When the weather turns cold, all I want to do is curl up with a good book by the fireplace. I don't have a fireplace, but I do have a few cosy blankets and a comfy couch - and that's where I'll be parked this weekend, devouring a new read - here's our Winter recommendations, some we've read and some that are on our TBR (to be read) lists - I hope you can find the book for you this weekend!   1. Of Gold & Dust Author: Samantha Wills Category: Memoir We've loved Samantha Wills for a long, long time and this memoir was such an insightful look into her life - from starting her jewellery company at such a young age, this is beautiful and poignant and inspiring.   2. Beach Read Author: Emily Henry Category: Contemporary Romance I must admit, I'm a complete sucker for a Contemporary Romance and Beach Read was so easy to... well read. Though we're in winter, it truly gave me the summer feels and is the perfect romance book for when you're in the mood to read, but not something too heavy.   3. Where the Crawdads Sing Author: Delia Owens Category: General Fiction When I read Where the Crawdads Sing, it instantly became one of my favourite books of 2020. Fans of the book hotly debate wether this book truly is fiction or loosely based on the life of the author. It follows Kya Clark, a reclusive, wild child who learns from the world around her. It's magical, wonderful, symbolic and even has a little murder mystery in there - absolutely enchanting.    4. All the Light We Cannot See Author: Anthony Doerr Category: General Fiction This one is on my TBR, but my best friend thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a war novel set in occupied France in World War II about a french girl and a german boy who's paths cross. It truly captures the anxiety and fear of war, while being a beautiful reminder that we must learn from the past to not repeat the same mistakes in the future.   5. The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue Author: V.E. Schwab Category: Fantasy Also on my TBR, this is a beautiful fantasy novel about a girl who makes a deal with the devil - She will live forever, but will be forgotten by everyone she meets. Every review I've come across says this is a must read - and I can't wait to sink my teeth into it.   6. Normal People Author: Sally Rooney Category: Contemporary Romance If you somehow managed to avoid the craze behind the tv adaptation of this book last year - first of all how? Second of all, Normal People is the kind of book you can devour in a day, but will sit with you for a long time. Read the book, then watch the tv show - you'll be instantly addicted.   7. Dare to Lead Author: Brené Brown Category: Leadership I'm a massive fan of Brené, from her podcasts to her other books, so this is a no brainer for me. I definitely recommend getting into Brené's work, she's endlessly inspiring.   8. Becoming Author: Michelle Obama Category: Biography Michelle Obama is everything, and this is one memoir/biography that I just couldn't put down. A must read.   9. Circle of Friends Author: Maeve Binchy Category: General Fiction With Normal People on this list, you can probably tell I'm a fan of Irish fiction stories - Circle of Friends was recommend to me by my best friend, who grew up reading the book and watching the movie. I can't wait to dedicate an afternoon to this one.   10. Before You Knew My Name Author: Jacqueline Bublitz Category: Mystery & Thriller I love a thriller and this is definietly one I'll make sure to read during the day, not at night (I'm a bit of a chicken and can't sleep if I read something too scary). It follows the story two women and how their lives intertwine - it went straight onto my TBR!   Let us know your winter read recommendations! All our love, Miann & Co x

Raising a baby is as tough a time as it is beautiful. When you're over-tired, with a crying baby, just trying to get through a supermarket shop, it's extremely overwhelming. After having three babies myself, I've tried and tested almost every product on the market and have found the pieces that when life seemed the most testing, truly helped me get through it all - products that are multi use and adaptable!   REUSABLE WET BAGS Never did I ever think that something like a Reusable Wet Bag would become one of my most used and most loved items - but they just come in handy like nothing else. After carrying around a plastic bag with my first child in case of spills, explosions and more, finding something reusable that I didn't have to throw away was of the utmost importance to me so I wasn't contributing to soft plastic pollution. Then Reusable Wet Bags entered my life, and they truly changed the game. We use them all the time - not just for all the baby accidents, but now that our kids are grown we use them at the beach, pack them in their bags for school swimming, they're great for throwing a pair of dirty runners in after working out or sport - they're so multi use! For new parents, I couldn't recommend stashing a few of these away more. A good rule of thumb I found was one or two in the nappy bag, the same in your car and one in the handbag just in case (you really never know with kids). You'll use them more than you realise!   NAPPY CREAM When I became a mum for the first time, I quickly realised that Nappy Cream was very, very multi use. That after baby dry skin was a killer, and when I ran out of moisturiser one day and couldn't get to the chemist I had to use the next best thing - A tube of bright red Weleda Nappy Cream. And honestly? My skin thanked me for it. Now whenever my hands are a little dry and rough, or my knees, I'll slather them in a little Nappy Cream. If you experience chafing in summer, it's also great to reduce inflammation. Lip balm in a pinch, and it's actually amazing for putting on kids scrapes and cuts!   