Catalyst: 'SUNDOWN', Issue 5, Volume 76 by Catalyst Magazine

catalyst

ISSUE 05

E PIS O D E S UN DOWN T HI NGS ARE

F UTURE O F

N EW YO RK

HE ATING UP

F ESTIVALS

INT ERNS H IP

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IVY ARALIA NIZAR

FA M I L I A R

G R A D U AT I O N

2 02 0

SAME STORM , D I F F E R E N T B O AT S

CO N T RIB U TO R S

L E T T ER FROM T HE ED I TO R S

LE T TER FROM THE PRESIDENT

NOVEMBER C ALENDAR

DECEMBER C ALENDAR

2 02 0

SUM MER O F 2018

H OW MY NE W YO R K IN T ER N SHIP CH A N G ED T HE G A M E FO R M E

T H I N G S A R E H E AT I N G U P

FA M I L I A R

M A D H V I PA R W A N I P H O T O G R A P H Y

S E L F - C A R E F O R P O S T- L O C K D O W N S U M M E R

F R O M G R A S S T O G L A S S E S - L E S P E C S L A U N C H E S A FA S H I O N C O N S C I O U S F I R S T

S A M E S T O R M , D I F F E R E N T B O AT S

A M A NDA WES TMO RL A ND PH OTO G R A PH Y

B ED SHEE T - A T E X T IL E ( WA S T E ) NE V ER T H O U G H T O F!

G R A D U AT I O N

F U T U R E O F F E S T I VA L S

S U N D O W N P L AY L I S T

CONTENT

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EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Bethany Davis Daisy Barrett Eliza Sears Erica Lange Georgie Elinor Martin Isabella Krebet Jaidyn L Attard Jean Wenjing Zhang Mikayla Bamford Nicole Pereira Siri Smith Youssef Saudee

NEWS EDITORS Alexandra Middleton Phoebe Humphrey

CREATIVE WRITING EDITORS Caitlyn Grant Isabella Battersby Jake Parker

SOCIAL MEDIA Isabelle Leng Le Minh Ngoc Cu Milosha Vaz

WEBSITE MANAGER Cameron Magusic

CULTURE EDITORS Cameron Magusic Emma Sullivan

ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Matt Adrian Young

EDITORS Chloe Karis Ellie Barclay Tamara Clark DESIGNERS Ellen Waite Daphne Kok Sayali Harde FRONT COVER Amanda Westmorland @ajwestmorland

NEWS REPORTERS Umang Olivia Davendra Zara Gudnason PHOTOGRAPHERS Jean Baulch Luka Rhoderick Robert Miniter Rudraksh Thumar Sophie Smith

CATACLYSM Cameron Magusic Isabella Podwinski Sharni Hill Umang Olivia Davendra

Catalyst and RMIT University Student Union acknowledge the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nations on whose unceded lands we contact the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past, present and future. Catalyst and RMIT University Student Union also acknowledge the Traditional Custodians and their ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where it contacts its business.

+ Catalyst is the student magazine of the RMIT Student Union (RUSU). The views expressed herein are not necessarily those of the editors, the printers, or RUSU.

SPECIAL THANKS TO RMIT Next The Campus Bookstore Le Specs CATALYST Issue 05 2020 RMIT student magazine est. 1944 CONTACT rmitcatalyst@gmail.com rmitcatalyst.com RMIT Building 12, Level 3, Room 97

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CHLOE K ARIS, TA M ARA CL ARK + ELLIE BARCL AY

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS

Welcome to our final issue, Sundown! We did it, everyone! We made it to the end of what has been a true rollercoaster year. Congratulations. We have come full circle back to the heat of Summer, ending much like we started, being able to enjoy everything an Australian summer is known for. Road Trips to the beach, sweaty summer days, sunburn and long night’s out. Let’s not forget our hot summertime Christmas being spent with family and friends again! We hope you love reading Sundown and all our past episodes for the year as much as we enjoyed creating them. From the personal stories shared with us to the visual submissions which made the pages the Catalyst shine, we’d like to thank the 2020 team for helping us this year with each issue we’ve put out! It has been such a joy to work alongside everyone through a unique time. A special thank

THE EDITORS

LET TER FROM THE EDITORS

D A P H N E KO H

you to our design team, Ellen and Daphne for making our jaws drop with every issue. Next year is a new beginning. A new era. We can collectively move forward, trusting and supporting one another through the good and bad times, as we have this year. So, letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cheer together and watch the sun set on 2020. + CHLOE: SHE/HER ELLIE: SHE/HER TA M A R A : S H E / H E R

