As we cross over to the cold vortex that is Winter, we get to welcome back our seasonal favourites including this month’s brand spotlight, Amble Outdoors. 

Based out of Melbourne, Amble is founded by avid adventurer Rhianna who was sick of wearing technical apparel that not only lacked in its functionality but also lacked any style. I’m imagining those matching Japara sets you were made to wear on camp that were about three sizes too big, you had to roll up the cuffs on the pants and the sleeves which meant in the end water got in and everything got wet. So, they were pointless, but you were forced to wear them, nonetheless.  

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When it comes to making changes in your everyday life the hardest part is breaking the habits, we’ve spent so many years perfecting. The good news is unlike pesky habits such as biting your nails or leaving an empty toilet roll out, everyday routine habits such as brushing your teeth are easy to change and implementing waste free swaps are especially simple with the help of BLAEK Store.

When starting your waste free journey, we always suggest picking one room in your house, and this month’s sustainable swap begins in the bathroom. There are so many opportunities in this room to swap out single use products for more environmentally friendly options. I recommend starting with your dental hygiene, this is not only about reducing your use of plastic, but also the plastic we are putting in our mouth and let’s be real probably plastic we are ingesting each time we brush our teeth. 

Let’s keep it simple and start with our trusty toothbrush. It is said that every year 30 million plastic toothbrushes are dumped in landfill in Australia alone, and there is a 99% chance you’re running one of these brightly coloured plastic sticks with the comfy rubber grips from our friends at Colgate or you could be a bit fancier and have an Oral B electric toothbrush sitting on your bathroom vanity on continuous charge. These are the two brands and styles of toothbrush that have dominated our morning and night routine since the dawn of time, we’re here to take you on a journey and be a part of the solution.

I want to introduce you to our friends at NFco who have created our favourite bio toothbrush made from non-GMO cornstarch with BPA free recyclable bristles. Unlike other bio toothbrushes the NFCo will stand the test of time under water and not produce any dampness or mould in between brushes. When it comes to choosing a bio brush it’s the bristles that have not yet been perfected, you can find bio-based bristles however they are soft and wear down faster than the 3-month recommended changeover period, so in order to keep your pearly whites shining bright for longer and your dentist happy we opt for BPA free bristles. We’ve got some chic colours to match any décor including black, light pink, mint and grey. Disposing of your bio-brush is as simple as snap and separate. Snap the head off, compost the handle and send your head straight to us at BLAEK Store for proper recycling. If you want to go the extra mile and be crowned eco-warrior of the year you can pull out the bristles and throw the entire toothbrush into the compost and send the bristles to us or if you don’t have access to a compost, you can send us the toothbrush and we’ll take care of the rest.

A bio-based toothbrush is an excellent start but if you really want to up the ante then ditching your toxic toothpaste tube is next on the list. Enter, the toothpaste tablet, I know what you’re thinking, this is ridiculous and sounds like a product straight out of the Jetsons but there are a multitude of reasons why switching to a natural alternative is better for both you and the planet. Natural toothpaste like our Mint Crush and Brush Toothpaste Tabs are paraben free using ingredients such as natural cocoyl derived from coconuts, this gives the foaming sensation everyone associates with clean teeth as well as using natural xylitol from birch trees to replace fluoride. Let’s not forget they are packaged plastic free in a reusable glass jar but if you ask me the BEST features are that there is no sticky mess and clogging like you get with your regular toothpaste tube and none of that frustration trying to squeeze out the last few bits onto your brush. You simply pop a tablet in your mouth, crush it up with your teeth and start brushing, it’s clean, simple, and easy. What more could you want!


We understand it is overwhelming making changes to your everyday life and that’s why we’re here to help. We’ve done years of research, trialled multiple brushes and crushed all the toothpaste tabs out there and we’ve got the perfect combo for you. The best part is at BLAEK Store we make the switcharoo so easy with our used dental hygiene recycling program. Simply pop into store or head online to recycle your old and used plastic brushes and toothpaste tubes then simply replace with our Bio-brushes and toothpaste tabs and you’re on your way to a sustainable and planet friendly life at the sink.

Hot Tip: We reward YOU for doing good, each time you recycle through us online you receive a gift voucher for 15% off to spend in store or online.

Every time you Crush and Brush with us you could be diverting waste from landfill, what are you waiting for?! 

