Fringes by BPM MAGAZINE

Think of the first album you ever listened to, or the first live concert you attended. What about the smell of fresh vegetables or the taste of one of Malta’s iconic dishes? Look back at your first time wearing a pre-loved garment or the first time you saw a digital art piece. Relive the time you experienced something that left you speechless or watched a performance that wowed you. Do you remember it? Can you picture it? What do you see? Fringes revives those moments, and introduces you to ones you haven’t yet experienced. In a world as fast-paced as this one, we tend to get caught up in the mainstream and forget to be authentic, eccentric, and to see the world from a different lens. Fringes is a celebration of the simpler things in life and a journey back to our roots.

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Life of Marrow: From IT Manager to Veggie Seller

More About the Tease, Than the Strip

A Maltese Renaissance: Etnika’s 20-year Love Letter to Traditional Folk Music

In Photos: A Look at Malta’s Alternative Drag

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Vintage Sounds: World’s Oldest Record Shop

When Art Collides

Eating Your Way Through Maltese History

‘Layers of Narrative’: The Threaded Stories of Pre-Loved Clothing

ARTICLE BY KATYA GALEA

What if you made a decision to leave a career that you aspired to in order to pursue a simpler life that gives you more clarity? I spoke with Daniel Pisani to learn more about his life surrounded by nature and healthy food, and how changing his path has affected both his physical and psychological well-being.

@lifeofmarrow

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Slow living has never been more attractive

As I walk up to the veggie store to meet Daniel, the first thing I notice is the peace and quiet. When one is constantly on the go, it’s easy to get used to the hustle and bustle of busy streets and crowded pavements. It’s only when you visit the countryside that you realise what you’ve been missing. Surrounded by nature, Daniel found a workplace far removed from the confines of convention. Working in an office setting after graduating had always seemed like a no-brainer for him, natural even; first working in IT at a bank, then moving to IT and marketing with his family’s business. He found working with his family less rigid and structured, feeling comforted by the fact that he could be himself. However, after making the decision to switch to a vegan lifestyle, both for ethical and health reasons, he found himself at odds working in an

industry that sells and promotes the consumption of meat. Wanting to experience working in a more natural environment and getting close to the source, he found a weekend job as a veggie seller and the rest is history. Within months, he was working at the shop full-time as shop manager, and has been there ever since. With his family business being part of the meat industry, veganism wasn’t something that occurred naturally to Daniel. In fact, he said that initially he had a lot of misconceptions about it being a restrictive and unhealthy diet. Despite growing up around food, he was often not exposed to fresh vegetables and it wasn’t until he tried out this diet that he discovered the beauty and versatility of the ingredients that were available. He started cooking for himself and experimenting with different

recipes, which helped him to lead a more balanced and healthy lifestyle. Together with the many positive changes that were evident in his physical health, he noticed a significant improvement in his mental well-being, something he had struggled with for some time. However, despite the benefits that he was reaping from his new diet and lifestyle, he was now struggling with advocating being vegan in his personal life, whilst promoting a culture of meateating at work. This “broke me mentally” he tells me, “I felt like I was living a double life and I fell into a depression”. In order to ease his conscience and “balance out his karma”, he set up a blog on Facebook to share his lifestyle with others – Life of Marrow – a platform which he also uses to talk about mental health. Later on, while working

full-time at the shop, he launched a website: a creative outlet for creating and sharing vegan recipes. During a small tour around the estate, we talked about everything: from the way life changed during the pandemic, to what inspires him the most. When asking him what his biggest source of inspiration is, he simply replies: “nature”. He came to this realisation when he started working at Vincent’s Eco Estate and Farm: observing such a huge contrast from his former work environment. His appreciation and love of nature is evident when he talks about living and working at Mġarr, but especially when the conversation turns to food. One of his biggest projects to date, besides his blog and website, is a book that he published last year: A PlantBased Maltese Kitchen.

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He started cooking for himself and experimenting with different recipes, which helped him to lead a more balanced and healthy lifestyle.