M A D H V I PA R WA N I

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AKSHAY JOSE

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

Hi, there! Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m Akshay, and I am currently completing a Bachelor of Social Work (Honours). I love riding motorcycles and having fun with my friends. I am also the President of your student union, RUSU. This year has been a difficult one for all of us. Whether it was dealing with the transition to remote learning, the uncertainty in seeing friends and family, or the loss of a job, we have all experienced some form of hardship. It has had a particular impact on our education, especially for students who were already doing it tough. For me personally, it was hard not seeing my family back home, and the stress and uncertainty brought on by COVID-19 was beyond comparison. It highlighted the importance of having a student union that represents students and supports students. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not always easy to find affordable and accessible services, especially when you are a uni student. While it looks as though we are on our way back to some form of normality, there is still a lot of

DANIEL HOOSTRA

uncertainty ahead as well as the more common issues that always exist for students. There is the pressure to do well, the difficulty in supporting yourself financially, and so many other factors that can make your university life stressful. To assist students, RUSU runs the Compass Dropin service and is available online with trained social workers to assists and support students with referrals and advice. During 2020 Compass has handed out more than 2700 free grocery vouchers, and we will continue to look after students through 2021.

LETTER

becoming a member for only $10 and following us on Facebook and Instagram to find out more about all the amazing things we are planning for the coming year. I look forward to hearing from you! Akshay Jose RUSU President

Our student rights service has also been more important than ever this year. We have a team of dedicated advocates who can assist students with free, confidential advice on issues such as academic misconduct, complaints, appeals against assessment and special consideration. If you encounter something at RMIT that feels unfair or unjustified, we will always be here to fight for you. This year has shown us if we all work collectively, we can make a difference. I hope 2021 is going to be a year where we can get back on campus and enjoy aspects of university life other than just the academic. We are working behind the scenes to ensure that students are having the best university experience. The early part of 2021 is going to different compared to other years, but the best way to keep connected with RUSU is by

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November SUNDAY

MONDAY

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Notes: 10

TUESDAY

December SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Notes:

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2020 JEAN WENJING ZHANG

Another year of uni (almost) done and dusted. It’s time to look back on what’s happened this year.

local businesses made cute fabric masks. Supporting local businesses never felt better.

We began with our usual bushfire season, aggravated by good ol’ climate change. Australian comedian Celeste Barber’s staggering $51 million worth of bushfire fundraising shows our community cares when large corporations don’t.

We started and ended another semester, but somehow this one feels exponentially longer than the first. We experienced firsthand how difficult this pandemic has been and tried to support one another. Internationally, we laughed at fly memes from the American presidential debate. Across the waters, Jacinda Ardern runs against Judith Collins and wins a second term. We voted in our own local elections.

When Dan Andrews announced lockdown for the first time, nobody expected it to last this long. We stayed optimistic, thinking “maybe it will get better soon and we’ll be back to studying with our friends in Building 8/10/12 spaces and drinking Standing Room iced coffee.” Instead, we queued in supermarkets fighting over the last two toilet rolls and noted down the kind of jacket Dan wore during his live announcements. The next few months were a blur of Collaborate Ultra, dalgona coffee, banana bread and Animal Crossing. Things got better but also worse. George Floyd’s death sparked an international movement and we marched down Bourke Street grieving. Another stark reminder of our own record of blak deaths in custody – 434 Aboriginal deaths in custody since 1991. By August we recorded our highest daily total of COVID-19 cases. 687. Going out to grocery shop felt like the most exciting thing ever. Many

There’s a lot to reflect on and a lot to look forward to next year. Look after yourselves and each other. Here’s to 2021.

F I O N KO H

PHOTOGRAPHY

F I O N KO H

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K E L LY L I M

SUMMER OF 2018

SUMMER OF 2018 KELLY LIM

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HOW MY NEW YORK INTERNSHIP CHANGED THE GAME FOR ME. FION KOH

to a graphic design major. When I first stepped into the classroom, I was so pumped being in a room full of creative energy. I was amazed by the artistic freedom we had to express, and quickly learnt that there are no boundaries or limits for creative expressions. To be honest, I’m terrible with Photoshop and Illustrator at that time but I was very motivated to hone my skills when I was surrounded by a bunch of talented and passionate designers. It was an excitement I’ve never experienced before and I instantly knew I’d made the right decision.

My name is Fion and I’m a graphic designer and photographer, originally from Malaysia. I moved to Melbourne, Australia when I was 17 to study Communication Design at RMIT University. I love going behind the lens to ‘create’ pictures and tell a story through my work, while collaborating with models, fashion designers and other artists.

“I love going behind the lens to create pictures and tell a story through my work.” It was the people in the creative industry who continuously inspired me to work in the industry. I was originally studying business before switching

Just like everyone else, I had no idea how to get started on my career. I’ve always welcomed spontaneity into my life. After 4 years of living in Australia, I wanted to move somewhere new after graduation. I found out about the ArtBound Initiative internship program and decided to apply for an internship in New York as I believe it would help stimulate my creative thinking while I figured out my career. I have no idea at first where it’s going to take me but I’m excited for my new journey.