Make the easy swap today, save money, save the planet and prioritise your health HERE

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When it comes to organic over plastic we’re not just talking about fabric, we’re also referring to organic ingredients like food and natural skincare. While we don’t stock food at BLAEK Store, unless you’re planning on coming in while I’m working and stealing my lunch, our skincare is made from some of the best ingredients that it’s probably edible (disclaimer: Do not eat the skincare). I’m specifically talking about new kids on the block, our friends at Seashanty Organics.

Just over a year old, Seashanty Organics brought ocean lovers and a cosmetic scientist together to create something truly magical. John, a scientist with 30 years of green cosmetic experience (previously at Aesop) introduced the concept of a skincare range founded on seaweed due to its nourishing qualities and positive impact on our beloved planet.


What’s so good about seaweed apart from holding together your sushi handroll? Well, if you haven’t been reading the headlines for the last few years, it’s literally a magical plant that only has redeeming qualities (unless you’re in the ocean and you feel it touch your leg and you scream because you’re convinced a shark just swam past you, no? only me? OK then, carry on). Quick lesson: although it may float and scare the absolute bajeezus out of you, seaweed functions in the same way as trees do on land, it takes carbon dioxide and produces oxygen as part of photosynthesis (I knew my science degree would come in handy). It has been said that seaweed is responsible for producing around 70% of the total oxygen on Earth¹. That’s huge! Seaweed also grows very fast; this is because as part of photosynthesis it turns carbon dioxide into biomass, this is known as carbon sequestration¹ AKA it’s removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and holding it in solid or liquid form. It has many other planet saving characteristics such as cleaning waterways by absorbing excess nutrients from wastewater, reducing coastal erosion¹ and deacidifying oceans². I could throw on my old uni lab coat and go on and on about seaweed, but I’ll spare you.

Ok so seaweed is amazing, is it good for our skin or should we stick to those tasty seaweed snacks that come in very annoying individually wrapped packets but are so darn delicious? Studies have shown that certified organic seaweed, at very low inclusion rates, improved skin wrinkles in 45% of subjects and were effective at reducing wrinkle visibility in 100% of subjects. In short, seaweed stimulates our skins natural growth, repairs our cells, and protects us from day-to-day environmental stressors. What’s even better is that the team at Seashanty Organics have ensured from the get-go that only the best, certified organic, wild harvested seaweed sourced from the clean, tranquil waters off Tasmania is used. Sounds like a dish off a Michelin star restaurant menu, but no, it’s just the best most nourishing skincare you’ll ever need in your life.

I’m not one to pick favourites because I don’t’ want to leave anyone out, but the hydrating facial moisturiser feels like you’re applying a fluffy lush cloud onto your face, you instantly feel hydrated and about 10 years younger, it’s my go to. Next is the silky-smooth daily body oil, this is so luxurious and unlike other body oils, it absorbs into your skin and doesn’t leave you slipping and sliding all over the place. The rest of the menu includes soothing eye cream, which literally looks like a tub of cold seaweed, so you know it’s working wonders while you sleep, body moisturiser good enough to eat, refreshing body wash and nourishing lip balm that I have to admit I accidentally do eat sometimes.


The entire Seashanty Organics range is perfect for everyone, Australian made with certified organic ingredients to compliment the aging process. However, it’s not about an anti-aging product, it's about aging with grace, style and confidence through nature all while helping fight climate change through seaweed farming.  

Whether you’re 20, 50 or 70, slap on some Seashanty and feel the hydration boost your Aussie skin has been craving for the past couple of centuries.

Visit the nearest BLAEK Store today or leave us a message!

Shop Seashanty at the BLAEK Store.

1. The Importance of Seaweed in the Environment 
2. Science of Seaweed

For anyone working in sustainable fashion, this week is one of the most significant weeks of the year, it’s most likely one of the main reasons they work in sustainable fashion, that’s a big call I know but I’m sticking with it. So, what’s so special about this week? Its Fashion Revolution Week, the largest sustainable fashion activism movement in the world bringing people together, across 75 countries, to build a vision for radical change. The motivation behind this global movement stems from the tragic 2013 collapse of Rana Plaza in Bangladesh. I’ve written about this devastating event multiple times in our previous blog posts so if you are still unfamiliar with it you’ve either never read one of our blog posts or I’ll assume you lost all ability to read. For the sake of my ego, I’m leaning towards the latter in which case I’ll start recording a narrated version of our blog each week so you don’t miss out.