Daniel said that he has always been interested in all things creative: from design and photography, to writing and developing recipes. It is clear that all of his interests come together in his book: a project in which he expresses his passion for Mediterranean culture and cuisine. Divided into chapters by season, it features dishes that are inspired by the seasonality of fresh local produce – something which he is very passionate about – as well as traditional Maltese recipes that were adapted to fit a vegan and health-conscious lifestyle. One of the very first recipes that sparked in him the idea to create this cookbook was a healthy take on the Maltese pudina tal-ħobż (bread pudding): inspired by his grandmother, whose recipes feature throughout.

Living at the farm during the pandemic was the catalyst that led to the final product: being inspired by his surroundings, which became a creative playground for him. Daniel says that, had he still been living in Swieqi, the book would not be what it is. In addition to using the leftover produce from the shop in his recipes, he also found props and locations around the estate which became details for plating or backdrops in his photos. From inception to completion, he was involved in all the aspects of creating the book: writing, taking photos, as well as designing the cover and pages. Flipping through Daniel’s book as I’m writing this article, I cannot help but discover a renewed sense of pride in my Maltese heritage and feel inspired to try out a recipe or two myself. Going back to my conversation with him, these are some of the reasons he set up his blog and went on to create the recipe book in the first place. He also expressed to me that he’d “love it if people do more things themselves”, as they would appreciate the dedication and hard work that goes into homemade food. Throughout his time at the farm, he has come to realise how much time goes into cultivating organic vegetables and creating recipes from scratch. In addition to his many creative interests, he loves music and points out that it is something that he wants to focus on next. Upon asking him if he has other future plans in the pipeline, he

smiles and tells me: “two more books and an album”. We’re generally encouraged from an early age to aspire to a traditional steady job, and pursuing a slow and simple life is certainly not the norm. However, in a time where our lives have become busier than ever, slow living has never been more attractive. Daniel is certainly a testament to how content and at ease we can be: by making time, in spite of our busy lifestyles, to enjoy nature and the little things in life.

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He noticed an especially big improvement to his mental health

More about the tease, than the strip Burlesque is the classy art of tease and seduction. This form of expression is portrayed via a theatrical performance which may encompass acting, dancing, and other theatrical skills. I sat down for a lovely chat with Malta’s very own internationally acclaimed burlesque performer, Undine LaVerve.

ARTICLE BY Roxana Ebejer

@undinelaverve

Burlesque helps people to discover themselves. It has the ability to give a sense of identity, as well as to help the performer grow as a person. This has definitely been the case with Undine. She has been dubbed the Sin-Sational Siren of the Mediterranean and has been practising burlesque for 12 years. She says that burlesque is who she is, as it definitely helped her find herself. At around 16, Undine found burlesque and her passion for it. Back then, she was searching for something to pour herself into and tried many forms of dance, such as belly dancing and hip-hop. Then, one day, Undine attended a burlesque course taught by a Canadian woman who mentored her and inspired her interest in the art. Furthermore, burlesque guided Undine to what she truly wanted to do in life and she never looked back. Burlesque is a diverse art form. One can opt for a beautiful and classy act, whereas someone else might wish to put on a political performance or an act which conveys a particular message. Because burlesque involves disrobing, some people unfortunately cannot see past the stripping, which is a pity because burlesque is more about the journey that the audience is taken on, rather than the stripping itself. It is more about the tease, than the strip. Undine is also the founder and headmistress of her own school, the Burlesque Academy of Malta (BAM), which offers aspiring show girls and show boys weekly beginner and advanced classes, all taught by Undine herself.

One of the many fulfilling things that burlesque offers is the ability to travel and discover the world. In 2012, Undine had her first international show, and from then onwards has performed in many countries, including Germany, Italy, France, The Netherlands, Austria, Czech Republic and Russia. In 2014, Undine won a People’s Choice Award in the latter country, called Queen of Applause and she was also a winner at Burlypicks Italy Regional. The international recognition led Undine to forge many friendships with many international burlesque performers, and these bonds are emblematic of the diverse community burlesque offers its performers. Furthermore, burlesque gives one the opportunity to perform in various venues around the world. In Undine’s case, she chooses her venues according to the production that she would be showcasing. For this publication, the chosen venue for her photoshoot took place at The Cavern, in Msida. Undine says that one of her favourite things about burlesque is that she can give a lot, whilst also receiving the gifts of friendship and memorable experiences from various venues around the world.

