Innehållsförteckning för Issue 60 - Summer 2023 från Peppermint Magazine

We heart hearing from you, dear readers! Email us at hello@peppermintmag.com or tag your IG posts with #peppermintmagazine All writers published in this issue’s Letterbox will receive a Chasing Sunsets Woven Rug valued at $195 from The Somewhere Co! Founded by Ellen Powell, The Somewhere Co specialises in carefully crafting colourful wares that take you ‘somewhere’ – helping you to pack your bags, stow your snacks and plan the most idyllic of picnics. Skilfully woven from 100% recycled plastic by Indian artisans, these super snuggly rugs are the perfect partner for outdoor adventures, vibing on your couch or even chasing those namesake sunsets. thesomewhereco.com DEAR PEPPERMINT I just wanted to say thank you for this current issue. I love every issue but this one hit different! I found so many…

What is The Rainbow Shoelace Project and how did the idea come about? The Rainbow Shoelace Project is an initiative I started in 2022 when I was 12 years old after hearing generalised and homophobic comments being made around my school. As a young queer person, this made me feel alone and isolated. Because I was feeling this way, I decided to create something that could help others see that they are never alone and that there are always people that support them. I started by putting posters with packets of rainbow-coloured beads stuck to them at my local supermarket. Soon after that we gained many supporters over social media and throughout my town. Now, we have given out nearly 200,000 packs of beads. What message do you hope they…

It turns out the most awkward part of nude modelling is knowing when to take your clothes off. Obviously, when the instructor calls time, you want to be ready to drop your robe dramatically, not struggling out of your street clothes. But you also don’t want to immediately start stripping lest everyone think, “Damn, she’s really too keen to get naked in front of a bunch of strangers.” Let’s skip back a moment. An interesting part of the human condition is the tendency to consider our body as something separate, or slightly apart, from our essential internal selves – a divide between the me and the meat if you will. It makes sense. Our bodies change, age and fail in ways we can neither predict nor control. Our bodies belie…

MAGPIE GOOSE / INARLENGE Fix up, look sharp! The latest print from the iconic fashion and social enterprise was created by artist Christopher McMillan from Ewyenper Atwatye and screenprinted onto natural fibres. From $149 magpiegoose.com PAPERBARK LOVE / LEMON MYRTLE AND WATTLESEED SOAP Made by hand in small batches in South East Queensland, feel the Paperbark Love with a smooth and creamy exfoliating soap. $10 paperbarklove.com TOWN CAMP / PMERLPE TEA TOWEL The linen tea towels by Ewyenper Atwatye Artists are not only iconic, they’re educational, sharing Arrernte vocab and bush tucker tips. $30 towncampdesigns.org.au JULUWARLU ART GROUP / MEMORY GAME Train your brain with this game, featuring original drawings from Roeburne District Kids. $35 juluwarluartgroup.com.au EB JEWELLERY / FLOW LINE EARRINGS These delicate yet striking handmade earrings effortlessly join the…

When I was a kid, I used to put posters of my idols on my bedroom walls – pop stars, actors, models, even a cricketer! I wanted to know everything about them – and dreamed of becoming a journalist so I too could write articles about my idols. I looked to them to show me what was possible. But none of them were disabled… yet I was. Although I have lived with ichthyosis, a severe rare skin condition, since birth, I didn't identify as disabled until I came to know other disabled people and saw how much we had in common. While I had a different diagnosis, we experienced similar barriers – inaccessible spaces, discrimination and significant time off work and school because of illness, and hospital appointments and stays.…

“You know that warm, fizzy feeling you get when things are exciting and overwhelming in a good way? That’s what it’s like to visit Pinky’s. Can you introduce yourselves to our readers and tell us about your backgrounds… We are Beckie and Emily, pals and owners of Pinky’s, a beautiful gift store in Preston, Victoria, as well as a comprehensive online store. We first met at playgroup when our daughters were a year old. Beckie was working as a photographic stylist and Emily had her jewellery and design business. We became good friends and, not long after, decided to take a leap into the unknown and start our dream shop together. When did you open Pinky’s and what was the inspiration behind it? It was 2018 and after having her…

