🌍 September is the new January 🍂
Why now is the best time to reset
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 settle into this week’s newsletter, here’s what’s going on in the world of BRiMM:
Have you got your tickets for our BRiMM + British Pasture Leather experiential Field Day programme yet? We will explore the realities of regenerative agriculture and illuminate the positive impacts of local food, farming and fibre systems with insight from our experts. Put Friday 10 October in the diary for the event at Weston Park Farms in Hertfordshire and buy your tickets now.
On Tuesday 23 September, Stitch & Bitch, hosted by the icon, pioneer and co-founder of Fashion Revolution and Esthetica, Orsola de Castro, will bring together curious minds to explore the quiet radicalism of visual mending over a shared table. It’s at The Meeting House in Peckham, London, and starts at 6.30pm. Get your tickets here.
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… the great September reset 🍂
“September is my January”, said one of the BRiMM collective when we asked for their thoughts on this week’s theme. And in many ways, September is a much better time to reset than the new year. Setting new intentions in January can be pretty daunting – a whole year to commit to! – but setting them just for the last four months of the year can feel more achievable, especially since we’re still benefitting from that post summer glow, giving us more energy than we feel in those darker months at the beginning of the year (thank you, Vitamin D). Plus, getting into good habits now means you’ll already be well into the routine by the time those darker and party-heavy months come along, giving you a better chance of sticking to them.
For those of you that practise yoga, think of September as a little like the moment that you set an intention at the beginning of the class. Which in turn makes January – or perhaps, the part of a Yin Yoga session when you have to hold Lizard Pose for five minutes – that little bit easier to get through.
Of course, the start of new school and university terms always heralds a season associated with learning. But the shorter days and cooler weather do actually mean that we crave more structure at this time of year, especially if we really made the most of summer (some are calling this the Rave and Reset). It doesn’t necessarily mean having a timetable of lessons to follow, but it’s a great month to set new, more mindful habits with some kind of framework to help.
There are myriad apps out there that can lend a hand; Atoms, for instance, which was developed by the New York Times best-selling author James Clear, helps users to build small habits based on the person they want to become.
"All big things come from small beginnings,” he says. “The seed of every habit is a single, tiny decision. But as that decision is repeated, a habit sprouts and grows stronger. Roots entrench themselves and branches grow. The task of breaking a bad habit is like uprooting a powerful oak within us. And the task of building a good habit is like cultivating a delicate flower one day at a time."
If you’re more of a pen and paper kind of person, your good habit building buddy could be something as simple as a magnetic meal planner to pop on the fridge. Coincidentally, these often look a bit like a timetable. Planning meals not only helps us to eat more healthily, but to reduce food waste, too. Refreshing and resetting intentions for the next few months ahead might simply mean making time to write in a journal, reflecting on what has happened in the last few months, the wins and positive things achieved, what to be grateful for, and what small habits you can change in order to make a positive change.
A survey on LinkedIn even found that over half of people asked thought that September was the ideal time to apply for a new job. We’re not saying you have to be that drastic, though, and your own September reset could be as simple as changing some of the everyday products you use to be more planet-positive. That’s where BRiMM can help – our Reset Boxes allow you to reset your life room by room. Each one is packed with products that are tried, tested and ready to work wonders for you. And the best bit? They also help to reset the planet.
Team up, tune in and let’s turn the tide,
BRiMM x
Packaging. It’s everywhere, and it’s often plastic. In this new feature, Mark Shayler looks at how we got to this point and how we can, potentially, get out of it – even through small, individual acts.
“On the one hand, packaging reduces food waste (which itself carries a huge carbon cost), ensures medicines and vaccines arrive safely, and makes global trade possible. On the other, excessive or poorly designed packaging contributes to environmental impact, litter, and rising public frustration (this last point is worth consideration in an article of its own; packaging is a diversion from the most serious and urgent threat of climate change and the resulting collapse of biodiversity).”
But there are also people doing it well, with innovative solutions using everything from mushrooms to seaweed. Find out more about packaging myths and breakthroughs over on our Journal.
Meanwhile, head chef at Bingham Riverhouse, the Richmond foodie mecca with rooms, Vanessa Marx is one of a new generation of visionary women in the British food industry. We caught up with her in-between services to find out her personal low-impact life hacks.
And our very own beauty guru Sam Zimmerman has been trying out the best planet-positive products for sensitive skin. You can read her results on the Journal.