I also asked Undine about the burlesque artists she admires. She stated that there are so many to choose from, and all for different reasons. A particular artist that she mentioned was Chris Oh, winner of 2013 Mr Gay World and voted 14th most influential burlesque performer in the world in 2019. Undine admires Chris both on and off stage for his burlesque talents as well as his charismatic personality. Undine also mentioned her admiration for Rubyyy Jones, a performance artist and burlesque instructor. Rubyyy is a self-proclaimed “big, fat, fabulous, queer Canadian” and a Burlesque Hall of Fame winner. Undine really admires Rubyyy’s ability to go full out during their performances. Furthermore, Undine also stated her admiration for Rubyyy’s activism, both through burlesque and otherwise. When asked about what makes a good burlesque artist, Undine said that one has to have the ability to express themselves on stage, the ability to come up with good ideas, and the will to do burlesque. She also mentioned the importance of creativity and confidence, which can be honed with time. Furthermore, it is very important that one does not

copy another artist, but brings something new and unique to the table. Aside from that, burlesque is for everyone, irrespective of one’s gender, sexuality and body type. Undine emphasised the importance of body positivity, as it is often overlooked, without having it overshadow the rest of what burlesque means. She said it’s important that one does not focus solely on this, but that people should understand that burlesque is about body positivity and empowerment of both women and men. “Every body is a burlesque body”: burlesque celebrates everyone. Moreover, Undine told me that burlesque helps people to accept their physiques even more because of this. Something that struck me during our conversation was the dedication that burlesque performers have. This can be seen by the amount of rehearsal time they allot and the fact that they make their own costumes to feel more like themselves. The latter activity can be very tedious for the performers, especially when it comes to rhinestoning the costumes. But Undine found a silver lining in this too, as she told me that it can also be quite therapeutic. I asked Undine what her burlesque bucket list consisted of, and she mentioned her wish to do burlesque at the Manoel Theatre, as well as to one day be the first burlesque artist to represent Malta at the Burlesque Hall of Fame in Las Vegas (although, she’ll be equally happy if one of her beloved students got it before her).

A Maltese renaissance: Etnika’s 20-year love letter to traditional folk music ARTICLE BY Sy Zammit

Etnika strives to celebrate aspects of Maltese traditional and popular music, by honouring their sound and aesthetic in contemporary forms of music.

@etnikamalta

Maltese folk music has mostly fallen out of fashion outside of small community events and feast celebrations. However, a small group of people have been on a 20-year journey to document, restore and revitalise the genre, thrusting it into the modern day without losing any of its classic lustre.

Etnika was born in the year 2000 as a research project, with their first performance being a showcase of contemporary classical music under the guidance of composer Ruben Żahra. A year later, however, Andrew Alamango took the reins and steered the band towards the local folk sound it would adopt for the next seven years.

A musicologist by trade and a champion of local tradition at heart, Alamango and his band assembled a large group of people skilled in playing instruments that were slowly being lost to time. Their goal was to give these old instruments “a new context, a revalidation” to stop them from becoming forgotten museum exhibitions. The challenge, however, was actually being able to play them. Many of the instruments they would end up using were made of cane or animal hide and bones, and were therefore very difficult to replicate through other methods. Consequently, the band found some of the last people on the island who still knew how to

play them and, with the help of Francesco Sultana, brought their unique sounds back to life in a more poetic, artistic context. The group also repurposed old lyrics and poetry into their songs. In an attempt to preserve Maltese creativity, they used traditional writing motifs and lyrics from past artists to help expose modern listeners to these past techniques. Alamango explained that “octosyllabic rhyme is the primary form of expression for the Maltese”, which is why it is extremely prevalent in many Etnika songs. From there, they incorporated these traditional instruments into their performances and

