🌍 Autumn? Not yet, thank you 🌞

From B Corp pizza ovens to why not to waste time raking leaves right now

Welcome to BRiMM, the collective, journal and planet-positive shop that’s here to help you live a lower-impact life, without life feeling less

Before we ease into this week’s newsletter, here’s what’s going on in the world of BRiMM:

• Have you tried our Reset Boxes yet? They’re designed to kick-start your planet-positive journey via careful curations of innovative products that will reset your food, cleaning or bathroom rituals - all in one box.

• Every item in our Reset Boxes has been vetted for performance, quality and environmental impact. Each one tells an amazing story of positive change. Find out more about how we created them.

Plus, subscribe to this newsletter for free if you haven’t already, to receive new posts, support our work and hear about all the exciting stuff.

This week’s theme is… how to max out summer 🌞

The sunniest season is suddenly over. Or is it? Because while the September issues of glossy magazines have already been on the shelves for weeks, the shops are full of plastic Halloween tat (don’t get us started) and the kids have changed almost beyond recognition since last term, it’s August for another whole week. That makes it very much still summer, so we want to take a moment to stop and appreciate those longer days and all that comes with them before they fade away for another year.

Because what if just appreciating the present moment helped us to achieve a slower way of living? We’re all for that, here at BRiMM. Being distracted by what’s coming next, or what we are being told to buy next, stops us appreciating the things that are around us right now. Rather than forking out on some new knitwear that’s way too hot to wear until at least October, wouldn’t it make more sense to enjoy the last few wears of the year of your favourite pair of linen shorts? You could get out on a long walk before the mercury drops while you’re at it: studies show that walking in nature can improve concentration, calm the mind and even make us more creative. Bonus.

In a world that’s forever chasing newness and the next big thing, living for the present moment feels almost like an act of rebellion. Here are just a few things to celebrate before next month:

• The days might be getting shorter, but we still get around eight hours of daylight to enjoy and all the vitamin D that comes with it.

• Most kids don’t go back to school for another week. They’ll never be this young again!

• If you don’t have children, there are still benefits to enjoy before the start of term, like less traffic on the roads. Great if you like an early morning bike ride.

• It’s bank holiday Monday tomorrow. No further explanation needed.

• The sea in the UK is at its warmest in August and September, which makes now the perfect time to take up wild swimming and keep going through winter (don’t start in April. We speak from experience - it’s the water’s coldest month).

We do get that it’s not always easy to stay focussed on today though, and if you thought it was feeling more autumnal than usual for this time of year, you’d be right. Berries have been ripe since mid-summer, and trees like our native oaks are already shedding their leaves. This is all thanks to the dry weather and four official UK heatwaves so far this year. Nature is under stress, but there are ways we can help as the long hot summer creates a ‘food gap’. If you have a garden for example, being more relaxed about deadheading and raking fallen leaves will create cover for insects which in turn, will provide a food source for birds. This all gives you more time to laze around in the late-summer sun, a glass of something delicious in hand, appreciating the world - and the season - around you right now.

So before you get caught up in next season’s new clothes, back to school madness, roast dinners, or whatever autumn means to you, don’t forget to be present in today. In August. In the summertime.

Team up, tune in and let’s turn the tide,

BRiMM x

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BRiMM JOURNAL: NEW IN

The end of trends? We’re here for it. This week editor, author and low-impact fashion activist Tiffanie Darke talks us through 25 rules for tackling fashion with a responsible hat on.

“It is not fashionable anymore to wear head to toe new season, or even to capitulate to some of those legacy brands that have got fat and sweatshop-sick on growth (Loro Piana, Dior, Armani) or those that have been brought back from the grave in 100% polyester (Topshop). Dressing well is about doing it in as frictionless a way as possible. Treading lightly and carefully, in natural fabrics, considered craft and timeless design.”

Read more of this extract from Tiff’s book, What to Wear and Why, Your Guilt-Free Guide to Sustainable Fashion, over on our Journal now.

→ DISCOVER MORE

Meanwhile, the BRiMM collective have been busy rounding up their favourite second-hand shops and markets. Whether you’re after fashion, furniture or funk & soul records, we’ve found some real gems.

→ READ MORE

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Making Mother Nature a Shareholder

She’s everyone’s most important stakeholder – so we’ve put serving her needs at the very heart of BRiMM. We believe that business can be a force for good. So we’re setting out to build a company that not only endeavours to have a low impact, but also aims to give back more than it takes.