“My internship with Reflexgroup included working with luxury skin care brands like YSL, Origins, Innisfree and VDL.” ArtBound Initiative found me a placement with Reflexgroup, an international boutique creative agency in New York. They focused primarily in

F I O N KO H

HOW MY NEW YORK INTERNSHIP CHANGED THE GAME FOR ME

the fashion, food and beauty industries. My job varies every day depending on clients’ needs, my main task is to deliver digital campaigns by creating social media posts, motion graphics work and assisting with other visual communication needs. I’ve worked mostly with luxury skincare brands like YSL, Origins, Innisfree and VDL.

“With New York’s art scene being so prominent yet ever-changing, it’s impossible to be bored staying in the city!” Even though I’ve lived in New York for more than a year, I’m continuously amazed at all the creative events, places and people in the city. The character and diversity of the city are what makes it so magical. With New York’s art scene being so prominent yet ever-changing, it’s impossible to be bored staying in the city. I find inspiration everywhere just by scrolling down the streets.

“I went to New York with no connections, but I’ve met the coolest people through ArtBound Initiative connections.” I’m so grateful for my internship program - if it wasn’t for ArtBound Initiative, I wouldn’t have had the chance to attend New York Fashion Week. I went to New York without knowing anyone, but I’ve met the coolest people through

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ArtBound Initiative connections. The ABI community is very ambitious and passionate about what they are doing, and it’s so inspiring just to be around these people. ArtBound Initiative connected me with other creatives and mentors in the industry during the program and continues to assist me in my career even after the program. Now if I have any concerns in the industry, I can always ask questions in the ABI group and I know that someone will have my back! This internship definitely changed my life. I would have never gotten a job in this amazing city if it wasn’t for my New York internship. I have the freedom to work in different countries or companies now with my experience working in New York. It is a great start for my career, and I’m so blessed to have this experience.

“The ArtBound Initiative program helped with my soft skills and personal growth, and I now have friends from all over the world.” Besides career advancement, this program also helped with soft skills and personal growth. I’ve improved my social skills tremendously and I now have friends from all over the world. Most importantly, this internship program gives me the confidence to believe in myself and pursue my dream career.

F I O N KO H

HOW MY NEW YORK INTERNSHIP CHANGED THE GAME FOR ME

F I O N KO H

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THINGS ARE HEATING UP SAVANNAH SELIMI

Summer is Australia’s season. The swooping magpies settle down; the sweltering sun lures us to the ocean; schools out and sweaty palms befriend the condensation of a Guava Cruiser bottle. Everything just feels chill and easy, like a happiness-lens has been filtered over our Aussie lives. The Great Ocean Road is traffic-jammed; sunburnt skin peels like a snake; sunscreen sweats off awaiting a delayed train, but it’s all okay. It’s summer. There’s so much time. Well, there’s so much time for road trips, finding a sandy spot at the beach and healing your sunburn. But there isn’t a lot of time to ponder about why the sun is getting hotter each year. Or why there are so many cigarette butts and plastic water bottles in the sand. Or why the water levels are a little higher this time around. As much as an Aussie summer sweats off the tiring school year - or the overwhelming wrath of a pandemic - the sun also serves a reminder every year: things are heating up. Although this anxiety-invitation impacts everyone, younger generations are affected most. A Reach Out study in 2019 found that 88 per cent of young people felt climate change would ‘diminish’ their quality of life, while 77 per cent did not believe their concerns around climate change were being adequately acknowledged. In January 2018, Sydney experienced

temperatures of 47 degrees, the city’s hottest in almost 80 years. Sydney’s scorching summer can be described as a mere heatwave. However, we cannot ignore the realities of climate change simply because a word like ‘heatwave’ lessens its seriousness. Heatwaves in Australia and the world are becoming incredulously prevalent, and this is not due to out-of-the-blue natural occurrences. As explained by the Climate Reality Project, heatwaves have increased dangerously due to humans burning ‘more and more fossil fuels,’ and ‘releasing heat-trapping gases like carbon dioxide into our atmosphere’. The result of this carelessness as a means to boost profit for oil companies, means we are seeing much hotter days. Climate change is one of the cultural definers of our generation, and may very well be the thing that makes us the final generation. It’s a pretty enormous weight to have on our shoulders. This notion was especially relevant back in September this year. Instead of telling the time, New York City’s Metronome clock changed to a deadline (or countdown) until the Earth became inhabitable from climate change. The pressure on youth doesn’t just come from obnoxious - albeit necessary - clocks. We constantly see sustainability activism tell us to use paper straws, walk to work, eat vegan

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T H I N G S A R E H E AT I N G U P

