Natural Mumma Magazine August 2018 by T5 Publications

Issue Thirteen August 2018

TakingCare CareOf OfYourself, Yourself,Your Your Tribe Taking And Our Our World... World... And

IT TAKES A

VILLAGE Drawing Inspiration From Across The Globe

Let Your Hair Down Natural & Organic Haircare

Pattern Of Life

Multicultural Inspired Designs From Feng Ho

Food For Thought Asian Inspired Street Fare

NMM August 2018

Never Miss A Thing... For all the best in: · ethical fashion · natural skincare and beauty · health and wellbeing · parenting and motherhood · healthy living and good eating · ecology and conservation · conscious lifestyle choices

all back issues available at Issuu Natural Mumma

Issue Five December 2017

Taking Care Of Yourself, Your Tribe And Our World

DRESS TO

IMPRESS Chic & Sustainable Partywear

Winter Holidays Unwrapped Exploring Ethical Tourism & Travel

Not Just A Pretty Face Season’s Best Eco Makeup

The Mane Event

Toxin Free Hairstyling

NMM December 2017

Issue Eight March 2018

Issue Seven February 2018

TakingCare CareOf OfYourself, Yourself,Your Your Tribe Taking And Our Our World... World... And

SPRING!

PASSION!

Getting Ready For The New Season

Gifts Of Love, Made With Feeling

Under Cover Expert Luxurious Lingerie Laid Bare

Ethically Engaged The True Cost Of Gold

Sowing Organic NMM February 2018

Digging Deep For Pesticide Free Produce

Flower Of The Frock NMM March 2018 Floral Fashion For Spring

www.naturalmumma.com 2

August 2018 NMM

Welcome To Natural Mumma Magazine Contents 4

Feng Ho Interview Passionate ethical designer and fair trade enthusiast

The Mane Event Natural and organic treatments for healthy locks

Evergreen Insurance Protecting the things that matter while giving back

Think Global, Act Local Inspiring words from Ethical Hour’s Sian Conway

Natural Mumma Makes... Satay Spring Rolls with Chilli LIme Sauce

AMU Amazing Indian-inspired print fashion and homewares Contact: holly@naturalmumma.com Photo by Gerard Hughes

Holly wears dress by Feng Ho. Make up by bareMinerals, Lush, MooGoo and Take Two Cosmetics. Hair by Anita Grant.

his issue is especially important to us, as it marks the one year anniversary since we launched. The last 12 months have been rewarding, challenging, inspiring and fulfilling. It has been immensely heartwarming to realise that more people are choosing to inform themselves, question and look to make informed decisions that are ultimately more ethical and more ecologically sound. People are becoming more connected to the wider world. This is why we wanted to celebrate our beautiful global

community in our ‘It Takes A Village’ anniversary edition. From Indian-inspired USA-based Amu, Feng Ho’s diverse collections made in both Britain and Africa, our East Asian inspired satay recipe, Ethical Hour Sian’s reflection on how travel can inspire ethical living and fashion, and David Gardiner from Evergreen Insurance talking about how he is using the business to support animal conservation charities. Our haircare review features natural and organic products that are ideal for all ethnicities. Next month we’re focusing on zero waste. Thanks to everyone who has encouraged, supported and believed in us this last year. We’re excited to see what the next year brings! NMM August 2018

INTERVIEW:

FENG HO We met with Feng Ho, ethical fashion designer, Fairtrade enthusiast and advocate for bringing responsible luxury into the mainstream to discover more about the inspiration behind her work.

thical fashion is becoming increasingly popular in recent years with more brands opting for greater transparency in supply and production. These values have always been important to you in your business. What encouraged you to go ethical right from the start? A year after I graduated, I set up my fashion business with the help from the Prince’s Trust. Along with a loan, I was given a mentor – Michael Humfrey, a charming and charismatic man in his late 80’s. Michael brought me to London Fashion Week, where he mentored another fashion business who was taking part in Esthetica – the Ethical Fashion Showcase in LFW. Whilst I was there, I got talking to the people on the Environmental Justice Campaign stand. I went away with this report - ‘White Gold: The True Cost of Cotton’. I was moved and shocked – I learnt about the devastating environmental impact and inhumane treatment of people working in the fashion industry; I had to do something about it. More people are learning about ethical consumerism and it feels like we are making huge strides in the right direction. What is left to be done? Are there any areas that are still getting overlooked in your opinion? In the light of the recent news that Burberry, and many other

