Who Am I?

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My name is Kate, I’m from Melbourne, and I've been living in London since the start of 2022. I’m a writer, editor, vintage shopper, vegetable enthusiast and a mindful materialist. Welcome to my corner of the internet.

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What is a mindful materialist?

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After reading Richard Denniss’ book Curing Affluenza, I started to recognise myself as a materialist. He distinguishes materialism from consumerism, where materialists care about the things in their lives and want to preserve them, while consumerists are always looking for the next best thing to replace what they already have. For me this wasn’t enough though. While I care about the things I have, I think it’s important to take a step back and consider what I’m buying, why I’m buying it, and whether I really need it before I hand over my money. To me, being a mindful materialist means being selective and trying to avoid unnecessary consumption. I care about where things are made, what those things are made of, what their impact is, and how their makers are treated. We need to break this cycle we've created of constantly consuming things which are poor quality, cheaply manufactured and harmful to both people and the planet. They don't serve us and they stop us from spending our money on experiences, and making memories with the people we love.

 

Why did I start a blog?

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I want to encourage my readers to be mindful of what they purchase, and to take care of what they already own to ensure our material things last. I’ve been inspired by writers, podcasters and various films (which you can find at my resources page) that have opened my eyes and informed my views on sustainability and ethics. When I started talking about these issues with my family and friends, it became clear to me that they wanted to make more meaningful decisions too, they just didn’t know where to look. I started sharing sustainable brands on social media and making recommendations to friends, but the questions kept coming. So I decided to start a blog — a place where I could share my reading, reflections and values with people, and develop a brand directory which is accessible and clearly categorised according to values.

 

What can you do?

 

You don't need deep pockets to be sustainable and you don't need to be a DIY expert. You just need to love what you already have and find the value in less. Feel free to share the blog with your own friends and family, and get in touch with me if you have any questions, recommendations or feedback.

 

Happy reading!