ANDREW WULF

or shop ethically. Although these methods are incredible in creating a sustainable Earth, they also cost us greatly and make a little effect. We are literally entering an economic downfall akin to the Great Depression, yet our minimum-wage selves are seen as the savers of climate change. Although as a fierce, active generation - we are the fighters for climate change the realistic view is that we alone cannot fully save the planet. Yes, that is pessimistic, but it’s true. So long as we live in a money-hungry, capitalist society where billionaires hoard the world’s wealth, the fight against climate change will only elongate and become tougher. More than 70 per cent of global emissions come from just 100 companies. The richest 10 per cent of people worldwide are responsible for nearly half of global emissions. And although billionaires, such as Amazon’s Jeff Bezos who pledged $10 billion to climate change, can market themselves as here for the fight, the harmful practices of their companies only worsen our climate. That, and the fact that billionaire’s tax massively reduces after they’ve performed philanthropy. I’m not a cynical person. I genuinely believe that our generation can ignite massive change. I think we have the capacity to hold capitalism accountable and actually save our Earth. And I also believe that we’re truly starting. Recently on ABC’s Q&A, former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull grilled the ‘shocking legacy’ of the Murdoch media in their views on climate change. Turnbull stated, “The company [NewsCorp] you work for and its friends in politics, like Trump and others, have turned this issue of physics into an issue

of values or identity… Saying you believe or disbelieve in global warming is like saying you believe or disbelieve in gravity.” Also this year, another former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd started a petition calling for a Royal Commission into the power of the Murdoch Media. The EU, China, Japan, South Korea and the US have aimed for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 or a few years later. These countries are also responsible for about 50 per cent of the world’s emissions and close to 75 per cent of our fossil fuel export markets. And at home, where we experience monstrous and routine floods and bushfires, we run a little far behind. We also risk losing almost 4 trillion dollars in GDP by 2070 if we refused to act on climate change. Under The Paris Agreement, Australia aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 26-28 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030. Although The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reported that achieving net zero emissions by 2050 was crucial in alleviating the climate crisis, ScoMo stated that Australia would not follow suit. Although the fight is nowhere near over, it’s reassuring to see that the voices of Greta Thunberg, Alexandria Villasenor and Vanessa Nakate amongst many, many others, have reached higher platforms and garnered magnitudes of attention. After all, change always begins with a fiery uprising. And things are heating up.

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FAMILIAR NOA SHENKER

I’m 6-years-old. Sand extends before me in every direction, and just in the distance, I see some water. I’m too small to go in by myself. It’s very hot out but I don’t really notice. Sunscreen coats me and conceals me in every corner and crevice; I taste it on my lips, feel it in my ears and smell it right below my nostrils. Mum says I have to wait 10 minutes for it to sink in, and only then can Dad take me into the water. Seconds stretch into eternities as I wait for the timer to run out. The heat beats down on my puffed-up cheeks and fluorescent floaties. I clench my fists in the soft sand beneath me, run it through my fingertips and feel it stick to the cream not yet dissolved. I gather the sand between my hands, as much as I can, then let it playfully trickly between the slips in my fingers. It’s an unfamiliar texture. I’m not yet sure what it feels like, but it will come to feel like summer soon enough. I’m 11-years-old. The evening sunshine permeates the air, golden rays dancing on the shoreline, met with a similarly ubiquitous but contrastingly intangible aura of delight which can only be captured on a holiday. I’m on a beach again, somewhere new, surrounded by family and friends. I don’t think I can remember a time in which I was so unperturbed by the rest of the world. Something big and bright sounds in the purple sky. The boisterous bursting of fireworks elicits the only sound louder and more heartwarming than that of its provocateur; the giggling

of children. I think this is the earliest memory of solidity in which I can identify the radiation of pure happiness. Joy, laughter, warmth – and the familiar softness of sand beneath my feet. I’m 16-years-old. I think I’m drunk. I am slowly falling in love with myself. My fingers and toes melt in the sand beneath me. The taste of alcohol isn’t so familiar to my lips yet, nor is it to my throat – which it never will be. My head is spinning in the most delightful way, and the only thing grounding me is that homely texture of grains beneath me. Somehow, I always find myself magnetised to the shore, and that sandy runway that leads me to it. I’m 18-years-old. I am definitely drunk. I have fallen out of love with myself. I feel lost in life, guided tentatively by my poor intuition and the distant light of the few dim stars my intoxicated mind can take in. At what point do we stop looking forward for hope, and just look backward for reassurance? For comfort? I can’t see ahead of me anymore. The ground suddenly softens beneath my feet and I stumble. When I wake up I’ll stop being so dramatic. For now, I let myself fall apart. I hear the crash of a small wave not too far off, feel warmth beneath my feet, and a piece of me falls gently back into place. I’m 21-years-old. I clench my fists in the soft sand beneath me, perspiration gathering and trickling

