MARÍA:

Learning about Conscious Living through Illustrations

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This week, Yu Ting introduces us to another favourite illustrator of hers whom she had discovered when she first embarked on her conscious living journey. Woo Qiyun is a sustainability advocate who champions environmentalism through different mediums, one of which being her Instagram account @theweirdandwild where her highly informative illustrations about sustainability are posted. In this digital era, there is a lot information available online which we are definitely thankful for yet often feel inundated by. What Qiyun does on @theweirdandwild is to break down factual information - mainly focused on conscious living and consumerism - and make it visually bite-sized.

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On Singles Day (11:11) last year, while many people around the world was excited to make their heavily discounted online purchases, Qiyun made an illustrated infographic to let people in on what Singles Day actually mean for the environment - from excessive wastage to unbelievable amounts of carbon emissions. And she didn’t just stop at that, she went on and provided helpful tips on how people can do their part to consume less and keep themselves informed.

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There is something in visuals that often change the way we understand or see things, and Qiyun has managed to use that to her advantage and at the same time serve as another outlet for advocacy. If any of you are looking to find out more about climate change and action, do head on to her handle as she uses her illustration to inform (and spill tea) on important subjects.

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NELLA:

Discarded Beauty

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Excited to continue the conversation about sustainability, Nella introduced us to CLED, a jewellery brand she has recently bought from that repurposes discarded glass to make their pieces. We fell in love with their jewellery the moment we were brought to the website, and what we initially thought were gemstones were actually upcycled glass gems. With the fashion industry being one of the major polluting industries in the world, CLED wants to be the jewellery brand that focuses on reducing environmental impact by utilising existing materials to create upcycled products.

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“CLED stands for Conscious Lifestyle Earth Friendly & Ethical Design, which we believe in and are committed to. We proudly use sustainable, cruelty-free and discarded materials in our design and production. We value transparency in all aspects of how we do business,” the brand commits.

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During the sharing, Nella took out the packaging that she received from CLED, and it was gorgeous; the logo was embossed on a rounded white box that we then found out was made from recycled paper boxes. On purchasing your jewellery, you have the option to receive it in standard or minimal packaging, reminding consumers to be conscious with their purchase at every step of the way.

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What we really appreciate about CLED is the transparency on their end-to-end process that they display on their website, providing consumers with the information needed to help them with their decisions. Consumerism is much more prevalent in society today. And the impact that it has on the environment - or just the world in general - is something beyond what we can imagine. It is not a one-way street for us to rethink the way we consume goods as we have to work hand-in-hand with businesses to create a relationship that is symbiotic and hopefully, an economy that is circular. Being transparent with your brand’s process is definitely key to helping people understand what they are consuming.

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EVELYN:

The One Who Does Everything Herself

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To Maria’s delight, Evelyn shared with us about yet another Youtuber that she has recently been following. Wendy Liu aka WithWendy is a DIY Fashion Youtuber who is really good at sewing her own outfits. Evelyn told us that she used to watch her videos. Recently, one of Wendy’s videos resurfaced on Evelyn’s recommendations which sent her on a journey to binge-watch - which we are sure will happen to Maria as well. Evelyn started us off with a video of Wendy giving a tour in her gorgeous and spacious studio apartment.  “I really like her studio space, it’s very different from what we have in Singapore and there is a lot of room to experiment,” says Evelyn.

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“She made that herself?” was the common consensus shared between us while we were watching Wendy DIY her way through the studio makeover. We even came across another one of her videos where she shows the detailed steps to making her own wedding dress. On her channel, Wendy brings you along to thrift, and also teaches you how to fix your clothes. She focuses on creating content that educates her viewers more about upcycled fashion.

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“Wendy is optimistic that through her channel, she can bring people closer to knowing how clothes are made, the fashion industry’s impact on human beings who are being overworked and underpaid, and the environment.”  —  VoxPluma

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MARIA:

A Happy Place

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As we reach the third week of working from home, Maria told us that she sometimes think about the places that made her happy, and one of them is the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Denmark. Describing the museum as ‘magical’, Maria told us that she has been there several times whilst working in Copenhagen.

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“The space and architecture of this museum makes me feel super inspired. The place is very well-lit with sunlight which is amazing. My favourite parts of the museum is this section that oversees the lake and also an outdoor cafe that faces the sea. You get into this meditative state when you are there, just appreciating art and taking it all in,” Maria expresses.

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We also found out from Maria that the owner named the museum after his daughters, Louise and Anna, which is very cute and meaningful at the same time. Being brought through some of the photos of the museum, we can understand why Maria likes it so much. The right use of space can make or break a person’s experience, and an architecture that is well thought out have the ability to tell a story. Apart from being a well-known museum with notable art curation, the museum also seems to us like an abode for the heart and soul - a refuge from the busyness of the world.

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“Being in a good space gives me energy - literally and figuratively, which is why I really love this museum because I’m able to appreciate art in a space that inspires me,” Maria ended off the session, leaving a warm fuzzy feeling in our hearts.