Tell us about your relationship with food… I have a complex relationship with food. It has, at times, been a source of shame, punishment and a way to numb myself to life’s trauma – a way to hide myself. At other times it has been a source of deep nourishment and community, a way for me to connect to those I love and a spring of hope and joy to celebrate my culture, my journey and my people. Do you believe it is the ultimate equaliser? Yes, food humanises us; it is the social armour refugees and migrants bring to a new country to enable them to integrate and safely resettle. You cannot be angry at someone you are breaking bread with. It invites us to be curious and to…

LAUREN BAXTER There was a time I thought to be worth remembering was to be extraordinary. These days, I’d rather work to make tiny changes – believing and taking solace in the far-reaching powers of the ripple effect. CAITLIN MORIARTY I want to be remembered for my vast collection of jumpsuits. HELEN DEWAR I would like to say kindness or generosity or something more admirable but the heart wants what it wants, and my heart says I would like to be remembered for my rousing – and occasionally startling – karaoke rendition of Celine Dion’s 'It’s All Coming Back To Me Now'. MARA VANDENBERG For my excitement for life, for my honesty, for never being afraid to say things, and that all of it combined to make the people in…

Grief is not the straightforward sadness or longing it is sometimes imagined. It is layered. Unpredictable. It comes in waves, rolling and then crashing all at once. I have sat with it twice this past month – experienced in the hearts of dear friends and family and, as such, it has become something a little more than abstract and theoretical in my mind. I have sat with the fragility and cruelty of a life taken too soon. With the incomprehensible reality of an empty chair and a quiet house. Of the flippancy of platitudes and the sadness of words gone unsaid. Through this, the concept of “self-care” has seemed all the more superficial; something of an oxymoron in that it should be a practice that defies its own name –…

DOING IT FOR THEMSELVES Looking for a present? Head to Global Sisters – an online marketplace with everything from fashion and food to homewares and skincare. Featuring hundreds of female-founded micro-businesses and social enterprises, your purchase not only impacts the woman you buy from, but it also supports the organisation’s goal of long-term economic security for all women. What a gift! marketplace.globalsisters.org THEY SEE ME ROLLIN’ The footwear fiends at Rollie Nation have released a new range of sweet shoes made using Desserto cactus leather. A plant-based biomaterial, this leather alternative is anything but prickly – soft, flexible and super durable! These sweet saguaro kicks are available in all manner of classic Rollie styles from stomping Chelsea boots to slip-on slides! rollienation.com HIGH AND DRY Inspired by 70s poolside vibes,…

“Art, no matter the subject matter, will always just reflect on what’s happening. Cast your mind back to the Global Climate Strikes of 2019. If you took to the streets among the millions of other protesters demanding government action on anthropological climate change, there’s a good chance you might have come across the work of Luke John Matthew Arnold – even if you didn’t know it. It was a turning point for the illustrator who has quickly made a name for himself (well, four of them as a self-confessed “name hog”) – using his trademark tongue-in-cheek humour to amplify the voices of underrepresented communities across the globe. Growing up in the suburb of Loftus, on the outskirts of the Royal National Park, Luke still describes himself as “a little feral…

IT IS EASIER TO IMAGINE THE END OF THE WORLD THAN THE END OF CAPITALISM. Money is part of our daily lives. Yet our monetary system is not widely understood. Economics is a purposefully dense field that’s heavy with jargon, which excludes the many from participating in decision-making and means capital, power and our collective futures are held in the hands of the few. Dominated by capitalism, our economy is not designed to support people or planetary flourishing. It values profit, consumption and accumulation – and only for a small percentage of people. Amid the intersecting climate and cost of living crises, it’s a potent moment to imagine and practise new economic models. “It is easier to imagine the end of the world than the end of capitalism,” Mark Fisher…