NOA SHENKER

FA M I L I A R

down the pores on the side of my face. I gather the sand in handfuls then playfully let it run free, slipping between my fingers. It’s a game I used to play as a kid. The hot Australian sun beats down relentlessly. That little yellow dot in the sky could very well be the most beguiling thing I’ve ever seen. I put my sunnies on and raise a hand above my eyes and try and stare as intently as possible at that giant star. Tendrils of smoke crawl up my nose. A friend offers me a cigarette and I accept it obligingly. I inhale, exhale, and take in the sun again. I feel my flesh warming under it. A shriek in the distance, joyful; a child enjoying the cool touch of the ocean water nipping at her toes. Under the heat of the sun my senses dissolve into one. It feels like home. A friend asks if I want to go for a quick dip in the water, but I say no. I’m just fine where I am. +

ANDREW WULF

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M A D H V I PA R WA N I

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SELF-CARE FOR POSTLOCKDOWN SUMMER COMPASS

Even though we have seen easing in restrictions over November this year, these summer holidays may still look and feel different to usual. As we enter “COVID Normal” here are 12 self-care ideas to help you look after yourself this summer season.

4. TRY SOME THIN G NE W

1. TR E AT YO U R S E LF!

5 . CO PIN G WITH S TR E S S D U R IN G THE SUM ME R MO NTH S

Yes! More than ever! You have made it through 2020. A year harder than others! Buy yourself a present, a coffee, try a new restaurant or bar you deserve it.

2 . H OW TO M A N AG E P OS TLO CKD OWN B U R N O U T Our bodies are re-adjusting to socialising after lockdown. Resting and say no is OKAY! Schedule your time, plan ahead and remember to schedule in some self-care every day.

3 . C ATCH U P WITH O LD FR IE NDS It has been harder than ever to keep in touch. Make plans to see someone you haven’t seen in a while. You could cook a meal or bake a treat for them.

With many services and businesses re-opening there are new opportunities. Many places have re-opening sales or discounts. Check out UniDays or International Student Identity Card.

Practice self-care, practice breathing, focus on what is inside and outside your control, be aware of your triggers; Who and what is going to cause stress and what can you do to minimise it? You got this!

6 . HE LP O U T YO U R LO C A L COM MU NIT Y Donate blood, donate old clothes to ‘Fitted for Work’, helping disadvantaged women back into the workforce, buy socially and ethically conscious Christmas presents or build a box for Happy Boxes. Fill a box of self-care, sanitary items with a handwritten note, then Happy Boxes will send your box to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women who do not have access to these items.

C O M PA S S

7. THE H O LIDAY PE R I O D C A NB E A TIME O F LO NE LINE S S O R I SO L ATIO N FO R SOME With COVID board restrictions, many people are still away from family and friends. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t spend too much time on social media. Do plan to meet up with family and new or old friends.

8 . E N J OY THE P OS T-LO CKD OWN SUM ME R V IB E S Whether you like the beach or an art gallery, it is time to get outside of the house finally!

9. 2020 I S FIN A LLY E ND IN G! This can remind us of everything we have been through this year. We have all experienced more loss than usual this year. We have lost plans, adventures, goals and so much more. Talk to others about how you are feeling whether it be friends, family, hotlines or booking a psychology appointment.

S E L F-C A R E F O R P O S T-L O C K D O W N S U M M E R

10. MOV E YO U R B O DY ! Get some fresh air! Run, walk, swim, whatever it is make sure it brings you joy.

11. WH AT WA S SOME THIN G YO U R E A LLY WA NTE D TO D O WHILE IN LO CKD OWN? Have a free, solo adventure. Go for a nature walk, visit the Queen Vic Markets, view street art in Hosier Lane, visit the Botanic Gardens, enjoy street performances or visit the Myer Christmas Windows on Bourke Street.

12 . NE E D SU PP O R T OV E R THE B R E A K? Support is still here for you. The RUSU Resource page is your one-stop-shop for all your support needs. Visit RUSU Community Resources or call Lifeline on 131 114. +

AMANDA WESTMORL AND

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FROM GRASS TO GLASSESâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;LE SPECS LAUNCHES A FASHION CONSCIOUS FIRST ELLIE BARCL AY