Our Plastic-Free Bathroom Reset Boxes
It’s Zero Waste Week! The initiative, which this year runs from 1-5 September, is an award-winning, grassroots annual awareness campaign that aims to help people, businesses and communities to reduce their landfill waste.
So meet our Plastic-Free Bathroom Reset Box – where conscious choices feel effortlessly elegant. Every item arrives without a single piece of plastic packaging, proving that planet-positive living offers more convenience, not less. From innovative daily cleansing and moisturising duos, to delicious naturally whitening toothpaste, each beautiful, effective and design-led brand shows how thoughtful curation transforms daily essentials.
No plastic means no waste guilt, just pure ritual bliss and a smaller footprint left behind.
→ SEE MORE
The BRiMM Life Questionnaire: Dan Bell
A marketing specialist spanning festivals, events and mission-driven startups, Dan is now driving growth and community at BRiMM, building a planet-positive collective for better living. Here he shares his personal low-impact living tips (which may also serve as a guide to his hometown of Deal in Kent).
Latest low-impact life reset
“I bought a Hotbin composter - the aim is to get rich, organic compost in just a month. The plan is to use it on the allotment. Let’s see how it goes!””
Favourite walking route
”Just outside of Deal there is a gem of a walk around Waldershare Park, which during spring is full of wild garlic to forage.”
The independent coffee shop that makes you happy
”Pop Up Cafe can’t really put a foot wrong. Great coffee from Curve and the best cheese toasties around.”
Indie record store tip
”Smugglers Records. They also run Smugglers Festival, which I’m just about to go to.”
Person who inspires you and why
”Has to be my Mum. The voice of reason!”
Planet-positive hero
”Again, my Mum. She set up and runs a cooperative village shop!”
The full interview with Dan will be live on our Journal soon - in the meantime, check out our latest full Q&A with Chef Vanessa Marx of Bingham Riverhouse.
FROM THE COLLECTIVE
Sugi’s project of “pocket forests” caught Tiff’s eye, which plants up urban spaces all over the world. They have 245 forests in 52 cities – and there are 24 in London alone.
Zoë is excited for the Design For Planet event which aims to equip one million people in green design skills by 2030. She can’t make it to The Barbican on Tuesday 9 and Wednesday 10 September, so she’s booking an online pass for just £5.
From blue-green algae to the gelatinous film that floats on top of kombucha liquid, Hannah found this article on the future materials in fashion absolutely fascinating.
We love to hear what our collective is finding. Share your links with us in our Substack chat or send us an email
THIS WEEK’S LINK RECCOS
ME TIME
Nothing says reset like a wellness retreat. Reclaim Yourself specialises in slow travel experiences in lesser-explored destinations, using the knowledge of local experts to tailor trips the feature yoga, hiking and slow living. Many are outside the UK, but in November there’s a retreat in a magnificent Cumbrian castle, complete with yoga and plant-based meals, and it’s even dog-friendly.
→ RETREAT
DE-STRESSING
Reduce your reliance on the chaotic and uncertain outside world with Make Change That Lasts by Dr Rangan Chatterjee. This book explores the nine hidden ways day-to-day life causes responses like doom scrolling, snacking or pouring an extra glass of wine. It also shows you how to respond to them consciously by blending ancient philosophy with a deep understanding of health.
→ BUY THE BOOK
ALTER EGOS
Resetting how we think about fashion, the upcycle platform Alterist is popping up in ReSelfridges at Selfridges, London from 1–14 September. Ten UK designers will be showcasing their latest collections of limited-run, one-of-a-kind pieces reworked from pre-loved, excess and discarded materials. On selected days, the space shifts from shop floor to studio, as five featured designers deconstruct, rework and rebuild garments live in-store.
→ GET TICKETS
GRAB-AND-GO BREAKFAST COOKIES
Perhaps your September reset is as simple as making your first meal of the day ahead of time. We’re not just talking about overnight oats; how about these no-bake breakfast cookies? Just stir together mashed banana, 1¾ cups oats, ½ cup almond butter, ¼ cup maple syrup, 2 tablespoons chia seeds, ½ teaspoon cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon salt together until well combined. Fold in ½ cup blueberries and ½ cup walnuts then just roll, shape and stick them in the fridge for a grab-and-go breakfast.
→ MAKE ME
MUSIC FOR AN ENERGY BLAST
This playlist of indie/alternative faves is great to run to, and better than most regular gym music (in our opinion) – it also goes down a storm whenever we share it on insta. Ideal inspo for an exercise reset, perhaps…?
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