quickly began gaining popularity throughout the 2000s. At their peak, Etnika was playing shows to over a thousand people a night and receiving personal invitations to play at Verdala Palace by President Guido De Marco. Alamango said that since their music always aimed to relay a sense of authenticity of, and respect for the folk culture they emulated, they garnered a community of people that were “craving a Maltese-ness” that was incredibly difficult to find in other media. This is where the first phase of the band petered out. In 2008,

after touring and sharing Maltese folk culture with many countries, Etnika went into hiatus and many of the members pursued individual projects and career opportunities. Many took their experiences and forged musical achievements in their own right, and Alamango deepened his cultural influences by studying in Cairo and Istanbul. He also continued developing the Maltese cultural scene by releasing the Malta’s Lost Voices project, a collection of 30 Maltese songs recorded in the 1930s that he had discovered while researching. Interestingly, if you read our upcoming article about D’Amato

Their goal was to give these old instruments “a new context, a revalidation”

Records you can learn the story behind these songs and the process of recording them. This project fuelled him to take up a master’s degree in digital archives at the University of Malta and, while he admitted that this was creatively stifling, it led him to set up Magna Żmien, an archival database for preserving local culture. This laid the groundwork for a revitalised Etnika to make a triumphant return, downsizing the group to six core members and adopting a new yet familiar style. The band decided to scale back the use of the traditional instruments that defined their music through the 2000s, using them in more stylised ways that were easier to incorporate into their more modern sound. Importantly though, they retained their main goal of introducing listeners to traditional Maltese music and art, which is very prominent in their latest project The Arrow of Time. The show’s main theme was entropy – the process of things slowly dissolving into chaos –

and they wanted to explore how the loss of traditional culture to time is inherently entropic. With the Malta Aviation Museum as a backdrop, the band incorporated those 1930’s songs and vintage videos from Magna Żmien to create a timeless atmosphere highlighting the passing of time and its effects. After reflecting on Etnika’s 20year history, Alamango shared some hopes he has for the future of his work both in and away from the band. Personally, he has plans to expand Magna Żmien to other countries to help document their traditional art and culture as well. As for Etnika, he hopes to tour The Arrow of Time show, sharing their celebration of Maltese culture in the same way they used to in the 2000s. In the same vein, they have posted a recording of their show to their Youtube channel to make it more accessible. Alamango also expressed his desire to open a local venue that specialises in celebrating traditional Maltese music and għana, however, at the moment this is only an idea.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY ANDREW SPITERI MICHAELA SARAH GAUCI

SATURGAY was back and queerer than ever! Two talented members from the Fringes Photography Team attended SATURGAY 4.0 at Storeroom to give us a taste of the performances by some of Malta’s leading drag artists. Breathtaking, exquisite, sensational. These six performers are bringing a new dimension to the art of local drag. From outfit reveals to special effects: the audience was left awestruck and gagging for more! Flip through the next few pages for a glimpse of the artistry and dazzling show that the performers gave to the crowd.

Teddi Rockerfelt I set my sights on you

Venus Divine Out of control

Crush Velvet The rush of slumber party kissing

@saturgay.malta

Blakk Velvet Through fortune and flame, we fall

Klonn I know that time is elastic

Olivia Lilith I can’t help lovin’ myself

ARTICLE BY MICK CASSAR

Records have been around for over a hundred years, but they are making a comeback among younger generations nowadays. The history of records in Malta started with the opening of D’Amato Records in Valletta in 1885.

We all love the crackling sound of the needle landing on a vinyl record before the music fills the room. Records are sensory: something that you can hold, touch and feel; something you cannot do with digital streaming. It helps form a special connection with music through physical means. For these reasons, vinyl has made a drastic comeback over the last decade as people look for new ways to experience music. There are many audiophiles in the world who love collecting vinyls and there are even some vinyls which are quite an investment piece. Malta has not missed this trend. D’Amato Records is known as the ‘World’s Oldest Record Shop”, but how did they get their start on this little island? In 1885, Giovanni D’Amato, opened up a furniture shop in St. John Street in the heart of the capital city, Valletta. However, at the turn of the century, sometime in the early 1900s, D’Amato changed the shop’s brand and started selling only records, at that time played on a gramophone. A gramophone was a remarkable machine that used wax discs as opposed to our current vinyls. This machine recorded live performances of artists who were brought in specially to play