July 2018 NMM

high end fashion houses, are burning old stock, shocks me. The disposal of garments, whether unworn or worn, should be considered. The consumer knows of clothes recycling, but many do not realise how difficult it is to recycle a garment that has been made from multiple materials. Your Willow collection is fairly traded in Malawi using locally sourced fabrics in collaboration with The Mayamiko Trust. Can you tell us more about the wonderful work they are doing, and how you got involved with them? In 2011, I worked with the Mayamiko Trust. The Mayamiko Fashion Lab was in its infancy, and I was one of the first collaborating designers. Mayamiko Trust offers training and educational courses for the most disadvantaged people in Malawi and other parts of Africa, teaching them a transferable and creative skill such as tailoring, beekeeping, solar power solutions promotion, and then educating them on how to utilise those skills through business and financial education workshops as well as our micro financing scheme. The Mayamiko Fashion Lab workshop provides training in sewing and tailoring to local women, many of whom are affected by the HIV pandemic or care for HIV orphans. The women are trained in a variety of different textile processes: pattern reading, cutting, sewing, and tailoring,

all the way through to finished garments. The Mayamiko Trust provide a crèche and free meals each day for their students and their children. They also offer micro financing so that they can buy their own sewing machine in order to start up their own businesses after graduation. My journey with The Mayamiko Trust was a learning process. I was delighted by the end result and feel really proud of everyone. You also use end of line British fabrics to create designs that are handcrafted in the UK. Is it easy to source this fabric?

NMM July 2018

Photography by Feng Ho, Matt Gillespie and Magic Owen

It’s relatively easy to buy small amounts of end-of-line fabric from UK fabric merchants, but you have to be prepared to spend hours hunting for the fabric that you want! It is a bit of a gamble, but this creates a unique ‘one-off’ aspect to the designs. Yes, more should be done to tackle this problem. The high street should be using their excess fabric stock to create a limited run capsule range. They could get independent fashion designers involved to make this a really exciting project! Your designs are stunning. Where do you find inspiration? Thanks! I love modern architecture – the feeling it gives you when you’re being immersed within it. I am particularly inspired by architects who have gone against tradition to create fluidity in their structures. I’m a big fan of Gaudi and Zaha Hadid – two very different styles of architects

August 2018 NMM

who have both made some pretty amazing spaces. Being a mother is an inspiration – watching and learning from my two daughters, seeing how they interact with the world around them. They are such curious creatures, and they inspire me to take a different perspective on the every day. As a mother do you have plans to release a children’s line? When I finally have some spare time and energy, I would love to start a children’s line. I am lucky that my eldest daughter is a big fan of my creations and will wear her favourite piece every day, until she grows out of it. It’s great to see how much joy they give her, and how proud she is that I’ve made it for her. I love the playful and experimental process for designing for children, and would love to collaborate with fair trade weavers, printers and tailors to get a new line up and running.

You use a variety of sustainable textiles. What do you love about working with these fabrics? I love the resilient nature of organic cotton, especially handspun khadi. Each time it is washed it becomes softer, more ‘lived in’ and adds a bit of character to the garment. Soy jersey drapes wonderfully and is fantastic for creating transitional day-to-eveningwear; garments that are comfortable to wear yet have that ‘going-out’ feel to it at the end of the day. Tencel is manufactured by the Austrian company – Lenzing. It is made from Eucalyptus tree. The fabric is produced using a closed loop system that uses less water than conventional cotton, and the chemicals in the processing are recycled. It is such a versatile fabric to use! It was so great to visit Sustainable Angle’s Future Fabrics Expo at London Fashion Week this

February. There were sustainable fabrics derived from orange fibre, apple waste and pineapple leaf; eco leather-alternatives from salmon skin, laser cut wood and mushroom. And not forgetting the biodegradable sequins, which were incredible! These fabrics address the waste generated through fast fashion, and help designers to create garments that can be composted at the end of its use. I also loved Sustainable Angle’s collaboration with high fashion designers. These stunning garments are proof that high fashion and the environment can indeed work together. I was really inspiring to see this new range of textiles – I’d love to use these in the future, but it would mean that I would have to decide on what direction I’m going to take my business. Do I pursue Fair Trade, or do I go down the environmental route? It’s something that I’m still deciding on! Aside from your fashion business you’re also busy doing PR and were creative director for O3 Ethical Events. In what other areas of your life do you live ethically? I have always been in love with the environment and spent many of my childhood years raising money for various animal charities.

