The fashion industry has had a notoriously difficult relationship with animal rights activists with designers split between those who will and those who won’t use real fur. Fortunately, as fur jackets are making a comeback, there’s been a surge in faux fur options that have arrived in time for the...
Minimalism is continuing to dominate the fashion world and has permeated most fast fashion chains. Pushing back against fast, generic design, Australian ready-to-wear brand, Acler, is perhaps the premier example of deliberate fashion. Co-designers Kathryn Forth and Julia Ritorto take design back to its “tactile roots”, drafting all their pieces...
One of the few purveyors of ethical leather accessories designed in Auckland, Deadly Ponies, has released a silks collection paying an homage to the evolving role and form of the silk scarf in fashion. The accessories come in a silk twill, silk crepe and ultra-light silk chiffon in square and...
New Zealand’s Young Innovator of the year of 2017, Samantha Jones is CEO of Little Yellow Bird. The fashion brand creates workwear whilst carefully monitoring the supply chain, proving that “good ethics doesn’t have to come at the expense of profits”. In the past year alone, Little Yellow Bird has...
The first clue brushed past me so gently I couldn’t have recognised it. We were sitting at the dining table at my brother inlaw’s house in England. It had been 8 years since we’d seen them. My husband Bob was telling them about the flight over and how we had...
Co-created by mothers, Ashka Warwick and Amy Nixon, Tiny Foragers is a range of high-quality, nutritious foods for your treasured little ones. As mothers balancing career and family, they understand the laborious task of trying to feed your children the best food in the time that you have. Tiny Foragers...
L’Occitane en Provence has paired up with UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) in an effort to help prevent 1.7 million children from developing avoidable blindness. The World Health Organisation has estimated that “80% of visual impairment can be prevented or cured, and that can start by getting sufficient Vitamin A,”...
The world has gone wild over the importance of gut health, especially now we can see the vast influence it has on our overall well-being. Traditionally, when it comes to discussing the topic, ‘beneficial bacteria’ and probiotics have been in vogue. However, with new research comes a whole refreshed appreciation...
Step aside matcha, 2018 is all about Moringa. Moringa oleifera has been dubbed the most nutritious plant ever discovered. A native to India and Africa, it is only just starting to establish its name in the Western world. The leaves of the plant are dried and crushed into a...
Nano-technology has been a popular area for scientists and engineers to study in the past decade. Revolution Fibres, a New Zealand company, is bringing you this tiny technology through skincare. To be launched in New Zealand later this year, their mask-like product ActivLayr is made using Hoki skin, sustainably sourced...
We’ve all heard advice about cutting our screens out of the daily bedtime routine, but now it’s time to level up the objects that we do want to include in our routines. We’ve all heard of melatonin, but if popping a pill (albeit an all-natural supplement) before sleep isn’t your...
During the year we get to try some incredible wines. It is always the best of these wines that we feature in our pages and while we don’t feature every wine we are sent, we are always thrilled at the calabre of wines that keep coming across our desk. However...
Feeling stressed? Indulging yourself in a little bit of dark chocolate could be the answer. Two recent studies presented at the Experimental Biology 2018 meeting found that eating dark chocolate with a high level of cacao, (70 per cent and above), has positive effects on stress levels, mood, inflammation and...
How Diane Foreman inspired a new generation of female entrepreneurs. As New Zealand’s original dairy queen, Diane Foreman knows just how challenging it is to be a woman in business. But after making her way to the top, the ice-cream entrepreneur is set to inspire a new generation of female...
For most of us, our early 20’s are a time of figuring out who we are and where we want to go – it can be a time of uncertainty, dodgy flatting situations and entering the workforce – but for Crimson Education’s Chief Operating Officer, Sharndre Kushor, her early 20’s...
From a powerful selection of speeches from a life of leadership, Helen Clark shares with us this still relevant TEDx talk from 2013. AOTEA CENTRE, AUCKLAND – 3 AUGUST 2013 TED is anon-profit organisation famous for short, interesting and clever talks no longer than eighteen minutes that cover a broad...
Whether we want to admit it or not, we’ve probably all experienced a period in our lives when our finances were quite royally f*cked. Melissa Browne is an entrepreneur, accountant, financial advisor, author, speaker and self-confessed shoe addict who wants to share her financial wisdom with Gen X and Y...
And it seems there is still a stigma attached to that word and the industry in general. “Recruiters are hounds, they don’t give a damn about their candidates, they only care about making a sale and they ‘swan about’ talking all day”. I’m sure everyone in the industry has heard...
One of my favourite sayings is “this is not my circus, and these are not my monkeys.” I believe there is a lot of meaning behind these two simple statements. I find they are a concise way to tackle one of the big social issues we have today, especially as...
In her commencement address to a graduating class of Harvard, distinguished novelist, philanthropist, film producer, television producer and screenwriter, Joanne Rowling, said: “Failure taught me things about myself that I could have learned no other way. I discovered that I had a strong will, and more discipline than I had...
In six months I’ve gone from being a solo insurance broker to employing a team of six. As a broker I am accustomed to working alone, taking actions quickly and decisively and being responsible for myself. The quick transition to team leader and mentor has been challenging. But I can...