Daring and eccentric, Australian eyewear brand Le Specs boasts an international reputation for creating iconic and unapologetically bold sunglasses, adorned by some of the most recognised and influential personalities. Keeping true to their fearless approach, Le Specs have launched its first Le Sustain collection, produced from completely sustainable materials with a zero-waste componentry. We spoke to Creative Director, Hamish Tame about the innovative launch and his ambition for positive change within the fashion industry. First up can you tell us about your role as creative director? As Creative Director of Le Specs, and Sunshades Eyewear my role is overseeing, and working together with the Design, Marketing and E-Commerce Teams. At the core of it, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re designing and creating forward-thinking eyewear that people want to wear and communicating to them through a myriad of different channels. How did you select your unique materials - What process led to meadow grass and plastic? Talk us briefly through the process. Since starting the Le Sustain project we explored the options of so many different materials and came to the decision to launch with the grass material because it felt exciting and something

unique for us to lead the global eyewear market. I read in another interview piece you hit a lot of roadblocks in workshoping this series, what were they and how did you overcome these? There were many moments when the Le Sustain project often felt impossible, particularly around hurdles regarding quality, aesthetic, and costs. For me, the solution is to remain pragmatic and discuss our options with the team to sort out a solution that is commercial and right for the brand. The grass material, for example, was very limited in the texture and colour options available, so we really needed to workshop how we could make the styles still feel premium and desirable with the way we designed the profiles of each frame. What inspired you to create this collection to be sustainable? How did the conversation first start five years ago? Five or so years ago it was weighing heavy on my conscience that as a leading global eyewear brand that we needed to use our platform for positive change, particularly towards sustainability. We started speaking to our manufacturing partners about sourcing for sustainable materials, which at that time were virtually non-existent, and persevered in keeping that discussion going until we made it work.

E L L I E B A R C L AY

In your opinion, what is the key defining feature that makes Le Sustain work? I think the legitimacy of the collection defines Le Sustain. We have been so conscious to ensure that every detail in the sunglasses and packaging are vetted and considered to reduce environmental impact. What can we learn from sustainable fashion/what have you learnt over the last five years creating this collection? Creating sustainable fashion is not straightforward, and in many cases, we are having to rewrite old habits and perceptions that have founded an entire industry. Just because something is not possible today, that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make it right, so a lot of perseverance is necessary to make a change.

FROM GRASS TO GL ASSES

think over time we will start to involve more technologies into the supply chain to make the process more streamlined, and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m excited to see where this takes us. Are you hoping taking this step forward to be sustainable will lead the way for other eyewear and fashion companies to focus on being sustainable? I would love to think that we can play our part in Le Specs and Sunshades Eyewear leading the industry for a more sustainable future. At the end of the day, I think that it is important for companies to collaborate on this, so we can expedite the change together. LE SPECS

In a global market like fashion, with multiple suppliers and traders around the world, it can be difficult for a brand to fully understand their own supply chain and measure their environmental impact. How did Le Specs navigate their supply chain in producing this collection? Did blockchain or other fashion technologies play a role? For our launch collection, we worked with a reduced number of specific componentry suppliers to control the supply chain and consolidate our auditing and QC process. Going forward this is a major focus for us, and I do

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SAME STORM, DIFFERENT BOATS LIDYA M ANSHI

If you were asked to describe 2020 in a word or three, what would those words be? It is hard to describe an overwhelming experience with just letters formed into a word. I mean where do we even begin? I view 2020 like the unexpected ride at an amusement park. Imagine you’re out with your friends, having a great time, and then you decide to get on what seems a cool ride. But the ride turns out to be everything you did not expect it to be. I don’t know about you, but that’s how 2020 felt to me. I didn’t set high expectations, I just didn’t expect a pandemic. But if we switched lenses for a moment, we can agree that this pandemic birthed a unique story for us to share.

I find one of the toughest questions to answer is; whether 2020 is a good or a bad year? Perhaps, it falls somewhere in the middle of the scale. It was bad for countless reasons. But good things occurred too. For some, lockdown led them to discover new hobbies, following their passion, and making a fresh start. For others, it was spending quality time with family and rekindling lukewarm friendships. While we were physically distanced, we remained socially connected. On the other end, people lost their lives, their properties and had to cancel or postpone cherished events. It can be disheartening when we have no control over our circumstance. And all we can do is paddle through.

COVID-19 impacted people’s health, businesses, Although we experienced the same storm, we work and education. And those external things were all in different boats. We felt the strong wind, resulted in an internal effect. but it affected us differently. A study by Dr Louise Stone published by The It had a contrasting impact on each person due Conversation wrote, “A review of the literature to our varied coping mechanism and capacities. around quarantine shows the mental health

L I D YA M A N S H I

S A M E S T O R M , D I F F E R E N T B O AT S

effects worsen with longer quarantine duration, infection fears, frustration, boredom, inadequate supplies, inadequate information, financial loss, and stigma.â&#x20AC;? TOA HEFTIBA