I was brought up by parents who refused to throw anything out, they bought products that lasted and they still drive a Volvo that is over 30 years old. I have to admit that sometimes they are a little extreme and embarrassing – picnics where shandy was drunk out of old yoghurt tubs, but then again – there’s been a rise in trendy bars using jam jars, so why not? I have been handed a pile of vintage clothes from my mum to make alterations and to repair. My upbringing has definitely been an influencing factor to my lifestyle. I have always repaired my family’s clothing or re-purposed them into soft furnishings or toys. I buy fair trade as much as I can – I feel so lucky to work in a shop, Fairtrade at St Michael’s, where you can buy pretty much everything you need to live ethically, their plastic free range and sustainable palm oil cleaning products are top of my everyday usage. I favour buying from local businesses over the internet giants. You pay more for the same product, but you get more in return - it’s the experience that counts! Plus you’re preserving the high street and putting the joy back into shopping. www.fengho.co.uk

Fashion designer and ethical thinker, Feng Ho

NMM August 2018

Natural Mumma Loves... Cowshed Gorgeous Cow Blissful Bath & Shower GelÂ

thisworks perfect legs skin miracle www.thisworks.com

www.cowshed.com

Origins Modern Friction www.origins.co.uk

August 2018 NMM

Jurlique Purely Age-Defying Ultra Firm And Lift Cream www.jurlique.co.uk

Next Month In

Natural Mumma Aveda Rosemary mint body lotion www.aveda.co.uk

ZERO

WASTE!

THE FULL PACKAGE

Truly sustainable brands

LIFE IN PLASTIC

Simple ways to limit your usage

WASTE NOT

Eco packaged beauty buys NATURAL MUMMA MAGAZINE ISSUE 14 AVAILABLE FROM 7 SEPTEMBER 2018 Natural Mumma Magazine August 2018

NMM Team Editor: Holly Daffurn

bareMinerals UK Brilliant Future www.bareminerals.co.uk

holly@naturalmumma.com

Creative: Gerard Hughes mail@gerardhughes.co.uk

Cover Image by Gerard Hughes www.naturalmumma.com Natural Mumma Magazine

is produced by T5 Publications. Contents may not be reproduced, stored or distributed in any form without prior written permission. All reasonable efforts have been made to ensure all information contained in this magazine is accurate but the publishers can accept no responsibiilty for effects arising therefrom. All rights reserved. We receive compensation for all products featured on the ‘Natural Mumma Loves...’ pages as well as several of the other brands mentioned in the magazine. We only work with companies whose ethos reflects the intention of this publication. All of the written content is copyright Natural Mumma Magazine (unless stated otherwise) and full rights to this material belongs to Natural Mumma Magazine (or any other named authors).

NMM August 2018

The Mane Event Our pick of the best nataural haircare products

Oway Moisturizing Hair Mask For healthy shine, deep hydration and intense repair, this hair mask not only works beautifully but it also smells delicious. Ideal for dry, dehydrated or difficult to manage hair, this treatment is a great way to brighten and bring out the best in your hair for both special occasions and weekly maintenance.

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Anita Grant Define & Curl Soft Hold Hair Gel and Whipped Butter Daily Leave-In This light gel is the most effective styling product that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve ever used on my natural waves. With the intoxicating scent of neroli and ylang ylang, your curls are left defined, shiny and soft. The LeaveIn is ideal for refreshing dry hair and adding a welcome moisture injection to damp locks.

Inlight Hair Elixir

Ideal for stressed out, damaged and dry hair. Leaves hair shiny, soft and hydrated. This treatment is enriched with natural oils to protect and strengthen the hair. It is a great way to rehydrate the hair after swimming. With rosemary, nettle, lavender and carrot to feed and refresh the hair.