@damatorecords

at the shop. In those days, they had some of the best musicians around the island, so this was a great display of what could be done with better equipment and better technology, or so they thought. D’Amato started recording music back in 1931, finding artists himself and sending them off to Italy. Even today you will find some of these original records displayed as part of his collection. D’Amato used to sell gramophones, and certain records like orchestra and Italian opera. However, the market was kind of limited, and so they decided it was time to produce Maltese songs to target the public more directly, and as a result sell

more gramophones. They sent five artists to Milan, where they recorded their songs, and then the master recordings were sent to England to be pressed. Nowadays, the shop is run by Anthony D’Amato and his cousins, who are carrying on the family tradition. The shop is filled with CD’s, DVD’s, records and even D’Amato’s own merchandise. Music can be heard constantly throughout the shop with albums like A-ha’s Greatest Hits playing. Anthony calls himself a 5th generation D’Amato when it comes to running the store. He’s been working in the shop ever since he was 14 or 15, yet he’s been working there full time for around

27 years. Anthony believes that running the shop is what he was destined for from day one. He used to hang out at the shop from a very young age; he even called it his playground back then. With four decades hanging around a vinyl record shop, music is a pretty big part of who he is. Shops like D’Amato are needed to keep music alive, especially when young people have gotten so used to streaming and downloading their music from the internet that they keep forgetting how much more there is to music than just what’s in your phone.

Today, records are becoming increasingly popular among younger generations, who are starting to see them as a way to express themselves through the artists that they admire. Despite being one of only a handful of surviving vinyl shops in Malta, D’Amato has a lot to offer and is achieving more and more success everyday. Their resilience is evident in the fact that the only time they’ve closed their shop was during the Covid-19 pandemic, not even during WWII!

No matter how far we get with technology, there will always be a place to appreciate and love the music that is held in our hearts. The popularity of vinyl records and the nostalgic feeling they give us will continue to exist even if streaming takes over completely. D’Amato have brought back vinyl as well as the physical relationship between music and listeners.

ARTICLE BY LAURA-MAI TITH

Art is a versatile subject. No matter how we approach it, no matter what mediums we use and how avant-garde a piece can be, art serves as an empowering tool. This is a celebration of the arts: be it traditional or digital.

Ellie and Anthea are a couple who were brought together through the power of art. Together, they illustrate the beauty of art, inspiring each other with their different forms of artistic expression: acrylic and digital creation. Ellie is a Digital Art student who aims to pursue a career in game development and animation. Although art was never their first preference, they grew up watching their dad play old video games such as the iconic Tomb Raider. This instilled a new interest and desire to create characters for the world of video games. Anthea is the “cliche” type of art student, or so she says. She is studying History of Art with a focus on Fine Arts. Anthea stated how she has been drawing since she was a toddler, watching her dad print out cartoon characters and outline drawings. “My parents got me my first watercolour set, which I still have,” she says. Art has always played a huge role in her life, even more so when she met Ellie. While Anthea is a more acrylic-based artist, Ellie introduced her to the world of digital art.

The thought process behind Anthea’s artworks differs from acrylic-based to digital pieces. Before she goes into creating her artworks, she takes a lot of time sketching because she truly believes in the process of experimentation. However, when it comes to digital, she doesn’t put much thought into it. Ellie added that “digital art, it is a lot more forgiving”: it encourages one to be more spontaneous because, unlike traditional art, you will always have that “undo” button at your disposal. I had the opportunity to take a look at their creations. While Ellie focuses on digital art, their style changes with each piece they create, which is what makes them so intriguing. Their work focuses on their adoration of Dungeons and Dragons and they are constantly experimenting with different software and techniques. There is this idea that art is supposed to have a meaning but, in Ellie’s case, they just enjoy showcasing their talent and their love towards the board game. It doesn’t make an art piece any less meaningful if it doesn’t have an underlying meaning.

