Tabla de contenidos para Winter 2018 en Peppermint Magazine

“I am sure fragments of our forebearers still shadow us through life; we just need to let them walk beside us when stepping into the future” There was a time, long ago, when the beliefs of our ancestors would have been unquestionably our own beliefs. Wisdom throughout the years would have been passed down through families, leaders and wise sages and accepted without a second thought. Knowledge of life and the greater world – albeit often a combination of fact and fiction – was the cornerstone of a community. A deep understanding of how to live with (and not against) the cycles of nature would have been built into the structure of life. Elders were not only respected but revered, for they were the keepers of knowledge. Today most of…

Why do you do what you do? I started The Sewloist with the intention of connecting with people, fostering community and providing an alternative to fast fashion and fast consumption. I make most of my designs to order, using only vintage, remnant and designer end fabrics. What drew you to sustainable fashion? I completed my fashion studies in 2005 and there were no sustainability and ethics subjects on the curriculum, so I did my own research. It didn’t take long to gain a true insight into the negative impacts of the industry. I also worked in higher-end fashion retail, so was exposed to excessive consumption habits. The more you know about something, the harder it is to ignore the reality – I decided whichever way I was to work within…

Arriving in Australia from the UK twenty years ago, acclaimed chef and restaurateur Darren Robertson is now co-owner of the Rocker and Three Blue Ducks restaurants – the latter of which can now be found in four locations across Sydney, Byron Bay and Brisbane. As he prepares to appear at Brisbane’s Regional Flavours festival in July, we spoke to him about his passion for sustainable, local produce, and why he believes we all need to know more about the provenance of our food. You’re an advocate for farm-to-table cooking. Why’s that so important to you? I’ve become more interested in how our food is produced, how it’s treated and the effect that has on nutrition, taste and the environment. It’s very important – it’s given me a greater appreciation of…

An educational website focused on female sexual pleasure, OMGYes offers a series of videos that combine stories with science to uncover what women really want. We chatted to program manager Clare Kim to get the lowdown. “Pleasure is one of the best parts of living and of being in love” Tell us how OMGYes works… We conducted over 2000 in-depth interviews and surveyed over 5000 more women. We asked them what breakthroughs they’ve had that made their pleasure better and what they wish they’d known sooner – and then we took the most prevalent themes and did follow-up academic surveys and interviews to get more detail about them. These are presented on the site in the form of statistics, interactive graphics and videos of relatable people from the research sharing…

Kurdistan, 1986: the Iraqi-Kurdish conflict has been raging since the end of World War I, and Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein has just launched Al-Anfal, a genocidal campaign intended to eradicate the Kurdish population. It’s into this maelstrom of political upheaval that Dashni Morad is born to Kurdish parents in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region. One of her earliest memories is hearing a radio announcement about the threat of impending chemical warfare; her family can’t afford gas masks, so Dashni’s mother practises covering her children’s mouths with nappies in case of an attack. In 1991, they flee the country in fear of their lives – first to Iran, and then to Holland, where they settle as refugees. “I wish I’d had an ordinary upbringing, but I know this has made me who I…

CHINESE MONEY PLANT Pilea peperomioides This year’s hottest houseplant, the distinctive Chinese Money Plant is famous for its bright green pancake-shaped leaves – it’s also known as the ‘pancake plant’ or ‘UFO plant’. Super popular and simple to grow, just pot your pilea in a free-draining mix and don’t overwater it – look for an inch of dry topsoil before reaching for the watering can. This cutie thrives in a sunny, warm spot like an office desk near a window, but avoid putting it in direct sunlight – and remember to rotate regularly to stop it growing on a lean. DEVIL’S IVY Epipremnum aureum Devil’s Ivy has heart-shaped greeny-yellow marbled leaves that will really brighten a dull corner – it’ll happily grow indoors with little care, but needs a sunny…

wide-leg pants GET SET FOR A STYLISH WINTER WITH THIS SEASON’S HOTTEST TROUSER SHAPE! HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE TO DOWNLOAD THE EXCLUSIVE PEPPERMINT PATTERN AND SEW YOUR OWN. We’re super excited to bring you these patterns in partnership with the lovely people at The Fabric Store. With a passion for all things sewing, they stock an incredible range of fabrics – think quality linen, silk, cotton, merino and even leather – at their Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and New Zealand stores, as well as a small selection online. PATTERN CREATED EXCLUSIVELY FOR PEPPERMINT BY IN THE FOLDS. PHOTO: ELISABETH HARVEY, MODEL: MAGGIE LUU, T-SHIRT: NICO UNDERWEAR, WIDE-LEG PANT FABRIC: SMOKY TEAL COTTON DRILL FROM THE FABRIC STORE - THEFABRICSTORE.COM.AU The Fabric Store DOWNLOAD THE PATTERN: PEPPERMINTMAG.COM/SEWING-SCHOOL #peppermintpatterns #peppermintwidelegpants…