Jersey Honey Shampoo & Conditioner Purchasing these beautiful products not only supports conservation to secure the future of Jersey bees but they also smell fantastic, are a joy to use and leave your hair feeling soft, healthy and nourished. Brimming with natural ingredients they are suitable for frequent use.

Kitenest Dry Shampoo & Hair Wax

This dry shampoo will add lift and texture, eliminating grease and leaving even the most lacklustre hair looking healthy and cared for. Neom We love Kitenestâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s down to earth Mist, Hand & Pulse Point attitude, fullyBalm recyclable packaging and wax adds The refreshing mood scents. lifting The mist with light definition while improving mandarin and mint smells divine, the hand healthbalm of the hairan and scalp. offers uplifting scent and rich moisturisation and the pulse point energises. A truly holistic approach to beauty.

NMM August 2018

Natural Mumma Loves... Cwtch

Cwtch is a Welsh-born, premium skincare brand especially devised for mothers and babies although the pure formulas are loved equally by adults with problem skin. The range of six products are 100 per cent natural, cold pressed, organic, vegan, bio-active andÂ fairtrade. The brand recently won an impressive five awards in the prestigious Beauty Shortlist Mother & Baby Awards. www.cwtchskincare.co

Little Earth Baby

The first totally natural wadded baby sleeping bags for all season comfort. Sustainable and ethically made with organic fabrics, they are cleverly sized to fit 0-2 plus years. Little Earth Baby make other natural, non-toxic and biodegradable products, including the adorable organic cotton comforter pictured here.Â Plastic removed from our oceans with every purchase.Â www.littleearthbaby.com

Kin and Kloth

At Kin and Kloth they care just as much about the way their towels are made as their aesthetic. All of their hammam towels, throws and ponchos use 100 per cent organic cotton and are handmade on traditional wooden shuttle looms. The finished towel is softer, more absorbent and finished to a high standard. These versatile, lightweight towels are perfect for the whole family. www.kinandkloth.co.uk

August 2018 NMM

Lily & Mortimer

Lily & Mortimer is a new sustainable homeware brand providing high quality organic bedding and babywear. Ethically sourced, all products are independently certified 100 per cent organic and Fairtrade, made with respect for both the environment and the people who made them. Their commitment to Fairtrade comes from their belief that everyone should benefit from business; communities thrive and prosper when companies commit to paying farmers a fair price for their cotton. Their cotton is sourced from the Chetna Organic and Fairtrade Intervention programme. www.lilymortimer.com

‘I want to make organic, fairly traded products more accessible to people, demonstrating you don’t have to compromise on quality or style when making a more natural choice. Conventional cotton uses up to three times the quantity of water in the growth cycle and about 25 per cent of the world’s herbicides and pesticides. Manufacturers then use more chemicals to stop products creasing. I believe we should know more about what goes into products our families are wearing and sleeping in.’

Their nursery range Mini L&M works whether your style is traditional, ‘scandi’ or dark. There are two styles of nursery fitted sheets in crib to cot bed size, their signature L&M motif print and jersey sheets with their Mortimer (elephant) and Lily (butterfly) prints. These prints are also used on their rompers and bodysuits. Their hand printed muslins are generously sized and beautifully soft, with the prints looking as great on parents as they do babies! One of the favourite pieces in the range is the sumptuous hooded towel, perfect for those precious bath time cuddles. www.lilymortimer.com And for parents, the bedding range contains three designs in a number of colour ways. The Regale – embroidered in three different colours, Stargazer- a modern take on the classic pleat and Dreamers – that brings a pop of colour to any bedroom scheme. You will love the detailing including the use of natural coconut buttons and the useful cotton bags the bedding comes in. All designs are available in Single to Super King Sizes. www.lilymortimer.com NMM August 2018

How animal lover, Dave Gardiner, is using both his business acumen and passion for the natral world to make a real difference.

veryone needs insurance for something and lots of people want to support charities but it can be hard to balance the books at the end of the month and still be able to make a donation. Why not use a company who is as dedicated to helping their clients as they are to helping to protect our natural world? For every policy arranged through Evergreen they make a donation back to support their charity partners. We spoke with Dave Gardiner

