frank bits
olli ella
Sisters Chloe and Olivia Brookman have eight littlies between them, so their duds need to pass the all-important ‘squat test’, ‘grabby-hands test’ and the ‘chunder-all-over-my-dress test’. That’s why the clothes they design for their label Olli Ella are breezy, practical and, most importantly, machine-washable. You’ll find Chloe and Olivia’s range of breastfeeding-and maternity-friendly garb over at olliella.com (even child-free folks will dig these playful frocks).
magic carpet
When you imagine the rug-making process, you might picture several people sitting in front of a giant loom. In the case of Nova Scotian brand H.H. Hooks, it’s just Hanna Eidson and her tufting gun. Hanna’s been knitting since she was a child, and picked up rug hooking in 2016. Woolly awesomeness awaits you at hhhooks.com
a puffy pack
We are once again begging children’s fashion designers to make adult-sized versions of their wares. It hurts to know that Mini Kyomo’s adorable, Spanish-made backpacks ($139 from antipoda.co) are only for tots and tweens. Don’t you think these things of beauty deserve more than just smooshed Vegemite sandwiches and crayon dust? We do.
polished punk
Back in the ’70s, thanks to Vivienne Westwood and The Sex Pistols, rebellious types hung safety pins from their lobes to show their no-fucks-given attitude and utilitarian ethos. Fast forward half a century and jewellery designer Bianca Mavrick is crafting gold and silver safety-pin dangles adorned with dainty, mismatched beads – for punks who appreciate the pretty things. Nab a pair for $140 at biancamavrick.com
coming up daisies
The leaves are falling, the flowers are hibernating and everyone’s dreading a case of the cold-weather SADs. The little silver lining is that it’s beret weather. And for that, you can turn to Sydney maker Frances Island, whose darling $55 head topper is a reminder that spring is just around the corner. francesisland.com
get to know... los bitchos
It was the first thing that popped into my mind. I wanted something with a slight flair of Latin American, coupled with sassiness and ridiculousness. Kalops – a traditional Swedish beef stew. A hearty pudding likeIskender kebap – my favourite Turkish dish. Sassy melodies and a bouncy groove. Layer up that percussion like a good lasagne or trifle. Shiny guitar lines with a touch of derangement, swirly synths and an octave bass line. Not having to worry about anyone losing their voice on tour. Seriously, though, it makes the band feel so collaborative: the interactions between us on stage, not having that singular focus on a ‘lead singer’. There are no rules when it comes to writing.