When you feel like cooking something different that will make your kids smile, this is a good recipe. These tasty croquettes make a great afternoon snack or finger food for a dinner party. We wanted to create croquettes without eggs and flour (making them vegan and gluten-free), and this is what we came up with. Dressing them with sesame seeds instead of panko crumbs and shallow-frying gives them a nice, crunchy texture. Dip them in a rich sesame sauce. INGREDIENTS 400 G (14 OZ) KABOCHA (JAPANESE PUMPKIN), PEELED AND CUT INTO SMALL PIECES1 MEDIUM POTATO, PEELED AND CUBED2 PINCHES OF SALT75 G (2¾ OZ/1½ CUPS) ENGLISH SPINACH, CHOPPED2 TEASPOONS TAMARI75 G (2¾ OZ) RICE FLOUR2 TABLESPOONS CORNFLOUR (CORNSTARCH)½ TEASPOON SALT¼ TEASPOON SUGAR50 G (1¾ OZ/⅓ CUP) TOASTED BLACK SESAME SEEDS50…

WE LOVE HEARING FROM YOU, DEAR READERS. All writers published in this issue’s Letterbox will receive a twin-pack of fair trade, sustainable Peruvian cacao powder – packed with fibre, antioxidants and protein – from the lovely folk at Power Super Foods. Always make sure you include your mailing address with your letter, so we can get your goodies to you. Enjoy! powersuperfoods.com.au GET IN TOUCH AT HELLO@PEPPERMINTMAG.COM dear peppermint Dear Peppermint, Growing up I’ve always cared about the environment, but felt a bit helpless about the state of the world. Becoming a mum to a beautiful boy in 2015 was life-changing for me in so many positive ways, but one thing that shook me was the anxiety and fear I experienced that I never had before. I constantly felt helpless,…

Tell us about your work… Jane Goodall said, “You can’t get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” For me, this meant pursuing degrees in conservation and marine biology, running workshops and talks and trying to live as sustainably as possible. I’ve travelled across the South Pacific and around Australia with schools, organisations and other groups to understand plastic pollution and work together to make a difference. What got you started? After falling in love with scuba-diving in my early twenties, I joined a diving conservation group. We did underwater cleanups and I was shocked to find a never-ending mass of plastic. How can we…

Many of us enjoy the odd glass of vino at the end of a long day, and happily there are all sorts of exciting things going on in the independent wine industry. From minimal intervention and organic to biodynamic and pét-nat (more of that later), there’s no denying wine’s getting more and more interesting (much like our conversation after a couple of glasses, no?). However, with grape power comes grape responsibility (SORRY) – in the face of so much choice, which drop do you drink? To solve this stumper, we selflessly tested out all manner of tipples that think outside the box(ed wine). Not all heroes wear capes, guys – you can thank us later. Cheers! PATRICK SULLIVAN PINK POUND ROSÉ A renowned Yarra Valley winemaker who creates handcrafted, minimal…

In a small, light-filled kitchen in the heart of Byron Bay’s green hinterland, Carter Were is lovingly kneading the dough for one of her signature breads. Her gluten-free sprouted buckwheat bread, fresh organic sourdough loaves, and chiefly, her show-stopping sourdough crispbreads gently pressed with edible flowers and flavoursome herbs have become the talk of the town. She sells these – alongside other homemade or homegrown goods, including baked treats, fruit, vegetables, kraut and pickles – through her business Were Bros: a tiny food delivery company with heart that’s been embraced by the Byron Shire’s tight-knit, food-loving community. A lover of travel, Carter first realised “what good food was” while living and working in Greece and becoming acquainted with the local way of eating. “I learnt that as long as you…

Zero waste is having a moment right now, and we can all agree that is a Very Good Thing indeed. With our oceans overwhelmed with plastic, a national recycling crisis in progress and turtles with straws stuck up their noses, this movement to reduce our waste couldn’t have come at a better time. Well, perhaps thirty years ago – but who’s counting? Nowadays, everyone seems to be toting their reusable bags, sipping on stainless steel straws and perfecting Instagram snaps of their reusable coffee cups. The ground-swell is heartening, but the war on waste is far from over. So after we’ve picked this low hanging (plastic-wrapped) fruit, it’s time to take the next few steps in our zero waste practice. Let’s look at some sneaky ways that waste is still…