August 2018 NMM

of Evergreen insurance to discover more about the man behind the ethical insurance brokers. What prompted you to start Evergreen? I have worked in the insurance industry for over 20 years, holding many senior positions in various organisations. With a love for our natural world, I saw an opportunity to help people with their insurance needs while raising money for animal, wildlife and conservation charities. I wanted to create a business with good old fashioned customer service as it should be and used to be! No complicated phone systems, the chance to speak to someone who understands your needs and can help provide the right insurance product to protect you while raising donations to support our charity partners. The ethos of Evergreen is about honesty, integrity, transparency and first class customer service. I

drive the business to ensure that customers are treated the way I want to be treated, we do what we say we are going to do and when. Aside from giving back to charity what makes Evergreen really stand out? The passion that sits behind the business. We are an insurance brokers but there is a heart behind it all. Wildlife, nature and protecting our planet are our driving forces, whilst providing first class customer service to our clients. As a general insurance brokers, we can help with a broad range of products from business and personal, all the time making sure the right advice and protection is provided. Your travels often take you face to face with wildlife? Can you share some of your most memorable moments? By far the most memorable would be Borneo, the wildlife we saw was truly amazing. We saw crocodiles basking in the sunshine, fish jumping out of the water as they followed our boat, hornbill birds, sea eagles, owls and of

Do you have any advice for anyone who wants to make lifestyle changes that will make a positive impact on the world and the diverse species that inhabit it? Make the change, make a difference – little things can help make a larger impact. For example, when we are out I will never accept a plastic straw with a drink, in supermarkets I never buy fruit or veg that is wrapped in plastic. In our day to day lives, we recycle as much as we possibly can. From a business perspective with Evergreen we trade as much as possible electronically, my business cards are produced on 100 per cent recycled material, even the ink that is used is environmentally friendly. Evergreen has made such a positive impact on a wealth of animal charities throughout the world. Can you give us some examples of this? We have made donations to help a number of projects, such as providing regular donations to Lion Aid to assist with their

vital work that opposes the decline of lions being driven out through climate change and trophy hunting. We have helped provide food, medicine and other daily needs at wildlife rescue centres. We have helped to fund bat boxes for various nature reserves, along with supporting educational projects teaching children, our conservationists of the future about the importance of protecting our natural world. As someone who has made it their own personal mission to understand the plight of endangered animals globally, what are you most concerned about at the moment? There are so many projects that need our support, from local issues such as helping badgers (vaccinate do not exterminate), hedgehogs, bugs, bees and butterflies (all of which play an important role in the ecosystem) through to our marine life. I am very concerned about the state of our oceans and the amount of plastic that is thrown away. It is heartbreaking to see creatures such as turtles getting tangled up in plastic waste. Turtles love eating jellyfish and sadly, often mistake plastic bags for jellyfish, it is a death sentence for them. I am hoping to build a relationship with a new business connection where we can jointly work together and generate donations to support one of our charity partners that has a

focus on marine life. If you are interested in more ethical, greener insurance with a company who will take the time to listen, talk and address your needs then call today. Between 10-25 per cent of all commission will be donated to The Bumblebee Conservation Trust.

Photos by Dave Gardiner

course we were lucky enough to get close to wild orangutans, it was breathtaking. The impact of palm oil was very evident to us, with acres and acres of rainforest being removed for the plantation of palm oil plants. We had a list of the animals that we really wanted to see and this trip did not disappoint – within 10 minutes of being there our guide had spotted an orangutan who was having his dinner in a fig tree, we were mesmerised watching him. During the trip we went on to see another 20 or so orangutans including some young and older males. Its moments like this when you have seen nature as it should be and witness the devastation of the rainforests that it really brings home the need to take action and make different choices – this trip really inspired me to want to help as much as I can to support and help protect.

