Grace Lillian Lee
For most of us, the clothes we choose to wear are an extension of our personality – an aspect of individualistic expression. For many others, fashion is also form of cultural preservation. Artist, designer and founder of First Nations Fashion and Design Grace Lillian Lee is one of a growing wave of makers that are utilising fashion as a means of cultural craftsmanship – that is, creating wearable interpretations of traditional clothing to express cultural heritage and history. Not only does Grace use her own work to convey her Indigenous heritage, but through various mentorship roles is empowering young people from remote communities to similarly engage with fashion and performance as a means to represent their cultural roots. Want to learn more about Grace? You can read our interview with her here.
Jasmine Dowling
Need a dose of creative goodness this International Women’s Day? Look no further than Jasmine Dowling’s Instagram page. This Brisbane-based letterer, graphic designer, photographer, painter and product styler designs both unapologetically girly personal projects and crazy-good commissioned work for clients, including the likes of IMG Models, Nike Australia, David Jones, Max & Co and Hallmark. If you’re looking to treat yourself to a gift, Jasmine sells her work – which includes original paintings, artwork prints, calendars, and phone cases – on her online store Studio Jasmine.
Carly Findlay
You’ve more than likely read an article penned by award-winning writer, speaker and activist Carly Findlay, or perhaps you’ve caught her infectious smile on your television – she’s appeared on ABC TV’s You Can’t Ask That and Cyberhate with Tara Moss. Carly identifies as a proud disabled woman – she lives with a rare, severe skin condition called ichthyosis. She writes on disability and appearance diversity issues for news outlets including the CNN, ABC, The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, and SBS – her resume basically reads as a who’s who of global media. Her first book, a memoir called Say Hello, can be found in all good book shops if you’re in need of a riveting read.
Pip Sumbak
A culinary wizard, former Masterchef contestant and a true-blue Northern Rivers local, Pip Sumback’s goal is to spotlight local produce while cooking up killer feasts. Pip is the brains behind ‘Food over Fire’, a long immersive lunch sourcing and promoting local produce, and other flame-licked feasts that can be cooked up in your own backyard – barbecue and all delicious food provided. Not content with just feeding the hungry masses fiery and oh-so flavoursome fare, Pip has also recently helped to organise a flood relief cook up, which is helping to raise money for those affected by the recent and very devastating floods. We love a charitable queen.
Chantelle Otten
Chantelle Otten is a Melbourne based psycho-sexologist who is passionate about empowering people to feel great about their sexual health, self-esteem, communication and education. A caring and empowering sex educator, Chantelle is also a Lovehoney AU ambassador as well as the author of The Sex Ed You Never Had, which promotes the belief that good sexual health should always be enjoyable, pain free and without prejudice. We suggest hopping on the ‘gram and checking out her account for some well-researched and truly inspirational big-sister advice.
Happy International Women’s Day from our team at The Weekend Edition to you and yours – no matter how you identify, we can all agree that empowerment and equality should always be on the menu!