Fancy yourself as a bit of an entrepreneur? Or maybe you’re just curious to learn more about the big, bright world of online retail? Who better to teach us a thing or two about harnessing our creative dreams than our friends at Etsy! Taking place on June 2nd at Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art, Etsy Success Sydney features a jam-packed program of very special guest presentations on everything from effective team management to online etiquette and the basics of product styling. Speakers include Etsy CEO Chad Dickeron, The Social Studio’s Grace McQuilten and Valerie Khoo from the Sydney Writer’s Studio. And we’ve got a double event pass to give away to one very lucky reader! For your chance to win, simply comment below telling us who your favourite Etsy seller is and why. Meanwhile, tickets are still available for all here. {Comp closes May 25th, 2012 at 5pm}.

Last week more than a thousand key fashion stakeholders from around the globe descended on Copenhagen to join a movement to transition the fashion industry to sustainability. Copenhagen Fashion Summit is the world’s largest and most important conference on sustainable fashion and CSR. Like most things in Denmark, it embodied professionalism, style and sophistication. The conference was held in the spectacular Danish Opera House and participants were welcomed by Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mary of Denmark wearing an H&M Conscious Collection dress. Key speakers were A-list quality, including supermodel Erin O’Connor, H&M, Gucci and the United Nations and European Commissioner for Climate Action. While these speakers were impressive, one presenter stood out most for his offbeat approach.

Bruno Pieters was on many peoples’ “must see” lists and he exceeded expectations. His transformational journey from being the creative director of Hugo Boss to creating a 100 per cent transparent label is a beacon of light for the fashion industry to aspire to. Inspired by his travels in India, Bruno began the world’s first 100 per cent transparent label called Honest By. However, he doesn’t prescribe to the terms eco or sustainable fashion – he views Honest By as simply good fashion. Devoid of statistics or jargon, his presentation was filled with inspirational quotes which rang true to his values. Pieter’s message was simple but held a powerful truth: follow your intuition, your values and be mindful. He said that “if you love life you respect it and want to protect it.” While this may seem simplistic, it was an honest and authentic approach that didn’t attempt to greenwash.

Common threads to emerge from the conference as a whole were not typical of norm fashion industry culture. Collaboration and goodwill are often found in the more alternative or grassroots sustainable fashion circles, but these words were also crossing the lips of fashion forward people such as the CSR Manager for Gucci. Another term that once would have scared many brands from communicating their efforts in sustainability from the fear of being criticised was ‘transparency’.

For consumers the message was that sustainable fashion is here to stay and that fashion brands are aware that surviving in the future means they must innovate and adapt to the demands of consumers or be threatened with extinction. Sustainability in fashion is much more than a trend, it is a necessity. They spoke of designing not only for physical durability and longevity of fashion products but also emotional durability. H&M observed that fashion consumers have gone from being labelled ‘hippies’ to eco-fashionistas and it’s now cool to be responsible.

Nearing the end of the conference, youth from 17 business and design schools stood firmly on stage to declare their demands for a fashion industry they are about to inherit. They demanded: brands create memories, not junk; to see a total cost tag, not just a price tag; to cut the crap and make sustainable fashion an easy choice; and that hippie be turned into gaga. These demands may seem somewhat idealistic but without a vision for a better fashion industry we have nothing to move towards.

Conference participants were also spoilt with a short runway show presenting sustainable fashion garments created for a sustainable design competition. You could hear the apprehension as the audience was told that garments were created with varied sustainable fashion techniques and fabrics, such as seaweed and organic hemp. However, rather than witnessing conceptual pieces of sustainable fashion, the catwalk flowed with outfits that were made to impress.

Impressively the conference closed with a written commitment to drive the fashion industry to sustainability. Every participant at the conference walked away with a Code of Conduct for the Fashion and Textile Industry stating that fashion industry must reinvent itself on this non-return journey. It is the first comprehensive roadmap of its kind to illuminate a path to sustainability in the fashion industry. Let’s hope the rest of the world was listening!

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 our end of the consumption cycle, however, this difference is often hard to see. Indeed, as we browse the chocolate aisle at the supermarket, dizzy on the sweet reward of it all, the much more sour steps in the chain are all but invisible. With Fair Trade Fortnight well underway, we thought we’d share this eye opening documentary to remind us all about what really goes into many of our favourite cocoa products – and the difference our choices can make. If you’re inspired to learn more or get involved in Fair Trade Fortnight events, stop by their website here.

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 100% recycled paper with vegie inks, you’ll find a homely mix of Julie’s favourite tried and true recipes from over 30 years in the kitchen, with plenty of her own foodie wisdom thrown in for good measure. Though we know a few mums might enjoy unwrapping this little treat on Sunday (or waking up to the smell of the Orange Almond Cake – shared below – wafting out from the kitchen), there’s no reason Dad should miss out on the chance to don his favourite apron too.

Orange Almond Cake
with Orange Blossom Cream
Serves 8

Ingredients:
2 large oranges (preferably organic), well washed
6 eggs
2 cups almond meal (ground almonds)
1 cup caster sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder

Orange Blossom Cream:
½ cup thickened cream
½ cup Greek style yoghurt
1 ½ tablespoons caster sugar
1 ½ teaspoons orange blossom water

Method:
Place oranges in a large saucepan. Cover with water and bring to the boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered for 1 hour, ensuring oranges are constantly covered with water.