Your can reach Evergreen at:

020 3907 1340

www.evergreeninsuranceservices.co.uk

NMM August 2018

by Sian Conway of Ethical Hour

THINK GLOBAL,

ACT LOCAL I

first heard the phrase “Think Global, Act Local” at a presentation by Rob and Paul, the two brothers behind Gandys - a flip flop brand “on a mission to stop people passively letting life go by when they could be doing more.” After being orphaned by the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami, and inspired by their unique upbringing spent travelling the world, they started selling flip flops to fund their Orphans For Orphans Initiative. Second only to personal hardship, there is nothing like travel to connect us to the world’s problems and inspire us to ‘Be The Change.’ In the poorest parts of the world you meet some of the happiest, most enterprising people. All around the world everyday changemakers are standing up and supporting causes, and business owners are starting purpose-driven

August 2018 NMM

enterprises that make it easier to support people and the planet with every purchase. It was my own trip to Cambodia in 2015 that made me realise how toxic my fast fashion habit had become, for the planet, the people making my clothes, and my own mental health. That’s where my journey into ethical living began and where Ethical Hour was born. The global community is full of inspiring people with incredible stories to tell. Art Director Dom Desmond is on a mission to save the world’s most critically endangered animals, inspired by the time he spent in Borneo witnessing first hand the devastation caused by the palm oil industry. Ten years after he first lived there, Dom returned to Borneo in 2017 and was heartbroken to see how much of the lush rainforest had been destroyed. Working with a local

NGO, he discovered that the best way to protect it was to buy it, and a business idea was born. Critically Endangered Socks support animal charities by donating 20 per cent of their sales revenue to protect five beautiful, endangered animals - and Dom recently purchased and protected his first piece of Borneo rainforest too. Vulnerable people around the world are finding help and support from social enterprises too. One of the Sustainable Development Goals is zero hunger, and childhood friends Maria and Char have made it their mission to “feed goodness into the world” through their ethical handbag collection. A shining example of “Think Global Act Local” in action, Maria and Char run From Belo together despite a distance of over 8,000 miles between them. While Char is based in the UK, where the pair met at school, Maria lives in Brazil

and together they have designed a collection of luxury handbags made with recycled fabric and plastic bottles, inspired by South America’s natural beauty. For every bag sold, From Belo donate plates of food to Casa De Maria, a charity that provides food, safety, education and a place for the homeless and those in need in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. They helped repair the home when it was recently damaged by floods. In just nine months since their launch, their adventures in the world of ethical business have already taken them far, including a trip to the Big Apple as they were finalists for the ‘Most Socially Responsible Handbag’ in the 2018 Handbag Designer Awards in New York. Travel snaps us out of “passively letting life go by”, opens our eyes to new experiences and puts our own lives into perspective. We could all be doing more to tackle

the global challenges faced by our environment, people and animals all around the world, but positive change begins at home. In our local communities there are small business owners with big visions and social enterprises doing powerful work. By talking about them, purchasing from them and supporting them, we can make sure that change starts with us. Pictures on right: Above: Dom Desmond from Critically Endangered Socks. www.criticallyendangeredsocks.com Below: Char and Maria, founders of From Belo, model the Sao Paulo Bag and jewellery by Just Trade in New York. www.frombelo.com

NMM August 2018

“...a tasty yet healthy alternative to takeaway...”

natural

mumma

makes

You Will Need: For the pancakes: 100 g (4 oz) plain flour A pinch salt 1 medium egg, lightly beaten 300 millilitre (½ pint) cold water Vegetable oil for frying For the satay chicken: 500g chicken 1 cup of peanuts 1 cup of coconut milk 2 cloves garlic 1 tsp soy sauce 1 tsp tamarind paste 1 tsp galangal 1 tsp lime juice 1 tsp chilli oil 2 tsp sesame oil 1 tbsp fish sauce 1 tbsp soft brown sugar 1 Lemongrass For the filling: Your choice of vegetables. We opted for beansprouts, carrots, red peppers and spring onions – all cut into fine matchsticks. For the chilli lime sauce – 2 green chillis (deseeded) The juice of 1 lime A large handful of coriander A large handful of golden tomatoes 1tbsp sugar 1 tbsp white wine vinegar 1 thumb of ginger (peeled) 2 cloves of garlic