The Rana Plaza factory building collapsed on April 24th, 2013, killing 1,134 people, and injuring 2,500 others. It is the fourth largest industrial disaster in history, the most unfortunate fact is that it was completely preventable. For those who are unfamiliar with the event, the building housed a bank, apartments, several shops, and clothing factories manufacturing apparel for brands such a Zara, Benetton, Mango, Primark and many more. When cracks were discovered in the building, the bank and shops were immediately closed, unfortunately for the garment workers they were forced to return the following day to continue working only for the building to collapse during the morning rush-hour. If you are into documentaries, I highly recommend watching The True Cost, it highlights events of the 2013 building collapse and the devastating effects fast fashion has on the health of the people that make those garments and the long-lasting impact it has on the environment. This documentary is where my journey in sustainability started, this movie will not only change your life but influence you to seek more meaning behind the things you buy.


The theme this year for Fashion Revolution week is ‘Manifesto for a Fashion Revolution’, we love fashion, but we don’t want our clothes to exploit people or destroy our planet. There is a 10-point manifesto that guides us towards a better fashion industry that has people and planet at the fore. It highlights every aspect that goes into a brand, from supply chain transparency to textile waste, there is something we can all do towards each manifesto point to ensure our clothes are responsibly made. While the rise in sustainable fashion has increased over the last ten years, we still have a fair way to go. More brands are providing details about fabric, supply chains, increasing safety and providing a living wage for garment workers but the big brands are keeping a giant lid on it.

So, what can we do? We can support those brands that have the 10-point manifesto at the core of their business. Now I understand that we are all extremely busy, who has time to delve deep into the depths of how that cute knit you just saw on Instagram was made. 98% of people don’t have time, but don’t you worry, BLAEK Store has you covered. I’m part of the 2% that does have time and the BONUS is I do it for a living, I spend my days researching the best brands, doing the best for people and planet and then I put them all under one roof to make life easier for you. If you are keen to do some research yourself you should be able to find all the information you need on a brands website, if there is no mention of where fabric is sourced and garments are made a great action to take is to email the brand and ask a few questions, you have the right to know where the product you purchase comes from and what it’s made of. 

Fashion Revolution Week is also a great opportunity to get involved and learn more about how the clothes you wear impact people and planet. There are some great local events happening that you can be a part of, I highly recommend the free BCorpANZ online panel ‘Transparency in the Fashion Industry’ involving our friends at Citizen Wolf, Kowtow Clothing and Upparel, or if you are in Sydney, the North Sydney Council is hosting a week long Living Futures Sustainability Festival sessions are free with an all-day event on Sunday 30^th April.

As a community we are in a great position of power, we can change the world for the better. Let’s ask more questions and demand more answers from the brands we want to wear. Come on this journey with us, we’re in business to build a better future for all lives on planet earth.

"Dress sustainably, live responsibly."

Shop now at the BLAEK Store.

For those of us who work in the environmental space, April is a significant month in the calendar year. It’s not only Earth month but Fashion Revolution week is coming up, more about FashRev next week but these are two really significant events which shine a light on how we can help build a better future for all lives on planet earth by doing clothing recycling. The first Earth Day was in 1970, can you believe that we have been fighting for a healthier planet for 53 years? We have come a long way since the days of vast amounts of leaded gas was being consumed through massive and inefficient cars. As is the case with big movements like this, there is always a catastrophic event that sparks action from a small group of passionate individuals. In 1969 there was a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California that led Senator Nelson to take action. While Earth Day started as a teach-in led on college campuses it quickly inspired 20 million Americans to take to the streets, parks and auditoriums to demonstrate against the impacts of 150 years of industrial development which had left a growing legacy of serious health impacts.

Now, in 2023 we are in a serious climate crisis and the planet is pretty much screaming at us to hard launch ourselves into the green revolution. What does this look like? Well, we need to build a healthy economy, this means more businesses focussed on strong ESG Standards (Environment Social Governance), think refillable everyday products, natural materials and ingredients, ethical production and food waste programs as opposed to single use consumables, plastic based materials, chemical filled products and exploitation. We are seeing more and more of these companies popping up each day but as consumers what can we do? It’s as simple as voting with your wallet and choosing to support those products and brands which are better for people and planet.

This is the sticky part. Since the beginning of time, we have been influenced by others (not just the government, but ‘others’ in general) in the way we dress, the food we consume and the products we buy. The reality is that majority of the population isn’t really thinking about the planet because we are so used to big corporates feeding us content that benefits them and puts us at risk. Until strict regulations come into play and the government starts acting like we are in a climate crisis it really is up to us to save our planet.