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My parents got me my first watercolour set, which I still have

@anthe.a.rt

@neq.scribbles

When I asked them about their preferred medium, Ellie tends to lean towards digital and photography whereas Anthea finds herself more in traditional art. There is this misconception that digital art is easier than traditional art but both artists tend to disagree with this. Ellie and Anthea added that both traditional and digital have their own “learning curves” no matter how different or similar they may be. Anthea is currently studying the different periods and styles of traditional paintings throughout the years. While there has been a shift and some digital techniques are more taught than traditional ones, both Ellie and Anthea agreed that traditional art will never die. We are today living in a technological age, so a lot of people see the potential for growth and profit in the digital art sector. When asked which style they would stick to for the rest of their life, without hesitation, Anthea went for traditional whereas Ellie for digital.

Anthea has a different approach to her style and the meaning of her art: “I feel like, for me, I know what I like to do, so I explore that area rather than exploring everything.” While she does feature a pop of colour from time to time on her Instagram profile, she focuses mainly on greyscale or monochromatic pieces. Her art also involves a lot of different expressions and moods, carefully depicting the feelings her characters are showing.

As our conversation progressed, I wanted to know more about how their relationship influences their work. They stated that they inspire each other, simultaneously and indirectly, to draw and learn more. While they do not work on the same projects together, they are always there for each other: commenting on each other’s work, encouraging each other and engaging themselves in a collaborative process of creation. They emphasize the importance of having someone by your side to motivate you: the process of creating something is “psychological” and “intimate” and the artists put a part of themselves into every art piece.

ARTICLE BY SILVANA GRIXTI

Taste History gives people the opportunity to taste food that the rich and the poor of the past would have eaten.

One typically associates eating out with places such as restaurants or the food truck down the street, but not a museum. Yet Taste History gives people the opportunity to do precisely that. Taste History is the brainchild of three people: Liam Gauci, Kenneth Cassar and Noel Buttigieg. I sat down with them for a chat about how Taste History started, the work they put into it, and where they hope to take it in the future. Gauci and Cassar are senior curators with Heritage Malta while Buttigieg is a university lecturer. Taste History started when Buttigieg jokingly suggested that a chef should be invited to prepare curious food discussed during a talk held at the museum. That joke turned into reality. Since then, they have held several Taste History events every year, except during the Covid-19 pandemic. The aim of Taste History is to tell stories through culinary experiences by recreating historical recipes that “transcend time through taste”. Taste History offers people the chance to eat food that is related to Heritage Malta Museums, mainly the Inquisitors’ Palace and

the Maritime Museum. The food is prepared using methods of food preparation based on historical research. Through the experience the audience is also empowered to tell their own story. “Food is a fantastic communicator” and can generate an interest in learning new things. Since they are rediscovering and recreating food from the past, Taste History can offer an experience that is different and unique. This allows them to attract people who would not normally consider visiting a museum. In working on Taste History events, Gauci, Cassar and Buttigieg have gotten to try foods from a variety of different time periods, including some dishes that have been lost to history. Speaking of foods that are no longer produced, I was told during the interview that there once existed a cheese called Formaggio Maltese. This cheese was considered a delicacy in Rome and Paris. Taste History are among the only people to have tried it recently. Nowadays, when thinking of pan di spagna, a sponge cake comes to mind, yet the team informed me that originally pan di spagna was a bread eaten by the well-off.

They added that chocolate and sugar, two ingredients so readily available to us, were once so expensive that only the wealthy could afford them. Chocolate was once even gifted to diplomats and other important people. Preparing for the events is no easy task. To begin with, there’s the research that goes into each event. Unlike modern recipes, historic ones do not list exact quantities for each ingredient, give clear instructions or give exact cooking times, and it goes without saying that they must also be careful not to set the museum on fire! They then have the challenge of getting their team, which includes historians, chefs and farmers, to work together. Next, recipes need to be tried and tested. One might say you just have to trust your instincts, because even once they have managed to obtain the ingredients and follow the recipe, there is no guarantee that the food will be good.