DUCKFEET Hand-made by experienced shoemakers in a traditional Polish factory using ethically produced leather from a tannery in Germany, which utilises energy-saving and clean-water technologies. duckfeet.com.au R.M. WILLIAMS Made by hand in Adelaide and accredited by Ethical Clothing Australia, R.M. Williams boots are built to last (with the original makers doing repairs to help ensure they do). PO-ZU Giving fast fashion the boot, Po-Zu have the highest standards when it comes to ethics, materials and sustainability, creating solvent-glue-free shoes that are easily repaired. po-zu.com POST SOLE STUDIO Post Sole Studio is one of Australia’s last remaining footwear factories. The talented female duo create a made-to-order range that can also be produced as vegan by request. postsole.com BAABUK Hand-crafted in Nepal from felted New Zealand wool with a natural latex sole,…

“It feels like a sanctuary. It’s a place where we feel like no one else exists.” A line of boots marks the entrance to Joel and Rachel’s split-level cabin set in the coastal bushland of Bellbrae, just off the Great Ocean Road. This creative couple live with their three young children, Poppy (10), Wren (5) and Oak (20 months) and a pair of officially wild (but remarkably friendly) blue tongue lizards called Bluey and Lizzy – who reside under a pair of old railway sleepers just outside the back door. “They have become so tame that we often find the kids hanging out inside, reading a book with Bluey or Lizzy by their sides,” says Joel. It’s been five years since Rachel and Joel packed up their brood and moved…

Stainless steel, round-edged safety straw in silver or rose gold / $4 biome.com.au 12 pack of bamboo straws plus brush with 50c going to Sea Shepherd / $19.95 floraandfauna.com.au High-quality tempered glass straw by Glass Dharma / from $12.95 rechusable.com Five pack of soft, food grade silicon straws with a cleaning brush / $14.95 thetmshop.com.au Natural, antimicrobial bamboo straw, handcrafted in Bali / $1.95 biome.com.au Gold-plated, stainless steel straw set with kangaroo leather pouch / $49.99 cleancoastcollective.org Coloured straight or bent straws made from the same glass as Pyrex / $4.95 ballmason.com.au On-the-go rose gold straw kit with organic cotton pouch / $9.95 evereco.com.au…

PRINT PLAY Enter the colour and pattern-filled world of two screen-printing designers, whose book Print Play is destined to keep creative bodies busy with inspired projects. hardiegrantbooks.com.au MIMOSA BOTANICALS Fend off winter blues with a soothing, immunity-supporting Frankincense & Lemon Bath Soak – blending essential oils and organic herbs – from Mimosa Botanicals mimosabotanicals.com.au SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS CLUB Socially Conscious Club sources ethical, sustainable products and delivers them to your door in a beautiful box, all while supporting charities and changemakers. sociallyconsciousclub.com.au COCONUT TREE Harnessing the power of coconut oil for radiant skin and hair, Noosa’s Coconut Tree products are full of natural goodness, free from harmful ingredients and a joy to use. coconuttree.com.au / visitnoosa.com.au YEALANDS In time for cooler weather, Yealands Land Made Pinot Noir is a drop that…

JODI WILSON Jodi Wilson is a writer, photographer and yoga teacher who blogs about motherhood, style and simple living at @practisingsimplicity. She’s about to embark on a year-long caravan adventure around Australia. PRACTISINGSIMPLICITY.COM “Could we just pack up the house and live on the road? Are we those kind of people?” the big lap Who knew a children’s picture book could inspire such momentous life change? Alison Lester, the iconic Australian author and illustrator, travelled Australia in a pop-up van with her family and then created Are We There Yet – a heartwarming story of their rollicking journey. Our copy of the book is dog-eared and slightly skewiff; it’s been a bedtime favourite for many, many years. It was only when my eldest son, Che, did a school performance inspired…

ALEX VAN OS Op Shop To Runway Sir David Attenborough. Enough said. ZOE PATTERSON Peppermint Advertising Manager Pete Evans. Watching The Paleo Way series and reading his books sparked something in me and inspired my healthy-eating journey. It’s not just bone broth and coconut oil – I had no idea there was a whole world of doctors, nutritionists and chefs talking my food language. Thanks Pete! JODI WILSON Practising Simplicity I totally admire Sarah Wilson for her simple-living ways. And the fact that she bowed out of her successful business when she knew in her heart that her job was done. RACHEL MANNS Molly Fox Vintage Trying to write this without sounding conceited is difficult, and I certainly wouldn’t have written this six months ago. But the wisest person I…