At BLAEK Store we understand that it seems hard and it’s overwhelming, like why would you bother using a reusable coffee cup each day at work when you know Karen from accounts brings hers without fail. Isn’t her commitment to the planet enough to save us all? Hot Tip, no it’s not and as they say, ‘it’s only one coffee cup, said one BILLION people’ Fun Fact, in 2021 it was reported that the UK used 7 million disposable coffee cups a day, that’s 2.5 billion cups a year, in one country. OK, so sometimes we forget our reusable cup, that’s fine, no one is perfect but it’s 2023 and there really is no excuse. If you’d like to be hardcore with Tom and I, abide by the ‘no cup, no coffee’ rule or sit down for five minutes, take a break, and have your coffee in the café. It’s really simple and you know what, life can be really chaotic I’m sure your body will appreciate the five-minute break.

1. The environmental activist has gone on a rant, we get it, use a reusable cup blah blah blah.

What I want to empower you with this Earth month is this, while we wait for the government, big corporates, and toxic brands to catch up, there is significant power behind the choices we make every single day. We have the power to make real change, each time you vote with your wallet you are voting for the planet. While we think that companies have control over the way we live our lives, it’s actually the other way round. When demand drops businesses must pivot, they must change their offering to satisfy our needs and wants. Picture this, tomorrow the Australian population wakes up and decides ‘today I’m bringing my own cup to my local café’ and everyone continues this trend for the rest of their lives. I can tell you now your local café will be putting a stop to their regular single use cup order, effective immediately, there would be no need for them. We applied a similar concept at BLAEK Store, we stopped offering shopping bags to our customers and not a single customer has ever questioned the switch, in fact you can almost see something tick over in their brain, it’s like a lightbulb turns on and they realise a single-use bag is pointless and the next time they visit us they bring a reusable bag.You can read more about it here over HERE- Read more about “Do you need a Bag with that”.

So, we’ve known for years that single-use cups are bad, I’ve used this as an example because it’s a simple concept to grasp and in my opinion, the easiest first step you can take toward making a difference. What other actions can we take every day to make an impact? Here’s my quick list that you can start acting on today.

• Pick up rubbish while you’re out and about.
• Switch to reusable bags.
• Use a reusable water bottle. (See Project Pargo at BLAEK Store.)
• Buy a few reusable cups, keep one at the office, in your car and in your kitchen. Buy reusable coffee cups at BLAEK Store.
• Prep your meals to reduce food waste.
• Buy local food.
• Skip plastic, buy glass or paper products.
• Practice sustainable fashion. (shop womens or mens)
• Turn off lights when not in use.
• Eat less meat.
• Shop small and support local.
• Use refillable everyday products.

Together we can invest in our planet, let’s make everyday Earth Day.   

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Our mission at BLAEK Store is to create a completely closed loop retail experience for our customers. This means whatever is purchased from us can either be reused, refilled, repaired, and recycled through us or can biodegrade back into the earth. When we find brands that align with our values and fit nicely into our closed loop mission, we get excited but when we find brands that have created an inception-like product our excitement reaches new heights.

This week’s brand spotlight is all about Szade, our favourite sunglass brand shaking up the industry one recycled pair of sunnies at a time. Szade are here to break the waste cycle with their unique business model making sunglasses from, you guessed it, recycled sunnies. How do they do it? They save tonnes of over run, out of use, faulty and wasted frames in China that are destined for landfill and give them a new life. The frames are broken down, processed into their raw materials, and then made into a brand-new pair of Szade’s, and the result is a beautiful, sturdy product that feels secure on your face, none of this flimsy, screws coming loose, arm swinging about chaos that usually happens with a pair of affordable sunnies. What we love most is that the team have chosen to utilise what’s already out there instead of harvesting the earth’s materials to use bio or plant-based materials. Repurposing and reusing something that already exists is, in our eyes, a more sustainable option than creating something new from raw materials.

The Melbourne based brand doesn’t stop there, their HQ operates within a repurposed chocolate factory (I’m getting strong Willy Wonka vibes) and in 2020 they partnered with their neighbours to install a 265kWp solar panel array on their roof which powers both businesses with renewable energy. 