Five financial goals for women over 40 They’re smart, savvy and earning great salaries – so why are professional women, many in their most important earning decade, not reaching important financial milestones, asks Karen Essex- Mooney. OPINION: Your forties can be the most defining and lucrative decade – especially when...
The luxurious array of textiles from the Cappodocia collection by Warwick will have you transported to an exotic world. Inspired by Persian inf luences and modern woven textures, the sumptuous fabrics are the perfect adornment to a warm, inviting space. Available at Warwick Fabrics...
Escape the day in a spa sanctuary inspired by nature’s best. Transform your bathroom into an oasis of bliss and relaxation with a soothing, palette of olive, turquoise and lemongrass. Cane, bamboo and macramé accents add a touch of warmth to unwind with ease. Style TIP: Mosaic tiles are really...
Drawing inspiration from luxury boutique fixtures, create a haven within your home that takes wardrobe planning to a whole other level. Sumptuous velvet, sleek glass accents and polished oak lend the way for romantic blush and pops of mustard and citrine. Style TIP: Using a statement armchair helps to create spacial...
Elegant and sophisticated, nothing oozes class like a dramatic colour pairing done right. Jewel toned teal is juxtaposed perfectly by earthy rust and copper hues. Layered in plush textiles and stone finishes, this look will make a statement in any room. 1. Vase $74.95 from Freedom Furniture. 2. Pendant $650...
Be the host with the most by setting the most decadent dining display this season. Set the scene with elegant dark woods, brass accents and sleek marble. Look to sophisticated, linear silhouettes and serve up style that’s all class. 1. Pendant by Foscarini, POA from ECC. 2. Candle Holder by...
Blending influences from all corners of the globe, this take on interiors sees pieces inspired by everything from intricate Moroccan prints to carved Balinese finishes and delicate Chinese silk-screen lanterns for an aesthetic that’s utterly unique. Style TIP: When playing around with a large variety of textiles and influences, keep...
Danish furniture designers Fritz Hansen have released a 60-year anniversary collection that exudes luxury whilst maintaining the effortless style that the Danes are world famous for. The anniversary collection pays homage to the legendary Arne Jacobsen, a Danish designer who has worked with Fritz Hansen, by creating elegant pieces that...
Made from tempered soda lime glass and silicone, KeepCup is the environmentally friendly, barista approved, attractive cousin of the clunky drink flask. The cups were designed by café owners with sustainability in mind. KeepCups are resistant to thermal and mechanical shock, meaning that we wouldn’t recommend throwing it against a...
Bring spring cleaning into the Winter season with the Miele Blizzard CX1, the high-end appliance company’s first bagless vacuum cleaner. With airflow optimised Miele Vortex technology, this vacuum is quiet but deadly to all dust that stands in its path. A new dust separation system ensures that use of the...
Kiwi households use 34 percent of their annual energy on space heating, which comes not only at the cost to your wallet but also at a cost to the environment. Save your dough and the Earth this winter with smart thermostats like ecobee. It uses sensors to save households up...
Probably White is an amalgam of aureate decadence and pared down minimalism into ceramics. Following the motto that, “gold is never old”, Probably White creates the Coffee Alphabet out of golden Arabic letters that adorn their polished coffee cups as handles. The golden touch, rich colours and Arabic characters spice...
Steve Wide and Michelle Mackintosh have released a guide to Japan’s best hot spring and bathhouses, Onsen of Japan. This is the third book that the self-professed Japanophiles have written, photographed and designed after visiting 100 bathhouses in the country they have been visiting year upon year. The book is...
Saying smart objects are on trend is the understatement of the decade. From smart homes to smartphones, we have revolutionized the world around us to be astonishingly convenient. Bringing that innovation to luggage is the Incase NoviConnected 4 Wheel Hubless Travel Roller. Although this carry-on does not provide you with...
The Doha to Auckland flight by Qatar Airways is about to end its reign as the longest passenger service flight in the world as Singapore Airlines has recently announced that it will begin service for a non-stop flight from Singapore’s Changi Airport to New York’s Newark Liberty Airport. Launching in...
Gone are the days when carrying a selfie stick was necessary during solo travel. Putting an end to awkwardly angled photos is the Vixari Tripod. The most portable and multifunctional tripod ever earned 938 percent of its funding goals on Indiegogo and has launched for sale. The Vixari Tripod distils...
After its current refurbishment, the Wains Hotel is set to become the first 5-star boutique in the heart of Edinburgh of the South, Dunedin. The striking heritage building was built in the Italianate style and has preserved a exuberant façade. The hotel dates from 1862, making it the oldest hotel...
Life is full of embarrassing moments; in fact if you’re me, it could be suggested that life is simply a series of converging, embarrassing moments. However, not all of these moments are created equal, there is a sliding scale of embarrassment, a hierarchy if you will. Last week, whilst devouring...
As shoppers, we are becoming increasingly aware of the what we’re purchasing and where it comes from. The drive towards making ethical clothing purchases has gained significant traction, but finding these fashion labels is not always clear-cut. We’ve put together a list of ethical clothing companies to consider when making your...