DOIN’ THE DOOP Made by hand in the Byron Bay hinterland, Doops is a sustainable clothing range that features bold and cheery prints across a plethora of responsibly sourced cottons, silks and linens. With every original screen-printed item drawn by hand using eco-friendly, solvent-free water-based inks, the range includes tops, skirts and dresses alongside little loveliness for small humans, and even rainbowbright fabric scraps and yardage. doopsdesigns.com WIN YOUR CHOICE OF AN ORGANIC COTTON DRESS FROM DOOPS! EMAIL US WITH YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS TO YESPLEASE@PEPPERMINTMAG.COM BY 5 AUGUST 2018 WITH ‘DOOPS’ IN THE SUBJECT LINE. A STITCH IN TIME Designed in Sydney and sewn by female artisans in the foothills of the Himalayas, Aneau’s range of quilts are hand-stitched using a lightweight cotton poplin, and come packed in their…

“We’re all buying or consuming our identity – it’s just a function of living in a capitalist model and participating in fashion” Tell us about this project… Soft Shells is a photo portrait series that catalogues an individual with all of their clothing. The images are meant to play with ideas of what’s revealed or concealed through someone’s fashion choices. What was the inspiration behind it? Why clothing? The project arose out of my interest in ‘things’ – I think a lot about how we use objects to identify ourselves and ground us to the world. We learn to relate to others through the tangibility of ‘stuff ’. An object becomes meaningful and significant because of the value we (as individuals and in a social sense) place on it. To…

“We each see the hours and the effort we both put in, and know that dedication to each other goes deeper than just the brand” molly fox vintage UK-BASED RACHEL AND SARAH MANNS COLLABORATE ON MOLLY FOX VINTAGE – PROVING THAT SECONDHAND ISN’T SECOND BEST AND THAT VINTAGE IS FOR EVERY BODY. RACHEL MANNS co-founder & creative director (left) I think starting our own vintage brand was inevitable after so many years of scouring charity shops together, and realising we both had distinctive styles and a special eye for a ‘trendy’ piece. I’m a fashion photographer, so the idea really came about when I photographed Sarah in a few of my pieces I wanted to sell on eBay. Sarah weighed in with lots of styling advice and looked so darn…

What was the narrative behind this project? It imagines a group of Goddess-type figures who are here to serve as the antithesis of the capitalist patriarchy and strike fear into the hearts of harmful corporations. Existing in a dystopian/utopian future unhindered by the constraints of advertising and corporate power, the women dress to celebrate their bodies in a way they dictate – highlighting feminine attributes to make themselves strong. For example, why should women broaden their shoulders like men to feel powerful? Why not do the opposite? How would you describe your aesthetic? My signature is strong, graphic, often exaggerated silhouettes paired with highly textured hand-crafted textiles. I want my work to show that eco fashion can still be visually exciting and push concepts and ideas beyond the fact of…

“We are lucky in the environs of Byron Bay to have so many talented and revered makers of beautiful things” Tell us about your space… Newrybar Merchants is a unique retail experience with ten merchants under one roof in a beautiful, turn-of-the-century timber cottage on the main street of Newrybar. Each store carries their own concept, look and feel – and so walking from the front door to the back feels a little like a journey through Wonderland. Along the way you’ll find one-of-a-kind pieces for the home, body and soul. We stock everything from furniture, rugs and bed linen to childrenswear, flowers, books and art. There are four owners – what are your backgrounds? Our backgrounds are diverse. Zane Grier has spent 20 years in the surfwear industry, Jules…

THIS IS HOME: THE ART OF SIMPLE LIVING Natalie Walton In this beautifully calming tome, stylist and writer Natalie Walton visited homes around the world to explore the ways in which we express our identity through our space, and the common themes that unite our transformations from house to home. Filled with inspirational stories, captivating photography and practical guidance, the book takes us on a global journey from Marrakech to Melbourne, offering a visual feast along the way. SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE! IF YOU’RE A CURRENT SUBSCRIBER, EMAIL US AT YESPLEASE@PEPPERMINTMAG.COM WITH ‘THIS IS HOME’ IN THE SUBJECT LINE BY 5 AUGUST 2018 TO GO IN THE DRAW TO WIN ONE OF THREE COPIES. ON OUR SHELF YOU ARE MIGHTY A GUIDE TO CHANGING THE WORLD CAROLINE PAUL (ILLUSTRATED BY LAUREN TAMAKI)…