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Food is a fantastic communicator

On one particular occasion they attempted a recipe for parmesan ice-cream. Though the end result was indeed ice-cream, it did not taste good. Why didn’t it turn out right? They may have done something wrong while making it, or maybe it turned out as intended and our modern taste buds just aren’t made to handle parmesan ice-cream. Taste History also tells the story behind each dish. This brings with it the additional challenge of preserving historical accuracy while also allowing for creative freedom in building the “researched narrative”. The furthest back they ever went in recreating food was to prehistoric times, which brought additional challenges. They had no written recipes, as there were none at that time. They made the

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food based on results of analysis of bones and seeds found by archaeologists. At the other end of the timeline, the most recent food Taste History recreated was a menu that was served during a 1960s Champions League final. The Taste History events are open to tourists and locals alike. They use the food they recreate and the experience of tasting the food to educate people about Malta’s rich food history. They “feel that this is something which belongs to Malta”, and they want to “give it back to Malta”. The final aim is to provide the patron with an experience that involves all the senses while promoting Malta’s tangible and intangible cultural heritage. Another lesson that can be learnt from our ancestors is avoiding food waste. As I learnt during the interview, our ancestors were

They used to eat brains, eyeballs, tongues, and, yes, even tails @tastehistorymt

masters of nose to tail eating. They used to eat brains, eyeballs, tongues, and, yes, even tails. Simply put “nothing went to waste”. When there was too much to eat all in one go, food was stored for later use. The research for Taste History has shown that before fridges and freezers were invented food was salted, smoked, brined, dried, or stored in oil to preserve it. Each event takes love and dedication to prepare. Their success rests on a well researched and interesting narrative. As educators, Taste History appreciate when people are inspired to ask questions and learn more about Maltese history and culture. They hope that one day Taste History events will be held in more museums around Malta and Gozo.

‘Layers of Narrative’: The Threaded Stories of Pre-Loved Clothing ARTICLE BY MAYA POLLACCO

@ladykittvintage

Rowena Farrugia leads us through the journey of embarking on her sustainable lifestyle, appreciating vintage clothing and starting up her own business, Lady Kitt Vintage.

I remember stumbling upon Lady Kitt Vintage’s page when I had just started experimenting with my style and fashion a few years back. I was drawn by the quirky name and hooked by the groovy garments. From funky patterns and bright colours, Lady Kitt Vintage is the ultimate hub for all retro and vintage lovers. I was intrigued: I wanted to know more about this business, its purpose and the owner herself, Rowena Farrugia. Confidence oozed out of her and I was in awe of her fierce, unforgettable look, which might be the reason I was so drawn to getting to know her. Rocking her 60s hairstyle and mix-mashed style from different eras, I wanted to know more about who this Rowena Farrugia is. Rowena is a 39-year-old vintage seller and besides being the founder of Lady Kitt Vintage, she

also works as a freelance English teacher. Seven years ago, Rowena found herself disappointed with the lack of vintage pieces we had in Malta. She figured this disappointment might also be felt by other like-minded individuals and that is how Lady Kitt Vintage came to be. Rowena took the plunge and opened a local hub for all things retro. While this started off as a side-hustle it quickly evolved into her main focus four years ago. Although Rowena embarked on this journey seven years ago, her passion and love for vintage and thrifting go way back. “It is very hard to pinpoint where my love for vintage started because that is something deeply rooted in my childhood,” she said. When she was still a child, she used to travel with her mother, visiting vintage stalls and shops, and a particular scene stuck with her which ignited the flame in

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“With vintage pieces, you have the layers of narrative that come with a different owner”

her heart; “I remember being fascinated by the stalls and the mounds of clothing and seeing people hunting down these mountains of clothing. I think for a child, it was something very intriguing.” Thrifting is all about hunting and patience. Sometimes you just need to get to the back of the rack or look into the darkest corner to find the perfect clothing piece. Rowena’s passion comes from all sorts of inspiration: from her sister’s wardrobe (which she describes as a “treasure trove”) to tv shows and even music videos. In fact, TV shows and music videos introduced her to the world of retro: the world of different styles, looks and silhouettes that she absolutely adores to this day. She believes that her collection of inspirations is the reason her style is also a mix-mash of eras. She walked me through her favourite vintage pieces (I had to restrict her to three pieces…I know that was a bit difficult for you Rowena, apologies!) that she has accumulated throughout the years.