August 2018 NMM

natural mumma makes

Satay Pancake Rolls with Chilli Lime Sauce I

nspired by the ease, intense flavours and vibrant culture surrounding street food, we decided to create a recipe that was fuss free and family friendly but still packed a powerful punch when it came to taste. We wanted to combine fresh ingredients in a way that offered plenty of texture as well as layers of delicious flavours. Bite into these delicate, crisp pancake rolls and you are met with a fragrant filling that is inspired from travel to far flung lands. I learnt to make satay sauce in Singapore where the addition of tamarind and galangal adds depth to the flavour. Tender chicken soaks up the nutty heat of the sauce and the fresh vegetables add a welcome crunch. We whipped up a fresh green sauce with hot green chillis, sharp limes and delicious fresh coriander. Sweetened

with golden tomatoes, this delicious mixture makes the perfect dipping sauce. The blend of ingredients means that this sauce also makes the ideal accompaniment to any meat dish when you are looking for extra heat and intense flavour that makes a real impact. We love serving this sauce hot with a rack of lamb. Pancake rolls can be eaten hot or cold and make a great addition to any picnic. They can be stuffed with a variety of fillings so you can cater for all tastes and diets. Pack them with finely cut vegetables drizzled with satay sauce for an enticing vegetarian option. They are a great way to encourage children to eat fresh vegetables and as a tasty yet healthy alternative to takeaway. For vegans, an egg replacement powder works well to replace the egg in the pancakes. NMM August 2018

Nam inum alia adicia Am ipsapid mi, Tem faccum.

1 2

Cut your chicken into strips and add to a large bowl.

Combine all of the satay sauce ingredients in a blender before spooning over your chicken and mixing well.

3 4

Cover the bowl and refrigerate until ready to cook (at least 2 hours).

Add chicken to an oven dish and cook for 180 for an hour, until the sauce has soaked into the chicken and the meat is starting to crisp.

Combine the cold water, egg, plain flour and salt, and whisk thoroughly to make the pancake batter. It will feel looser than your average batter.

Lightly grease a nonstick pan (we used groundnut oil) before pouring in enough pancake mixture to cover the base, cook on one side until lightly brown.

Place a strip of chicken onto the cooked side of a pancake, alongside some finely sliced vegetables.

8 9

Roll the pancake around the filling to create a tight roll.

Whizz up all of the chilli lime sauce ingredients in a blender until smooth. Serve alongside your spring rolls for a spicy punch.

Serve your pancake rolls hot alongside soy drenched noodles and stir fried vegetables.

August 2018 NMM

natural mumma makes

Filling your pancake rolls The light frying process will only crisp up the pancakes and the filling will remain uncooked, so opt for veg that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need to be cooked. Crisp, fresh vegetables are ideal. Courgettes, white cabbage, pak choi and peppers all offer great texture and taste. Water chestnuts and bamboo shoots work well, and prawns make a pleasant alternative to chicken. Vegans might enjoy tofu that has been marinated in the satay sauce for a couple of hours.

Serve plated up with noodles, or for the ultimate on the go food, eat straight from a simple paper or beeswax wrap, bolstered with addtional salad and a generous helping of lime chilli sauce. So there you have it, fresh, tasty and fun to eat.

Natural Mumma YouTube Channel You can find this recipe and plenty more on the Natural Mumma YouTube channel www.youtube.com/naturalmumma

NMM August 2018

AMU Ammu Cherian’s live for the moment attitude comes through in her bold, confident designs. Words By Alex Kopish.

MU is an India-inspired hand block printed women’s clothing and home decor brand. Handcrafted in the USA, the products have been recognised in London, worn in Africa and sold as far as Australia. Based out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, AMU is more than just a local brand. AMU’s memorability is due to the bold colour, unique print and overall vibrancy of the clothing. The brand’s intent is to allow its customers to live life to the full and embrace every aspect of it. It is the clothing that gives the wearer confidence to stand out in a crowd. The women who wear AMU love to show off their personality through their clothing, embrace clothing made for them and feel connected to the designer who made them. AMU believes that you can still dress comfortably

