MERAKI | ISSUE 01 by Hannah Mauser

MERAKI

ISSUE 01

CONTRIBUTORS ISSUE 01

MERAKI EDITOR Hannah Mauser CREATIVE DIRECTOR + STYLING Hannah Mauser STYLING ASSISTANT Zach Hamilton PHOTOGRAPHY Megha Prakash MODEL Maddie Czarnik

CONTENTS ISSUE 01

05 | LETTER FROM THE EDITOR 06 | HUB OF THE HOME 14 | CULTIVATING CHANGE THROUGH ETHICAL LIVING: featuring Madi Reimer 24 | ISSUE 01 PLAYLIST

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR ISSUE 01

HEY THERE, Welcome to MERAKI. Living in a generation that is fascinated with the constant movement of technology, social media, fashion and just about anything else you could think of, our perception of life can be easily construed. While trying to keep up with the chaos, we tend to lose a piece of ourselves. We lose sight of the things that make our hearts beat faster and the places where our passions run deep. In Issue 01 of MERAKI, I wanted to capture a young woman’s life outside of the ‘real world’—what life looks like without responsibilities and to-do lists. With society’s obsession of hustle culture, it’s often easy to feel as if you aren’t doing enough to keep up with the rest. Sure, work and money and things feel important, but what about the things that make us, us? My main source of inspiration came from a recent trip to Paris, France. The Parisian way of life is not to live to work, but to work in order to live. They value the concept of living a fulfilled life. The images and words you see in MERAKI aim to create a nostalgic feeling of the little things in life starting with the place that is made for comfort—home. Hannah Mauser, Editor

HUB OF THE HOME 07

There is something comforting about coming

So, why is it that we as humans feel the need to hustle both inside and outside the home? Why is it that we feel so connected to our homes? Connected to things that make us feel comfort and nostalgia? Perhaps it has to do with tradition or the feeling of opening your door and taking the weight of bags and anxiety off your shoulders.

home from a long day and lighting a candle. Suddenly a weight is lifted off your back, and you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to worry about the outside world again until tomorrow. While it has changed over time, there has always been a connection between humans and our homes. The nineteenth century focused on keeping private and public rooms separate, while the twentieth century emerged Not only will our homes make productivity easier more spaces in the house that allowed humans but seen as a place for self-care and improvement. to do more. And as homes transformed, so did we. As individuals move between the comfort of home and the outside world, the way we dress Regardless of the purpose, whatever you are or has to move with our bodies. We will start to see aspire to be is reflected through the environment this in the form of multi-functional garments we create for ourselves. From meetings and that allow the body to go from work to play. work, working out, and sleepwear that serves as street wear, our daily lives can happen As we move forward to a life lived from the comfort without ever leaving the comfort of home. of the couch, we begin to address what living in a modern world now looks like. We begin to come The rise of home offices and fitness are back to our bodies and learn what it means to be playing an integral part on how the home is human. When we see home as a hub for all life changing as modern day living shifts to a new activities, perhaps we see a shift in how we will kind of productivity. As we enter the future, go about rest, wellness, productivity and comfort. new technology will enable life to happen all in one place. Trend forecasting site, WGSN, reports that by 2021 our homes will be made for multi-tasking, and everything from our wardrobes to daily routines will be following suit.

HUB OF THE HOME

There is something comforting about coming home from a long day and lighting a candle....

HUB OF THE HOME

MADI REIMER

Cultivating Change Through Ethical Living

Featuring Sustainable and Ethical Living Advocate, Madi Reimer

When we open Instagram today we are

instantly bombarded with influencers pushing products our way. Feeds are filled with the hottest new bag, diet plans, herbal teas and everyone’s favorite: fast fashion. With the rise in media and consumers feeling the need to buy unnecessary items, we tend to lose a sense of how we are choosing to live our lives for ourselves. A Minnesota local, Madi Reimer, is changing the narrative with her audience on Instagram by promoting how to live a sustainable and ethical lifestyle. If you follow Madi, she can be found singing in church, something she has been doing since age 12, or working at a local shop in the cities called Golden Rule (@goldenrulegallery). She also partners with brands, styles photoshoots, and recently took on the role as Visual Director for an upcoming women’s magazine. Beyond Instagram, she spends her day to day primarily working for singer and songwriter, Sara Groves, and a nonprofit company, Art House North. Sara and her husband, Troy, own and facilitate the company in St. Paul, Minnesota. She’s also Madi’s aunt which makes for a fun family affair.