Aside from the fact that she loves the cut, the fit and their representative eras, it is the personal stories threaded into them that make each piece so special. The three items she chose were a 1930s Black Crepe Dress, a 1970s Red Jumpsuit, and a 1960s Quant Style Shift Dress. Rowena acquired the Black Crepe Dress whilst she was in London and came across “the most authentic, vintage shop” she has ever been to. She found her 1970s Red Jumpsuit during her first vintage boutique experience in Brussels. After trying on 10 pieces, all of which didn’t fit her, she finally found the one she was looking for. Finally, the 1960s Quant Style Shift Dress holds a dear memory for Rowena: it was the dress she wore to her first pop-up shop. Rowena added that what she loves about vintage garments, aside from the attraction you feel towards the colour, fabric and cut of the piece itself, are the memories and stories the clothes acquire over time. “With vintage pieces, you have the layers of narrative that come with a different owner” and, of course, the piece itself acquires your own personal stories. In fact, Rowena recounted one of her own personal experiences where a dress she had sold in 2015, came back to her in 2020! While visiting a friend’s house, she spotted that very dress and bought it from her. Together, they traced the dress’ journey as it made its way to 5 different wearers until it eventually came back to Rowena. I can see why she gets sentimental about the garments she owns and sells; they are no longer just a piece of clothing, they become a book with a story to tell.

Rowena walked me through her work and aside from hosting pop-up shops, which are her main projects as the founder of Lady Kitt Vintage, she has hosted fashion shows and editorial shoots. She has also styled some actors on TV series (the upcoming second season of Blinded) and provided outfits for music videos. Pop-up shows are not to be confused with your regular brick and mortar stores. Her pop-up shops are held at her partner’s old Maltese townhouse and are usually hosted every 6 to 8 weeks. Unlike your regular store owner, Rowena adores it when her customers try on a lot of different

pieces and garments that she has in stock. “It is like they are playing dress-up; I want this to be a communal space, a space for people to enjoy themselves and have fun with their friends.” Rowena recounted that her favourite fashion show she hosted was Twin Peaks themed. While it was a TV show she truly loved, and was pleased to see it come together, what made the experience truly enjoyable is the drive to collaborate with likeminded people. Rowena and I chatted about the global issue we are facing with fast fashion: “I really hate

moralising and saying things are wrong or bad but I am not a fan of fast fashion”. Aside from the landfills and worker exploitation involved in the fast-fashion industry, Rowena feels that people have forgotten how to appreciate certain styles and easily jump on to the next trend. She talked about her own experience whilst organising her pop-up shops and even though the desire to sell as many pieces as possible will always be there, she is a firm believer that the right garment will find its rightful wearer. “Let them find their rightful owner, let’s slow down the process. Why are we so obsessed with this?”

Rowena tries to promote this idea through her brand – even in terms of writing captions for her garments, she takes her time to go in-depth about the history of the garment, the fabric and the cut – vintage needs to be appreciated. After we concluded our little chat, I realised that what makes second-hand clothing so sentimental is the fact that the garment I picked out was once someone’s favourite top, favourite pants or favourite scarf. It is now being passed down to me and being given a second chance at life – a second chance

for someone to appreciate it and wear it with pride. And while buying clothes online or at your favourite clothing store may be less time-consuming, I believe we are missing out on the experience of going through the endless stories and memories that are found within each thrifted or vintage piece. And to wrap this up, you may be curious: what does the name Lady Kitt Vintage mean? Rowena was pleased to share her thought process whilst choosing a name for her brand. She made sure that the name has never been used before and resembled

her personality and vision as accurately as possible. Aside from being a cat lover (which explains the cat on the logo), the name is also inspired by two of her biggest inspirations: David Bowie and Eartha Kitt. Taking Lady from David Bowie’s Lady Stardust and Kitt from Eartha Kitt, you get the combination of two - melding Bowie’s flamboyance with Eartha Kitt’s class!

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Martina Demanuele Matthea Fabri Philip Agius Article 7 : Eating your way through Maltese history

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