But it’s not all about the environment, it’s about people too. Inclusivity is a key driver for the sunglass brand whose entire range is genderless and ageless highlighting on their website ‘Whether you’re 19 or 99, recycled looks good on you’ (Note to self, buy my Nonna a pair of Szades for her 90^th birthday this year). Their styles are unique, and their colours are original think burnt honey or hustler brown. My personal favourite is the Dollin in literally any colour, and if it were acceptable, I would buy them all, but I only have one face so one pair of sunnies will suffice. We recently welcomed the Cave and the Sharp, but our customers absolutely love the Ellis, and they never last longer than a week on the shop floor. 

Another core value for the brand is accessibility, while majority of well-made sunglasses will cost on average $200 a pair, Szade was determined to make a quality shade that didn’t break the bank, to do this, they have a smaller profit margin, this means they haven’t had to skimp on quality and more people have an opportunity to own their own pair of recycled sunnies. With Szade you’ve got two choices, $79.99 for non-polarised and $99.99 for polarised and when you’re ready to upgrade why not send us your old, scratched and uber loved sunnies for recycling?

It’s simple, it’s easy, it’s recycled and it’s the perfect face accessory.
 

Shop Szade Recycled Eyewear at the BLAEK Store.

It’s a rite of passage for majority of the world’s population, over the last 60 years to have a ‘blow out’ while casually walking down the street. No, I’m not referring to getting your hair done at the hairdresser. I’m talking about when you’re wearing a pair of recycled rubber thongs, flip flops, jandals (whatever you want to call them) and all of a sudden, you’ve tripped over your own foot because the ‘centre mast’ has completely broken out of the sole of your rubber thong. Classic experience known as a blow-out.


What if I told you a couple of Aussies have come up with a blow-out free alternative that just happens to also be a more sustainable option by turning trash into treasure?! This month’s easy swap is all about BLAEK store’s favourite shoe brand, Indosole. Established in 2009 as one of the O.G recycled footwear brands, Indosole is the perfect summer shoe made in Indonesia from discarded tires. Walking on tires doesn’t sound too enticing but I’m telling you now, the team at Indosole have literally created clouds for shoes. Even now while the weather turns in Sydney, I’m telling myself on the daily ‘it’s humid so technically I can still wear my beloved Indosole slides’ meanwhile it’s torrential rain outside and my feet are drenched but boy oh boy my feet are happy and comfy, a little bit of rain hurt no one. They have nailed both function and style with options like the classic flipflop, the cross slide  or my personal favourite the classic slide, in an assortment of muted tones like light soil and granite or you can go with the classic black.

The more you think about it the more you realise that turning tires into shoes is a no brainer. I’ve had my Indosole slides for three years now, and the tread looks as though they are fresh out of their original packaging, untouched and ready to fight their first day on the footpath. This is one of my favourite selling points when talking to customers, the reason being, every other flipflop out there loses it’s tread and becomes a slippery law suit after a few months. Indosole is all about a quality shoe that will literally stand the test of time and could potentially outlast the life of its owner because of its durability. *

The biggest stand out for me is the team at Indosole are tackling a huge waste issue. It’s nearly impossible for tires to decompose, it literally takes thousands of years, this means the first tyre ever made in 1845 quite possibly still exists. Usually tires sit in stockyards, illegal dumping sites and in some countries, they are sitting in rivers. In tropical countries, like Indonesia these sites can become breeding grounds for mosquitos which leads to diseases such as malaria and dengue fever. In developing countries like Australia tires are used as a cheap alternative for fuel which results in toxic oils and fumes being released into our environment that are of course harmful to the health of both people and planet. Until hover crafts are introduced, which according to my Dad is only just around the corner, repurposing waste into a long-lasting reusable product is a great way to combat the waste of a product that is a little difficult to avoid, unless of course you give up driving forever which is unrealistic for a lot of people.


Indosole, the amazing innovators that they are, use breakthrough technology to transform tires into soles and invented ENVRO Fiber for their flexible straps (AKA blow-out resistant strap). They use ethically sourced natural rubber to cushion your foot with ergonomic support and they are also B-Corp certified which means they have gone through rigorous questioning to prove that they are of the highest standards when it comes to sustainability and ethical manufacturing. They tick so many of our boxes when it comes to responsible business, we knew we couldn’t deprive our community the chance to own a pair.


While Indosole’s may set you back an extra $10 compared to the cheap rubber alternatives on the market what you get in return is a durable, well-made shoe that can take you from beach to bar. They can last you a lifetime and as always, with any of our sustainable swaps, they are better for both people and planet.

Walk on clouds. Save the planet. Choose Indosole. 

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