Drain oranges and allow to cool. Cut in half, remove any pips and roughly chop. Place orange pieces into a food processor with remaining ingredients and process for 1-2 minutes or until smooth.

Pour into a greased and lined 20cm square cake pan and bake in a preheated 170°C oven for 45 minutes, or until light golden on top (and when a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean).

To prepare orange blossom cream, whip cream until thick, then fold through remaining ingredients until just combined. Chill until required.

Serve cake with orange blossom cream.

Tips:
To speed up the cooking of the oranges, piece their skins with a knife and place in a microwave safe bowl or jug. Add 1 litre boiling water, cover and microwave on HIGH for 20 minutes or until soft.

Known as orange blossom or flower water, this fragrant essence is made from the distillation of orange blossoms and used in sweet and savoury cooking. You can find it in some supermarkets, health food and Middle Eastern grocery stores.

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 churning Fashion Week outside.

Akira personally led each model out, making sure they were presented precisely as he had envisioned. He mentioned thinking of “paradise” while designing his latest collection, and while this might sound like quite an ambitious theme, he gracefully succeeded in its execution. Three distinct collections were on display, the first being a bridal range. Elegant gowns were intricately adorned with embroidery and applique scattered in floral and whispy skyscapes. Cloud-like contorted fabric floated as headpieces, framing the models’ faces.

The second range hinted at Akira’s beginnings with Japanese-inspired prints, origami folds and layered patterns draped into simple silhouettes. The last plinth featured an array of colours. Intricate Shibori dresses were complimented with neckpieces reminiscent of glorious sea creatures. The attention to detail and ability to create such dramatic yet soft structures proved Akira is truly one of Australia’s fashion geniuses.

Akira’s return to Sydney fashion week was refreshing. As many designers are now relying more and more on digital printing, handcrafted details are featured less. Guests of Akira’s show stood in awe of the high level of skill involved in creating these outfits. Admiring the magnificent work involved from afar, I can only imagine truly feeling as though you had your own slice of utopia wearing one of these garments.

In an age overcome with fast fashion and new technologies, now more than ever we need to celebrate designers who still place importance on the slow and intimate processes involved in creating something truly unique and beautiful.

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 Watson and Shanna Napanangka Williams.

In a new direction for Roopa, her usual kaftans were nowhere in sight and instead long, flowing gowns waltzed down the runway in bold oranges and blues. Never one to shy away from colour, she embraced an array of vibrant palettes and accentuated the lively prints with embroidered necklines and tasseled trims.

Although inspired by the Australian landscape, both Roopa and the artists portrayed our country without the clichés. It is also nice to know that the inspiration for this collection will benefit from the range, with 20% garment sales going back into the artists’ local communities. It’s also just as good to know Roopa incorporates organic fabrics (including bamboo and silk) and uses fair trade production.

A stunning collection all round and an incredible homage to the great Aboriginal artists of this era. Why can’t fashion do this more often?!

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 dreams. Join stall holders under the roof of Sydney’s gorgeous Marrickville Town Hall on May 12 for some serious recycling fun!

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 was contrasted with a large abstract wall art piece, designed by the Ginger & Smart duo themselves. Celebrating the label’s 10^th anniversary, the mood was an upbeat and excited one.

Models slinked through wearing an eclectic blend of tailored summer suits, long flowing metallic dresses and soft knits in peach and copper. Very summery and very Sydney, the overall look was fresh and clean-cut but relaxed. Prints were very typical of Ginger & Smart’s aesthetic: blurred abstracts on mini dresses and tops in a neon palette. Each model donned a pair of Isson sunglasses and pink and purple soft-braided mohawks to tie the collection together. A stand out of the evening was the jewellery selection from Dinosaur Designs: bold bracelets and big earrings complementing each outfit and the bright, playful colour scheme. All up, Ginger & Smart again proved one of the more interesting shows of the evening; their Ethical Clothing Australia accreditation only adding to their appeal.

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 things that are good for us: raw organic cacao, agave and coconut butter, alongside a medley of other tasty wonders like Goji, Acai, Maca, mint and berries. The result is chocolate products that are not only guilt-free doses of deliciousness, but – making dreams come true all over the country and especially in our office during deadline – are actually nutritional super foods.

With Mother’s Day coming up next Sunday, Loving Earth would like to celebrate something else in our lives that is inherently good – our mothers – with their Spread the Love giveaway. Five lucky mums will be treated to a Loving Earth ‘loving mum’ gift pack including 1 x coconut chocolate butter (aka: heaven in a jar), 2 x 100g bars and 4 x Luvju heart-shaped treats! For your chance to win one of these golden tickets, simply leave a comment below with the nicest or most memorable thing your mum has ever done for you.

But if chocolate doesn’t float your boat (a highly perplexing thought – just LOOK at that pic above!), then check out Loving Earth’s range of other delish, organic super foods here.

{Competition entries close 5pm, Tuesday May 8th and include Australian postal addresses only. Good luck!}

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 an effervescent beverage made with fermented tea leaves and a little help from the kombucha culture – a solid mass of yeast and good bacteria. Kombucha is rich in organic acids, active enzymes and polphenols, and is low in sugar and caffeine. Sweet on the tongue (we hear even kids like the taste!) and a great natural digestive aid, it’s hard to say which part of your body will be more grateful for a bit of the old Buchi: your taste buds or your gut! If you’d like to support the project by pledging some funds, you can jump onto the guys’ Pozible page!