ISSUE 05

EPISODE SUNDOWN

AMANDA WESTMORL AND

P H O T O E S S AY

ISSUE 05

EPISODE SUNDOWN

AMANDA WESTMORL AND

P H O T O E S S AY

ISSUE 05

EPISODE SUNDOWN

AMANDA WESTMORL AND

P H O T O E S S AY

ISSUE 05

EPISODE SUNDOWN

BED SHEETâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; A TEXTILE (WASTE) NEVER THOUGHT OF! M ADHVI PARWANI

In the new normal, we have been spending a lot of time at home, especially in our rooms working and studying. Have we ever thought about bed linens or bed sheets as a textile which is or can be the next threat to the environment? The same fabric on which we eat, drink work and sleep? Majority of us will say no because we tend to associate textile waste problems to the fashion industry only and strive to make it sustainable. But time demands us to see a bigger picture. The question here is why bed sheets? What problem lies in them? The problem lies in its production, consumption and afterlife processes. A single cotton bed sheet production requires nearly 220 kilograms of raw cotton bales which are then processed into yarn and then weaved into a fabric/bed sheet. The whole process of growing cotton to converting into yarn and fabric consumes a huge amount of water and fuel (energy) a clear figure of which is not available yet. Besides, bed sheets are made from many other fibres like silk, polyester, wool etc and how much quantity and energy is required to produce bed sheets from such fibres is unknown. Moreover, various chemicals are added in production processes to keep the linens wrinkle-free and durable which are harmful to the environment. These chemicals do increase the lifespan of bed sheets but largely impact the environment at all stages. The production phase is just one of all phases which already consumes

enormous resources from the environment. Moving on to understanding the consumption phase where we, the consumers, use the product- the bed sheet. It is suggested bed sheets should be washed once every seven days. Many of us follow that or maybe wash it once in 10 to 15 days. But with each wash, all the chemicals used in production get dissolved in water. In addition, each wash also releases a huge amount of microfibres into water especially when bed sheets are made from synthetic fibres like polyester. These microfibres cannot be filtered at the wastewater treatment plant and end up in the environment. Also, along with households, the hospitality industry (hotels and resorts) is one of the biggest consumers of bed linens which wash and replace bed sheets more frequently than any other consumer thus, increasing pollution. There were nearly 249 thousand hotels in Australia until 2016 and numbers have been increasing since then. The total number of bed sheets consumed/washed each year by hotels cannot be calculated.

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B E D S H E E Tâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;A T E X T I L E ( WA S T E ) N E V E R T H O U G H T O F !

J O N AT H A N FA L C O

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The demand for hygiene and cleanliness in hotels compel them to use fresh bed sheets and discard the old ones. Every year used or damaged linens are either sold off at lower prices at secondhand websites like gumtree or donated or sent to landfill. On the other hand, the availability of low-cost bed sheets and the trend of fast fashion has influenced people to discard textile products more often than ever. Australia is one of the most textile waste-producing countries with no recycling facilities and this trend is adding on to the burden of landfill problem. Although cotton, silk and wool can be decomposed as they are natural fibre, but their degradation process takes a minimum of five months. Moreover, this process releases methane, a greenhouse gas which contributes to climate change. The bed sheets made from polyester, blended fabrics like poly-cotton or contain elastane cannot be decomposed or recycled. Thus, proving bed sheets as a serious problem because the size and quantity of bed sheets are too big and the environmental impact of which is never quantified or thought of.

The scale of the problem is unknown but ‘we’ as the consumers can take some steps to reduce the impact. + Do not discard bed sheets frequently Good quality linens can be reused using various DIY techniques and stained or damaged bed sheets can be used as scraps for cleaning + Avoid frequent washing of bed sheets if not required and use less number of clothes while washing bed sheets to avoid friction which increases shedding of microfibres. + Use cold water and sustainable liquid detergents to avoid water pollution during washing. + Responsibly discard the bed sheets to avoid them ending up in the landfill. Donate it to animal shelters or to any second-hand shops where they can get one more life. Let’s take one step towards thinking of this problem and make our planet a better place to live for our future generation.

L I LY C H A N

G R A D U AT I O N

GRADUATION LILY CHAN

I’m almost finished. I know for sure I did it, I’m “free”. The first few weeks of my “freedom” felt good, maybe a bit too good. I woke up in the morning thinking, “it’s so weird that I’m done with uni, but now I can do whatever I want guilt-free”. And this happy feeling of elevation lasted for a while. But in the third week of my uni free life, the “good” feeling turned to small anxiety stings. I couldn’t grasp what exactly was the cause of it. I definitely did not miss assignments, lectures, and tutorials. Nor did any teacher touch my soul and mind in any kind of way. I was not longing for the university life atmosphere, actually being in huge spaces filled with lots of people only made me want to escape to somewhere quieter. Then I finally got it. Surprisingly it took me a while to grasp something so simple, but oh well…. It was not the university life I missed so much, it’s the system itself that made me feel safe. Right from a very early age, we are put in this well oiled “education machine”, from kindergarten to school to university (few fortunate of us are). And I felt secure in this system. I didn’t really like studying that much but I knew what I’m going to do tomorrow and the day after and the year after but now I don’t. And it scares me.

