In this Colour Box Studio curated list we speak to some of our favourite local Australian creatives who are bringing their ways of living and working to their artworks, products and commercial offerings. Online shopping is the new norm thanks to lockdowns, and so here are some creative businesses we love to support – from scrunchies, to fabric to chocolate and merch! We wanted to share with you a thoughtfully selected group of artisans and businesses that are prioritising cultural values, social awareness and respectful making practices. Read on to discover all the things we love and where to get them online.
Living Koko
Ethical Cacao Creations
How ethical is your chocolate? Did you know some of the most well-known brands of chocolate suppliers like, Hershey, Nestle Mars and others have been found to use child-labour in the harvesting of their cocoa. In addition to this, a recent study has found that some cocoa plantations are being sprayed with chemicals harmful to humans when consumed.
But… if you’ve heard of Living Koko and purchased their delicious creations (from edible treats, tea, hot chocolate and even body scrubs), then you can safely and happily enjoy consuming their ethically produced, vegan, allergy safe and gluten free products. They create small batch chocolate delights crafted in Naarm with cocao beans sourced from the Samoan Islands.
We want to empower our communities here and in the Pacific Islands through fair, ethical trade and bring the best cacao in the world to you. We want to support ecologically sound and sustainable methods of farming. We want to create opportunities for the Pacific Island domestic plot farming communities.
We believe in food sovereignty. – Everyone has the right to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems.
– Living Koko
KELEI.CO
Hanua of Cultural Satin Scrunchies
What started as a creative outlet for nurse and business owner, Tieri, KELEI.CO is now an online arts store that hand makes cultural satin scrunchies, masks and nurses-caps. Tieri says starting her business was where she wanted to share and preserve Indigenous-Nesian culture, stories, language and art.
KELEI.CO began as a creative heart protect, I had just finished my nursing degree and wanted a healthy de-stressing activity where I could create with my hands. Then covid lockdowns kicked off and my professional role had become very stressful and demanding so I was already on the sewing machine heaps in my downtime, so I thought why not create with a purpose. I started with the Masi Mask Project, which allowed me to create with materials I love and give back to communities I love.
– Tieri shares with Colour Box Studio the inspiration and catalyst for starting KELEI.CO
Following that project I sat down and started refining my purpose with KELEI.CO and found I wanted it to be a second stream of income that I can use to serve others. I now see myself more as a creative than a business owner, I like making products out of materials that benefit the wearer (eg. satin for hair).
I’m conscious of purchasing fabrics where the funds flow back into indigenous artists and communities, as it’s really important to me that kelei.co pieces are much like this brown girl, that gives as she moves forward but always paying tribute to the places she’s come from.
– Tieri shares with Colour Box Studio how KELEI.CO has expanded its vision.
The Masi Mask project was created in the middle of the covid-19 pandemic when I stumbled upon local masi print fabric, after responding to a Brisbane call out for help, I decided to donate a portion of proceeds from each mask sold towards essential items for newborns and mothers back in Fiji. The project ran for 3 months, and I am so proud and thankful to all the customers that jumped on board to give a little back to our island home.
– Tieri on the Masi Mask project.
Hot Brown Honey
Building the matriarchy and dismantling oppressions through performance and merchandise.
Using art mediums to dismantle systems of oppressions, Hot Brown Honey are an active and prominent voice in the cabaret and circus sector, whose shows are bound to make you scream from the rooftops with anger, inspiration and passion for “de-colonisation”, “de-institution”, “de-systemic oppression”.
In an act of Radical Fierce Love, we at Hot Brown Honey lay it on the table. We invite you into our world where we stand centre stage shining brightly for all to see. Too often we are portrayed as the savage, the maid, the victim, the perpetrator, but we defy these labels. We ask you to celebrate with us. Celebrate all that we are. Our Truth. Our Courage. Our Complexities. Our Resistance.
– Hot Brown Honey
The Hot Brown Honey merchandise is a reminder of the message they’re sending, including earrings with the phrase, “do not touch my motherlovin hair” or pins saying, “decolonise and moisturise.” Earrings, badges and lip balm are limited edition available at shows only (so find out when they’re next performing) but their shirts, totes and mugs are available via the Hot Brown Honey online store.
Tab Sejoe Textiles
Storytelling through design and textiles
We first met artist Tab Sejoe through the Colour Box Studio pop up shop program. Now Tab has just released a limited edition series of beautifully printed textiles. Each design is hand printed layer by layer with non-toxic, water-based inks. These textiles are truly special and the designs are inspired by Tab’s lived experiences growing up in Botswana, now based in Naarm.
Knowing that each final piece of fabric I create started from a memory from my childhood, that I turn into an illustration, then hand print, gives me great satisfaction in knowing that I am sharing my world in the most authentic way possible.
– Tab Sejoe shares her artistic inspiration with Colour Box Studio.
You can find a past Colour Box Studio interview with Tab here and click through to the online shop.
All images supplied by the artists. Showcasing and supporting local creatives and businesses is of top-priority to the Colour Box Studio team. Any organisations or businesses mentioned above are curated to provide information and resources for our creative community. This post is not sponsored and not part of affiliated marketing in any way.