Yalumba GEN is available at Dan Murphy’s and BWS. Founded in 1849 and based in the beautiful Barossa Valley, Yalumba is a family-run business that has worked with the land for over a century. Allowing Mother Nature to guide its processes and championing vineyard biodiversity, a trademark ‘less is more’ approach has solidified the brand as a pioneer in low-intervention winemaking. But, with grape power comes grape responsibility, and last year the team solidified its commitment to betterment with the launch of Yalumba GEN – a collection of sustainably made vegan wines, 100% Certified Organic by the ACO. Like chips and dip or avocado and toast, every hero needs an equally delicious partner. And because good food and great wine is pretty much a no-brainer, next time you’re pouring some…

We challenged Queensland’s very own DIY queens – Rachel Burke, Alice Veivers and Daisy Braid – to upcycle a towel so it was ready for unrestrained summer fun. Clean up your act and get sewing! Love Heart Tote RACHEL BURKE / @IMakestagram Upcycling and reworking fabrics into new creations is one of my favourite things to do. It not only saves old goodies from the trash, but it also leaves you with a unique statement piece that you can’t find anywhere else – literally a win-win! As such, re-working a towel into a cutie tote bag is the kind of project I adore. It’s the perfect picnic or library bag, and only requires scissors and a sewing machine to whip up! Seriously, you are only a few steps away from…

Free sewing pattern! Get ready to splash into summer with our latest pattern, the spectacular Peppermint Bronte Bathers. Made in collaboration with Sharon and Justine Cowie, the marvellous mother-daughter duo behind Swim Style Patterns, the Bronte Bathers are a terrific two-piece bikini perfect for beach-ready babes. With high-waisted bottoms and a twist-front top, she’s the perfect combination of fun in the sun and supportive coverage – you can even omit the twist tie and create a bandeau top! Featuring all the bells and whistles, from tidy interior linings to removable bust cups and adjustable straps, by the time you’ve sewn up this simple set, you’ll have leveled up into a swimwear master! Many thanks to our sewing partner Spoonflower for helping to make our much-loved patterns possible! From wallpaper to…

In Ancient Greece, these heavenly parcels of goodness were called thria and were made with tender fig leaves. Today, most people who are familiar with dolmades know of them as parcels of rice in vine leaves, but for me, nothing beats swapping out vine leaves for tender silverbeet (Swiss chard), picked straight from the garden. You can also wrap them in cabbage leaves and cover them in a gorgeous avgolemono sauce – these are called lahanodolmades. Serves four INGREDIENTS 120ml extra‑virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling2 small onions, finely diced½ teaspoon sugar200g long-grain rice, washed, drained and patted dry30g dill, finely chopped15g flat-leaf (Italian) parsley, finely chopped10g mint, finely chopped170ml water30 large silverbeet (Swiss chard) leavesSalt and pepper, to taste1 lemon, to serve METHOD Heat 2 tablespoons of the…

AUSTRALIAN HIKER Australia’s most popular local hiking podcast, Tim and Gill Savage take you through everything you need to know before hitting the trails. BIG SMALL TALK Funny, informal and informative, Hannah Ferguson from Cheek Media and Sarah Jane Adams bring you the latest from politics to pop culture. FASHION UNEARTHED Sustainable fashion consultant Belinda Humphries hosts this practical podcast, designed to help businesses navigate the murky fashion industry more sustainably. ZERO Bloomberg Green’s climate reporter Akshat Rathi explores the policies, tactics and technologies taking us to a future of zero emissions. WHIPSTITCH Enrich your sewing and enjoy casual coffee chats with award-winning author and sewing instructor Deborah Moebes and her guests.…