August 2018 NMM

while making a statement. The self-taught designer, Ammu Cherian, is just as unforgettable as her clothing. Her colleagues describe her as an extrovert. If anyone is qualified to pass on confidence through clothing it is Ammu. Her personal motto bears a resemblance to her brand’s – it’s all about living without regrets. “You can always get over failure however hard it is. Regrets are a lot harder to get over”. In suit with her life motto, Ammu took a chance to pursue her childhood dream of starting her own clothing brand when she moved to the USA in March 2016. Ammu grew up in various countries and lived in multiple cities. The culture of each city influenced her aesthetic and style. Starting her own clothing brand was always her calling. She grew up watching her

mother sew her clothes, and she took up making her own clothes when she was unable to find the styles that she yearned for during her college years. “Being a selftaught designer has given me the freedom to do what I want, the way I want to, without being confined within industry set rules.” While Ammu’s clothing is modern, global and rule-breaking, the print on her clothing is hand block printed, which is the oldest form of textile printing originating from India. “AMU is my interpretation of my cultural heritage in a global aesthetic,” she says. When women wear AMU, they appreciate the art form and the uniqueness of the outfit. Local artisans in India hand carve the wooden blocks that are used for printing. The carving takes around 2-4 days for a single block. The

NMM August 2018

designer then arranges a sequence of blocks to form patterns. This is then repeatedly printed onto solid fabric to create unique prints. This printing can take 3-8 hours to complete - including heat setting the prints to avoid colour bleed when washing. The printing and stitching are done in her studio in Wisconsin, which is the spare bedroom of her apartment. The stitching of the garment can take between 6-36 hours. This lengthy process cements AMU as a slow fashion brand. AMU embraces the ethos of slow fashion - making the deliberate choice to buy ethically made, better quality items less often. It embodies the revolt against fast fashion and overconsumption in which purchases are unnecessary and trend driven. “I care about running a responsible business, I want to be mindful of the impact a business can have,” Ammu says. AMU clothing is made to last and Ammu follows other sustainable practices in creating her clothing. The clothing is made from natural

August 2018 NMM

fibres such as cotton, rayon, linen and wool; everything is made to order, to reduce the amount of wastage in production; and postproduction fabric is used to create garment bags that form part of the packaging for the clothing. It is an unexpected yet welcome gift to their customers, to say thank you for supporting the business. Beyond being a slow, sustainable brand, Ammu strongly believes in empowering women. Ten per cent of sales go towards helping women who have been sex trafficked or abused. “I would love to provide jobs to women from a lower income background and give them a safe and meaningful work environment,” she says. Currently, Ammu is working towards creating a program that will hire women from a homeless shelter, and with the partnership of a small batch manufacturer, she will train them and use their space to manufacture her products, while providing them with a steady wage and work schedule. This is just one of the many ways in which AMU is

a brand with global aesthetics that fights local causes. AMU social media is peppered with travel inspiration photos from Ammu’s own travels and those of her customers. Ammu encourages women to share their photos of their AMU products using the hashtag #TribeofAMU. The brand loves to see how customers style outfits, how they style the home décor and where they are in the world. Because AMU clothing is versatile, the pieces can be worn for work or travel, day and night. AMU x Home décor line is just as versatile. AMU suits traditional and modern décor; it is the place to look for one-of-a-kind pieces that will add a splash a colour or the finishing touch to minimalist design. The home décor is at a price point that is easily affordable for individuals to own functional art in their home. As well as limiting waste, one of the best parts of being a made to order brand is that AMU products are easily customisable. AMU is concerned with providing

the customer with whatever will make her feel her absolute best. Customers who enjoy a particular design, print or pattern have requested them in specific colours to fit any occasion or to better suit their current wardrobe pieces. Ammu strives to have a presence in retail stores, increase global sales, and expand manufacturing capabilities. With her fearless attitude and personal motto in mind, she is bound to meet her goals in the next couple of years. Ammu admires women she finds commonalities with - women like Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, Priyanka Chopra, Anita Dongre and Gina Rodriguez - who have overcome obstacles in order to create a space for themselves in their fields. Ammu looks forward to being one of these women without forgetting the strong women who make up the foundation for her brand. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Be mindful of the significant impact you have as an individual,â&#x20AC;? she says in her distinct voice of empowerment. https://amu-cherian.com

Photography by Anthony of 8x10 Photography, Brandon at Roost, Mahesh at The Light Weaver India and StudioK10MKE

NMM April 2018

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August 2018 NMM