LAGOM - June 2024
Eggplant dumplings, fast furniture, reef-safe, zinc sunscreens + vegan side dishes
Hello, hello!
And suddenly, we are halfway through the year. To celebrate, we are pleased to share a delicious eggplant dumpling recipe and a selection of simple foods to pair them with—the kind of meals to share with those you love and appreciate. We also have a piece on fast furniture in addition to a long-form article on reef-safe zinc sunscreens that we have thoroughly updated with further insights and an extensive sunscreen list.
While neither of us is in Aotearoa, New Zealand, this week past was Ngā Mata o Te Ariki Tāwhirimātea, Matariki (the Pleiades, a cluster of 3000 young stars over 440 light years away), which rises in the midwinter, signalling the Māori New Year. For many of us, realising that we are now mid-year offers an opportunity to re-centre.
With so much noise and distraction, for many, uncertainty can mean we arrive at procrastination rather than exactly where we are meant to be. As we begin to shift into the new, how will we continue to build, ask ourselves what our skills can manifest and see just how capable and industrious we are? A tiny poem from Emily Dickinson, written on the back of an envelope:
"In this short Life
That only lasts an hour
How much – how little – is
Within our power"
Dumpling night
A craving of late, these eggplant dumplings have been made by and enjoyed by friends. They’re something really simple, delicious, and they were, for us, a social thing. Cooking is an act that is so tangible, the experience of making the meal, breaking bread and sharing in conversation. We encourage you to organise those near and dear to you to join you in preparing and eating these!
Fast furniture
Last month, Trace attended AEKI Breaky—The Reality of Fast Furniture, presented by The Dusty Road as part of Melbourne Design Week, an interactive two-day exhibition that leaned heavily on a tongue-in-cheek sense of humour mixed with blunt commentary on consumerism to explore the fundamental flaws of fast furniture and throw-away culture. This piece shares musings on why furniture cannot be fashion, the algorithm, losing self-identity and how the industry made stealing acceptable.
Reef-safe, zinc sunscreens
In 2021, we published a piece of reef-safe, physical zinc sunscreens after reading how chemical sunscreen components could have partial responsibilities in coral bleaching and cause potential harm to human health as endocrine disruptors. Three years later, science progressed and uncovered more, so it was time for the article to be updated. And people are still asking where to find a good reef-safe sunscreen! We’ve added new personal insights and many more brands, broadening the offer. There is one for everyone, wherever you are, all year long.
Simple food to complement your dumplings
It is always nice to pair the dumplings with some simple, uncomplicated food to create a complete, fulfilling meal for your guests. Here we suggest some of our easy-to-share, wholesome recipes, like these sautéed frozen edamame and broad (fava) beans, the peas with basil garlic butter or some beans and onions. And, of course, let’s not forget cruciferous vegetables, thanks to this sautéed cabbage and onions. We’re hungry now.
Amandine's edit
I am pondering getting a rug for our new place in Spain, and somehow, the algorithm pointed me towards Néda. This website showcases a selection of unique, decorative objects curated by the founder Nidaa, made in Morocco, respecting the craft makers and their ancestral knowledge and cultural heritage. More here. The range is so vibrant, colourful, undoubtedly modern and of high quality. Not sure I can afford much at the moment, but it is at least a pleasure for the eyes to browse.
I've been looking for some time for additional earrings to complement the Jasmin Sparrow steel stud that Trace gifted me for Christmas, and I randomly tapped on a Pinterest ad for Faris. Founded by Faris Du Graf and crafted with intent and care by a small team, in-house (no factory!) in their Seatle studio, Faris' line is made of refined, statement pieces, bold and playful. The range is responsibly wide, and there is something for all tastes. I love their imagery and the fact that they are working with diverse and mature models. Faris offers International shipping and 10% off your first purchase by subscribing to their newsletter.
I am an avid reader of everything Alicia Kennedy writes, so for this month, here is another one of her contributions. This time for FoodPrint.org, her piece is on the "climate saviours" food—aka the popular food that on paper looks resistant, easy and fast to grow while being highly nutritious, a solution to feed the masses, but that in all reality is not that climate-resilient, and dependent on an environment that is also shifting with weather pattern changes. That and a hint of colonialism in the background. Insightful, as usual.
Trace's edit
I purchased a tube of Viper Balm last weekend, which I had been meaning to buy for a while. It did not disappoint. The texture is super thick. Your lips drink it up, feel and look hydrated for quite a time. If Zizia ships to you or you can find a retailer, buy a tube. Zizia is an L.A.-based herbal company founded by Clinical Herbalist and Artist Abbe Findley. Their botanicals are sourced from small U.S.-based family-run farms, or ethically, where plants grow abundantly. Each formula has been expertly researched and is rooted in time-tested traditions and clinical practice.
Here in Australia there have been recent closures of fashion brands. There is an excess supply (and nothing you want is on sale) and too much cheap fashion that has made business challenging for some, but not all. Resale continues its upward trajectory, but not because everyone is concerned about resources and climate. It's money. Since moving, I realised my wardrobe has gaps and turned to Etsy to fill them. This is what I have been searching for—80s, 90s loose fit suiting, knits, oversized men's blazers and transparent shirting.
Recently, eBay Australia, in collaboration with the Australian Fashion Council, announced Dempstah as the recipient of eBay's 2024 Circular Fashion Fund. Tasmanian-based Dempstah recycles Australian textile waste into spun yarn in collaboration—locally and internationally—as a product with industry application. This brief interview with founder and designer Guy Dempster provides a deeper understanding of his motivations, having studied fashion in New York and working in textile manufacturing in Hong Kong and China. Dempster will use the funds to establish a fibre recovery micro mill in North West Tasmania, acknowledging overconsumption is the issue at the same time, fibre recovery has a role in circular economies and more responsible manufacturing.
Thoughts, questions, you can always direct reply to these emails.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Tracey Creed & Amandine Paniagua