The Britannica Dictionary describes a diamond in the rough to be “a person who has talent or other good qualities but who is not polite, educated, socially skilled, etc”. As we hit 60 issues (and loosely borrow the diamond jubilee symbolism for this milestone without the monarchist implications), this description feels apt of Peppermint’s beginnings (and likely myself). Grammarist goes on to say that there is a similar Japanese saying, tama migakasareba hikari nashi, which translates as ‘a jewel, unless polished, will not sparkle’. The last 15 years have seen my precious, rough gem be tumbled, cut and polished by all the brilliant people who have worked with me to make it what it is today. A diamond itself does not shine; its sparkle is the result of three things:…

www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/Galleries-Museums/Events/PRAG/All-The-Best-Martin-Edge How did you come to be an artist? I didn’t go looking to be an artist; it just worked out that way. I started an art course back in 2007, and from there, the art found me. All my art is based on the world according to Martin. Some things are from childhood memories, others are interests I have – I love CityCats and busyness. I like nature, fashion and antiques. I like coffee and cake. It’s very colourful and vibrant and I want Martin’s world to actually be coming off the canvas. It’s quite remarkable if you look at the very early works to the current works; it’s still the same person painting and I’m using exactly the same paint, but it’s just changed over time. Why is…

CANNABELLA Gold Coast-based Cannabella was created by three brothers after they successfully used hemp oil to combat their mum’s painful skin during chemotherapy. The award-winning, glassbottled Renewal Serum with unfiltered seed oil gets a high five from us. cannabella.com.au ALIVIO The simple but stunning range from Alivio is spearheaded by their signature ingredient: hemp seed oil organically grown and cold-pressed in Tasmania. Brimming with antioxidants, the Facial Hydrator Serum pairs hemp with vitamin C, argan oil and bakuchiol. aliviowellness.com.au HEMP HEMP HOORAY The OG of Australian hemp beauty products, founder Teresa advocated and campaigned for reform, resulting in 2017’s Industrial Hemp Act. hemphemphooray.com.au DOPE SKIN CO The grass looks pretty green over at small-batch, Australian-made skincare brand Dope Skin Co. Their vegan, organic range using hemp extracts will, as they…

This is an edited extract from ‘Wear Next, Fashioning the Future’ by Clare Press (Thames & Hudson Australia), out now. IMAGINE: The fashion world is built on genuine beauty. The appeal of a garment extends right back through the process of making it, whether that’s by skilled hand or sophisticated machine. The people who make our clothes are treated with respect. Materials are regenerative and biodegradable, recycled or upcycled. The fashion industry exceeded its 2030 climate targets, and reached net zero a few years later. It operates safely within planetary boundaries. Sharing and repairing clothes is convenient and inviting. Slow, local fashion is flourishing. But if you prefer, there’s a high-tech digital solution for everything. Apps connect circular fashion services, or you can change your look every hour by dressing…

SINEAD DIVER Australian marathon runner One of the most valuable lessons I’ve gained throughout my life is the ability to discern between genuine expertise and empty advice. Social media is saturated with influencers and self-proclaimed experts offering guidance on topics they know little about. I would encourage everyone to seek out and embrace those individuals who are truly knowledgeable and experienced. It takes patience and requires more effort, but it’s worth it in the long run. Over the years, I’ve learned that being curious, always asking questions and listening more acutely are the best skills you can hope to master. HANNAH SUMMERS Peppermint reader and marine biologist What you decide to do now doesn’t dictate the course of your entire life! ALANA Peppermint reader It’s ok to speak up and…

As a psychologist and human, I know very well that life can be messy. It can feel increasingly difficult to navigate the storm that is modernity. The state of the natural world is in decline and has been for many decades. The evidence is all around us, from raging wildfires and intensifying El Niño and La Niña seasonal patterns, the signs of environmental degradation are impossible to ignore. For many of us, this state of affairs is a source of deep sadness and despair, compounded by the loud voices who wish to deny and obfuscate this fact. The natural world has provided solace, inspiration and beauty to countless generations of humans. To bear witness to its decline can feel like a personal loss. Moreover, the climate crisis looms large, casting…