How are we going to do this? Here are a few things we’re starting with:

• Establishing thorough and transparent vetting criteria for every product we list

• Leading with an editorial focus that helps inspire you to lower your impact within your everyday life

• Pioneering a unique model that sees us invest 10% of our revenue into helping the brands we stock to lower their footprint faster (so not just offsetting impact that’s already been made – but actually decreasing it)

• Registering as a B Corp so we can share our progress against an external set of criteria

• Making Mother Nature a 10% shareholder and director of our business

And that’s just for starters. Find out more over on our Journal.

→ READ MORE

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The BRiMM Life Questionnaire: Hannah Rochell
This week we’re chatting to Hannah Rochell, who worked at publications including The Times, InStyle and The Standard before pivoting her career seven years ago when she didn’t want to write about fast fashion or trends anymore. Because, you know, the climate crisis. She slowed down her life by writing exclusively about planet-positive fashion and lifestyle for publications and brands - you’ll see her name at the top of this very newsletter and she writes her own, Slowette - as well as moving from London to the somewhat more chilled-out location of the Isle of Wight.

Favourite planet-positive products
“I’ve been using UpCircle for years and it’s so good. I’m lucky enough to live near two zero-waste shops and they both offer UpCircle refills, which is really handy. My favourite products are the day and night creams, as well as the facial oil, but I’ve just started using the shampoo and conditioner too and it’s brilliant.”

Favourite walking route
“This is a really hard one! And although I love so many walks locally here on the Isle of Wight, I think it would have to be the Great Glen Way between Fort Augustus and Invermoriston with stunning views of Loch Ness and the Scottish Highlands. It’s pretty challenging, but totally worth it.”

What’s your most joyful weekend moment
“I do yoga every Saturday morning which is a brilliantly positive way to start the weekend. During the summer months, our teacher moves our class to the beach which adds that extra level of special to the practice. And the fact that my best friends also come to the class is lovely because afterwards we plan what we’re going to get up to together before we go back to work on Monday.”

Plant-based dish of dreams
“You can’t go wrong with a veggie chilli. I often make a massive vat of the Anna Jones version when we have friends over in the winter months, served with baked potatoes. Although I also love it when they don’t eat it all and I can enjoy the leftovers.”

Indie record store tip
“Sounds and Grounds in Cowes on the Isle of Wight is a coffee and record shop all in one, and it’s dog-friendly too. As well as having an awesome and often quirky selection of vinyl, the glass tables house a host of old ticket stubs. When I was there recently I realised I had actually been to three of the gigs on our table!”

The full interview with Hannah will be live on our Journal soon - in the meantime, check out our latest full Q&A with Karen Prado of Chimi Love.

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FROM THE COLLECTIVE

James has been enjoying Slop magazine’s weekly news round-ups of cool things to do, over on Instagram

We do love a bit of slow travel - Becky is feeling inspired by this five-day trip through New South Wales on a restored 1960s train. Very Accidentally Wes Anderson.

Hannah wants to take a trip to the V&A Dundee to see this exhibition of Palestinian embroidery, which is on until the spring

We love to hear what our collective is finding. Share your links with us in our Substack chat or send us an email

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THIS WEEK’S LINK RECCOS

one of Voited’s recycled blankets

WRAP UP
We may be eeking out the last days of summer, but there’s no getting away from the fact that the evenings are a little cooler. Enjoy them outside for longer with a recycled blanket. Voited has a brilliant range of durable and beautifully illustrated ones.
→ BUY A BLANKET

GREEN FINGERS
Late August and autumn are a great time to plant winter veg in the garden while the soil is still warm. If you’re looking for inspo, the model-turned-gardener Poppy Okotcha is doing an autumn tour to promote her new book A Wilder Way.
→ BOOK TICKETS

PIZZA THIS, PIZZA THAT
B-Corp pizza oven makers Ooni are on a mission to become a completely regenerative brand. Where possible, they use recycled metal to make their ovens, and have partnered with Eden Reforestation Projects to plant over four million trees as well as giving back to Mad Agriculture, a US-based organisation championing regenerative agriculture. Oh, and their products make delicious pizzas, too.
→ GET COOKING

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RASPBERRY, CHOC AND PEANUT BUTTER BITES

Been invited to a bank holiday BBQ and need to bring a little something as a contribution? These quick and easy (and seasonal!) raspberry, chocolate and peanut butter bites from Deliciously Ella are just the ticket. You only need four ingredients - plus some freezer time - and they’re even healthy, too.

→ MAKE ME

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DUB BE GOOD TO ME

Whack on this playlist of reggae versions of well-known pop, rock and soul tunes. Perfect for some laid-back bank holiday vibes…

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