the getting from A to B in the most quickest, easiest and efficient way possible.

2. Apply basis marketing technique – make urban cycling a "hero" brand, where everyone wanting a piece of it.

3. Stop Ignoring the Bull – Look at the problem, deal with the problem. Restrict movement. Medicate. Castrate. Rather than bubble wrapping the bull, how about trying to tame the bull.

4. Re-democratisation – re-humanising cycling. Re-creating livable cities rather than creating livable cities.

An hour with this filmmaker, photographer, and urban mobility expert confirmed to me that as like with the problem of climate change, what we need in solving the problem is to first go back to the basics instead of over-glamourising and over-complicating the problem. His four goals does work as proven in Barcelona, Dublin, Paris, Montreal and soon to be Mexico, State of Israel and Sweden. Mikael Colville-Andersen does know what he is talking about.

But can this work in Melbourne? Well we all seem to agree that the Melbourne Bike Share scheme is a total flop. The scheme is not easy nor is it efficient. It is just ill conceived. And what frustrates me the most is that this successful concept has just simply been duplicated without any regard to whether it is Melbourne appropriate. How embarrassing to be known as the only city to have unsuccessful implemented a highly successful concept. I am also not impressed that my tax paying dollars have been wasted on the dumb-asses who consulted on this scheme. I want a refund. However, general consensus for its failure seems to be the existence of our helmet laws. A view also expressed by the audience. The scheme doesn't work because what tourist is going to pack a helmet in their luggage for use only in Australia and New Zealand? But to me this isnt the major issue, though it does seem to be the most obvious. Melbourne, unlike the cities and countries listed above, does not have 30km speed limits for ALL vehicles traveling in the CBD. What it does have are tram lines and lots of angry people aka road rage. Why would I hire a bike, which I will then need to return it to an allocated station when I could buy a tram ticket that gets me to exactly where I need to go? And people who drive. Lets face it, they drive because they are in a rush and when elements like cyclists delay them from getting from A2B, they become angry, thus making the roads unsafe. As a member of the audience stated, the reason her friends don't cycle is because they feel unsafe. It is not because of distance as stated by Anita Curow, Director of Network Improvements at VicRoads. So right was the audience member and so wasted are the taxes that go to VicRoads. Although I can appreciate the audience members position to not wear a helmet when cycling as she feels safer as drivers tend to be more cautious of cyclists without a helmet, I will however continue wearing my helmet. I dont like to but I wear it for my safety because until the people of Melbourne become less angry and less selfish, I need all the protection I can get.

We keep investing in all this infrastructure but how about investing in cycle culture? As Colville-Andersen mentions we need to re-humanize the bicycle. And I totally agree. I recall my trip to Cambodia. You see, Cambodia does not seem to have road rules. So from the airport to my accommodation, we would be driving along one way and then suddenly swerve into oncoming traffic. And these roads are shared with cyclists. So my first two days in Cambodia I completely freaked out as I was expected to cycle to and forth to the orphanage during my month stay. They want me to cycle with these crazy drivers and without a helmet?? Hence the freak out. But after 2 days of piggybacking other cyclists, I realized I had nothing to fear. Cyclists owned the streets. It had nothing to do with the infrastructure, just the numbers, which gave them the power.

So when Melbourne develops a strong cycling culture, I will only then feel safe not to wear my helmet and it will only be then I will rely solely on my bicycle as my main form of transport.

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)

Homeless Chic

Cheng Guosheng aka Brother Sharp has become an internet cult hero.
A homeless man with surprisingly good fashion sense caputured by an amateur photographer.

Just goes to show, you can´t buy style.

Click here for the full story.

Design Made Trade - State of Design festival

On the weekend I made my way over to the Design Made Trade exhibition, which is a part of the State of Design festival. State of Design festival showcases how design generates innovation, promotes sustainability and adds value to business and society. Promotes sustainability, I like the sound of that! And so true it does.

At the Design Made Trade, I was amazed by how much use there was for paper/cardboard. It was fascinating to see what can be created with recycled paper. From sturdy tables and stools to stall booths, the options were endless. What´s even ideal is having the convenience to flat pack for easy storage or transportation. This is what Change in Design is all about. Using goods that already exist and creating something that agrees/suits our lives now.

What I fell in luv with however was this upcycled table and stool set by BlueBottle3. Picture says it all. So so cute, kinda rustic and perfect for round table feast and discussions! My kinda thing.

Half year house clean

So my last post was about embarking on a new project called ThreeChics. When this idea was conceived, I had visioned this project to be a record of re-con trips, no biggie, I enjoy roadtrips and off-track adventures. But when things are planned to schedule and deadlines set, that to me is not re-con. I´m a great believer in letting things happen, going with the flow, happy go lucky, so when these elements are threatened, I tend to lose myself and stop appreciating the things I truly care about. Having taken a huge step to rearrange my life by going from full-time to part-time work, I am not willing to now go back to a dog eat dog world. I really do want the slow life, the sea change, alfresco dining and cheap laughs! So I have decided to forgo ThreeChics.

I don´t regret the ARKit habitation experience, it was definitely an experience and any opportunistic platform to push the green agenda is always welcomed. Having kick started the green movement that is the ThreeChics, is an achievement in itself. To continue would mean sacrificing things I value highly, which I´m not willing to do. Plus I´m too old to take on too many projects. I rather just let things happen. As life has shown me, things seriously do happen when you are true to yourself and just let things be.

It´s still exciting times. Melbourne Fringe project is HUGE and I am in so awe to be a part of such an amazing team. And to be pushing the green movement is just tops. But wait there´s more. Look out for eco-chic articles popping up here and there by yours truly.

So all is good on my front. Life is a learning curve, you learn what you like and you learn what you don´t. You learn what is important to you and what´s important to others. But so long as you do things with passion and sincerity, good things will come your way. Don´t you love karma? I know I do!