I remember something I recently read from Haruki Murakami’s Kaffka on the Shore, which illustrates my “realization”. “People, in general, do not aspire to be free, they just dream about it. It is an illusion, a mere idea. If you give people REAL freedom they will lose their sanity. And you should know that! In reality, people don’t want to be free”. Well, at the end of the day I don’t really want to be free. I want to be usefully unfree. I think a lot of things in life don’t really matter but can be of some use. Recently I started collecting jars and containers from food and tried to make some use out of them. Yogurt containers I used to hold my pencils, glass vessels from an apricot jam I used to hold my toothbrush and toothpaste, nut butter containers I used to germinate an avocado seed. I keep collecting them and thinking of various ways of reusing them. Those things are technically not supposed to be there and they don’t really matter but it works and the only thing which counts. That’s how I feel about life after university. Now I want to make myself useful enough and fit into an unperfect container that works. +

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FUTURE OF FESTIVALS EMM A BRA MICH

Earth Frequency Festival is an annual music and arts event held in Queensland, Australia. It ran in February 2020 which marked an unprecedented time for the country’s electronic music scene. After a summer of horrific bushfires swept through the nation, many music festivals had to cancel due to safety concerns. Luckily, Earth Frequency was able to go ahead with thousands of people unaware this would be the last festival they would be attending indefinitely, due to the approaching Covid-19 Pandemic. If I had to describe the past year with one word I would use ‘uncertainty’. A feeling I am sure many others can relate to, especially those who work within the arts, an industry which is already difficult to stay afloat in. The government’s restrictions to combat Covid-19 meant a suspension on all festivals and gigs, many events had to be cancelled or postponed without knowing if they were going to be able to run on their new dates. With border closures increasing the difficulty for artists to travel interstate for work. However, the industry is resilient and depending on which state you reside in, events have been able to go ahead by adapting to new Covid safe rules. There have been a focus on small scale gigs with Australian only artists, a positive side to the international travel ban by generating line-ups for locals who may not have been considered to play at these events before. With 2021 fast approaching, it looks like we will

be experiencing some normalcy with Elements Festival (17th - 20th December) being the first large scale electronic music event to run since the beginning of the pandemic. While the future of Australia’s electronic music scene seems to be at a turning point due to the country’s low Covid-19 cases, the rest of the world is still experiencing the full effect of the pandemic. Countries in Europe and the United Kingdom are going through their second wave of daily case numbers and are now being hit with more restrictions and lockdowns. Despite this, 2020 has seen a resurgence in illegal raves especially outside cities such as London and Berlin who are renowned for their nightlife culture. These parties could be an oasis from the chaos that this year has brought, but they also have the potential to create unsafe environments. Even though Covid-19 has a high recovery rate, contracting the virus has been detrimental to millions worldwide. Restrictions are not going to stop people from organising and attending raves, I wonder if these parties were legalised would it assist in implementing proper safety precautions and reduce risks. +

EMMA BRAMICH

F U T U R E O F F E S T I VA L S

ISSUE 05

EMMA BRAMICH

EPISODE SUNDOWN

EMMA BRAMICH

F U T U R E O F F E S T I VA L S

ISSUE 05

EPISODE SUNDOWN

RMIT NEXT

WHAT DO YOU WANT THE FUTURE TO LOOK LIKE? Co-create RMITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next university-wide strategy! 46

Have your say at

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B R U N S W I C K C O O R D I N AT O R

S U N D O W N P L AY L I S T

SUNDOWN PLAYLIST STEPHANIE FLORES-TAPIA

BETTER TOGETHER Jack Johnson

INTO YESTERDAY Sugar Ray

EVERYTHING Michael Buble

ROLLERCOASTER RIDE Mark Keali’i Ho’omalu

PUT YOUR RECORDS ON Corinne Bailey Rae

HERE COMES THE SUN The Beatles

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EPISODE SUNDOWN

AMANDA WESTMORL AND @DAPHNEKXC

CATACLYSM TH E P OD C A ST

LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD. EMAIL CATALYST AT: RMITCATALYST@GMAIL.COM

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FROM GRASS TO GL ASSES E L L I E B A R C L AY S A M E S T O R M , D I F F E R E N T B O AT S L I D YA M A N S H I B E D S H E E T - A T E X T T I L E ( WA S T E ) NEVER THOUGHT OF! M A D H V I PA R WA N I SEL F-C A RE FO R P O S T- L O C K D O W N S U M M E R C O M PA S S G R A D U AT I O N L I LY C H A N SUMMER OF 2018 K E L LY L I M

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