The Art House North provides community events that cultivate creative community for the common good and serves as the place where Madi explains that she started learning more about ethical living— "When I began this work 2.5 years ago, I just started jumping into the idea of sustainable and ethical fashion. This idea of bringing ‘heaven to earth’ through art creativity stirred up a passion to be a part of this in my daily life. We hosted an event on Creation Care two years ago and learned so much about why we care for our planet and how. I enjoy stretching myself to step away from the norm and try new things—especially when it pertains to caring for the planet and creating a more sustainable way to live. I don’t think I am at any ‘arrival point’ to where I am now. I am always changing and growing, unlearning and learning. And I love that about myself, and humans as a whole."

MADI

Images provided by Madi Reimer (@madireimer)

MADI

Hannah: You have a very distinct style and personality that shines through on your Instagram. Very ‘whimsy gal pal’ as you put it! What influences your style both inside and outside your home? Madi: I’ve always had a ‘70s vibe going on. Unintentionally. Throughout my growing up, we didn’t have money to afford the fancy Free People things my friends were buying. Instead, I would thrift and get creative with cheaper options to create outfits that were that vibe. In my early twenties I went through drastic style changes to finally land on where I am now. Through discovering sustainable brands, I don’t feel like I have sacrificed my personal style, but my style has developed into something more long lasting instead of going after trends. I want pieces I can wear time and time again and that means buying things that last and have a longer life style-wise. I am inspired now by what is going on in myself and what’s around me. Honestly the weather and my mental health has such a huge role in deciding my outfits. When getting ready in the morning, if something just doesn’t feel right I have to change until it does. So, my inner voice is my leading guidance on what I wear. I also am of course inspired by people around me. I’ve found that when I imitate what others do, I don’t feel super genuine to myself. I will take ideas in from others then adapt them to how I would style it. Personal style is so precious and intimate and should depend on who you are. H: So, have you always had an interest in fashion or has it evolved over the years? M: I’ve always been OBSESSED.

H: Has it been difficult to transition to a sustainable wardrobe? M: Not really. I am in this unique place where I work with brands. So, we trade photos and promotion for clothing. Or, I model for sustainable companies and will receive a discount or the clothing as payment. It’s a unique little world. But even in this, I am very methodical in what I choose to receive. I don’t want to have all these extra clothes laying around my home I won’t wear. Then that completely defeats the purpose of trying to live more sustainable. I wear what I have and take in new items as I see fit. I also sell things every so often! I have friends who have transitioned to an ethical closet through saving up for items they love. I also LOVE thrifting and vintage shopping and that aspect has always been a priority. H: How long has it taken you to transition to your wardrobe? M: I would say about three years to get to where I feel like I have a closet I LOVE. H: After transitioning to live a more sustainable and ethical lifestyle, what steps have you taken to bring that knowledge to your audience on Instagram? M: I use Instagram as a platform to discuss ethical and sustainable living. For me this includes how to have a healthy mental and emotional state, how we shop, how we live, and how we care for ourselves and our spirits. Everything is connected. I watched The True Cost on Netflix almost three years ago, and this (along with my work at Art House North), triggered something in me. Why am I feeding this consumption machine? What can I do to help others and the planet? And this led to better eating habits and lifestyle choices. Asking myself questions and not allowing myself to feel shame or fear for asking those questions.

MADI

H: How do you hope to inspire your audience on Instagram? M: If this platform exists, why not use it for a really good purpose? Like Mr. Rogers chose to use television. He got people to think and ask better questions and my hopes are the same. H: Besides fashion, are there any other parts of your life that you shop consciously for? M: Yes! All my home decor is vintage except my couch which is by a company called Campaign. H: If you had to give advice to someone who wants to transition to a sustainable wardrobe and more ethical living, what would you tell them? M: Start small. It can get really overwhelming trying to save the world, so start with one thing you CAN do and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think about all the negative in this journey. Buy less, spend more, and spend it where it matters.

MADI

“Start small. It can get really overwhelming trying to save the world, so start with one thing you CAN do and don’t think about all the negative in this journey. Buy less, spend more, and spend it where it matters.”

MADI

MADIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S FAVORITE BRANDS

MADI Kotn Frank & Oak Dallas Daws Hackwith Design Winsome Goods Alice & Whittles Stutterheim Baggu Tradlands Hansel from Basel Paloma Wool Golden Rule Gallery Nisolo Red Wing Arthur Apparel Leviâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Girlfriend Ace & Jig Jesse Kamm By Signe Aurorei Veja Wray Open Air Museum Tribe Alive Kokun NYC Reformation Loup NYC GLDN

ISSUE 01 PLAYLIST

for a dance in your underwear and sing at the top of your lungs with the gals kind of day

AVAILABLE ON SPOTIFY

ISSUE 01 PLAYLIST

MERAKI