As the wakame from today’s hunt dries on clothes racks in a repurposed shipping container, the irony of ‘Winter’s Warm’ by Eddy Current Suppression Ring playing in the background sticks in the mind. Winter is indeed warm – much earlier than normal. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the ocean absorbs about 30% of the carbon dioxide that’s released into the atmosphere. With increased levels of carbon dioxide come changes in ocean pH levels and increased acidity, negatively impacting fish, corals and shell builders like oysters, crabs and sea snails. Like many farmers, the co-founder of Southern Seagreens and commercial diver, Brent Cross, says you become acutely aware of the impacts of climate change when disruptive environmental events are happening right in front of you. However, Brent along…

Tell us about your journey in the sewing world… I started sewing in primary school – probably eight years old. The headmaster’s wife would come in once a week and teach the girls to sew by hand. My grandma, who was a gifted seamstress, passed down a Singer electric sewing machine to us. I kept sewing and when I went to high school, learned about basic patternmaking. I can still remember the lovely teacher showing us how to draft a sleeve. I was fascinated with the process and realised it provided the freedom to create whatever you wanted. Patternmaking is my absolute favourite part of creating a new design. When did you decide to start Swim Style Patterns? I remember driving Justine to uni and saying to her, “What about…

MADE590 At Made590, fun ’fits and bold prints are in fashion! Shop this female-led, size-inclusive Aussie brand online or instore in Marrickville. made590.com.au BLACK FINCH Moody and mesmerising, the Black Finch Nightfall Cluster Ring – made with ethically sourced Australian sapphires – captivates the heart. blackfinch.com.au ALLEN & UNWIN Darkly funny and painfully relatable, Green Dot is a story about solitude, desire, bad ideas and why we seem to love chasing them. allenandunwin.com GREENPAN Get cooking with GreenPan’s innovative ceramic cookware – PFASfree, non-stick, easy to clean and a stylish addition to any kitchen! greenpan.com.au ECA Support ethically accredited brands and buy with confidence using Ethical Clothing Australia’s digital shopping map. ethicalclothingaustralia.org.au PIPET Start your sustainability journey with the help of Pipet – the Aussie brand offers stylish and eco-friendly…

https://www.penguin.com.au/books/a-therapeutic-journey-9780241642566 A THERAPEUTIC JOURNEY Alain de Botton Beloved philosopher Alain de Botton has penned a series of essays about mental health, mental breakdowns and all the attendant stages in-between. Written with kindness, compassion and first-hand experience, the book is part practical guide to recovery, resilience and reconnection and part companion – a hand reaching out to remind you that even at your loneliest point, you’re never truly alone. Others have walked this path before you and more walk beside you. https://nardurna.com/products/a-first-nations-colouring-book-by-ryhia-dank-nardurna NARDURNA Ryhia Dank Gudanji/Wakaja artist Ryhia Dank – who calls her storywork Nardurna, meaning ‘woman’ in Gudanji language – generously shares her art, culture and Country in this new colouring book. Rich with memories of place and community, the book includes 45 outlines of her original artworks – including…

https://climatechangersmovie.com/ CLIMATE CHANGERS Johan Gabrielsson The central question of this documentary: do we have the leadership to take us to a greener future? We follow renowned scientist, researcher and author Tim Flannery from his home on the Hawkesbury River to the world’s largest global climate summit as he seeks to answer this question, interviewing climate leaders from Al Gore to Chief Esau Kekeubata to find out what is actually happening and what is still to be done. https://about.abc.net.au/media-room/celeste-barber-explores-australias-fashion-history-in-the-way-we-wore/ THE WAY WE WORE Nel Minchin Actress, comedian and fashion icon Celeste Barber takes us on a fascinating journey through culturally significant fashion moments in Australia’s history in this riveting three-part doco. More than an entertaining romp through the past, the series asks real questions, like why is the Australian fashion industry…