BABY WIPES If you've raised a couple of babies, now have kids and don't still keep a pack of baby wipes in the car - how? Baby wipes so quickly became a life saver for me with toddlers and kids - even now that they're older they still come in handy. Sticky food hands are gone, if they have a little bit of breakfast left on their cheek before school, even if I just worked out and feel a little worse for wear, they're a great quick pick me up. Admittedly, after using so many through my life I learned about biodegradable alternatives like WOTNOT that can be disposed of and breakdown! These are a definite must for parents.   JACK & JILL - BABY WASH & SHAMPOO A two in one product is a lifesaver for a parent wrangling a baby. We loved this one so much - the smell, the natural ingredients, it was perfect. As newborns don't need to be bathed often to not strip their skin, this was amazingly nourishing and hydrating - we still use it with our toddler today.   We hope this run down helps you select products that work for your family! All our love, Miann & Co 

One of the most exciting parts of becoming a new parent is packing your hospital bag. It makes the upcoming birth so real. Your little one is only a matter of weeks away - or if you’re super organised, you’ve probably started to get your hospital bag sorted a couple of months out.  For us, packing the hospital bag is almost ritualistic. After a few babies, talking with other mums and watching a few too many ‘What I Pack in my Hospital Bag’ videos on YouTube, we think we’ve got our hospital bag essentials down pat. We’ve separated them out in categories for you so you can save the images and tick them off as you pack your own bags - wishing you a safe and healthy birth! For You These are the essentials that will have you feeling comfy and at home during your stay in hospital - which we think is so key to having as relaxing and comfortable a stay as possible. Here’s our faves for those home comforts (your own pillow included).  4 x sets of Tracksuit Pants - preferably dark colours. I bled heavily post birth and there is always the possibility of accidents or bleeds, so I always liked to have extras just to be on the safe side. I found cotton loungewear and all natural fibres the most comfortable and easier to breathe in while sleeping, feeding and cuddling the baby.  4 x Nursing Tanks - these are amazing and help adjust to feeding a newborn and learning about your new body.  6-8 pairs of Black Underwear - I loved the Bonds cotton undies, but looking back I would have loved to try the ModiBodi Period Underwear to help with heavy bleeding and help with the possibility of leakages. 1 x 'Nice Outfit' for a family photo, or for you to look and feel your best. I always have used to have a pair of what I called 'luxe loungewear' on hand to feel good, and l look back on those family photos with happy memories. I loved wearing our Chloe Knit Pants with a lovely, loose shirt like our Blake Shirt (breastfeeding friendly) and then a cardigan to throw over the top. 1 x Dressing Gown - perfect for throwing on and wrapping up in, it's why we designed our April Dressing Gown that little bit more special and it doubles as a lovely wrap cardigan.  1 x Pair of Shoes - Runners match perfectly with loungewear and a pair of white trainers goes with everything.  1 x Pair of Slippers - keep your toes safe from the cold of the hospital floor with an extra snuggly pair.  4 x Pairs of Socks - I always had freezing, cold feet post birth and socks were an absolute must, even with my summer baby.  2 x Maternity Bras - The more comfortable, the better. I took my bra off the first time round and woke up in incredible pain. I felt wearing a bra no wires and a super soft cup so much better the second and third time round as my milk came in. 5 x Sets of Washable Breast Pads - My milk normally came in on day three as I was leaving the hospital, these are essential. Ice and Heat Packs - I wish I knew about these the first time around, and luckily I found them for my second and third births. Boy did it help with the swelling and bruising, and the heat packs are great to reduce damage during childbirth. Packs like BodyICE are perfect for this.  Face Wipes - makeup removing ones are great to help you feel a little more fresh, but baby wipes work wonders in a pinch. Toothpaste & Toothbrush  Body Wash - something that smells beautiful and leaves you feeling good! Hairbrush & Hairties  Basic Make Up Maternity Pads - I needed two packs of these.  Nipple Balm - Use something natural, soothing and good for both you and your baby. We stock a beautiful balm by The Hermosa Co that also doubles as a lip balm. Dry Shampoo  Deodorant  Shampoo & Conditioner  Cleanser & Reusable Face Pads  Supplements & Medication (if needed) For the birth After having a few babies ourselves, it became key to have a separate bag full of essentials for the birthing suite. Something that you could (or your birthing partner) just grab when the big time came. Essential Oils - I am super sensitive to smell and always had essential oils in all my birthing rooms. The Calm Roll On by Willelaine Aromatherapy is a perfect option.  Water Bottle Lollies - Barley sugars or jelly beans are great to chew or suck on during labour. Heat Pack - The BodyICE Perineum Strip is perfect. Phone & Phone Charger - Labour can go on for a long time, it's great to have a little distraction and something to capture all of the precious moments. Pillow - Bring your own! I can't stress how amazing it was to not sleep on hospital pillows, there's nothing like your own pillow. Camera - And all chargers in a camera bag with memory cards etc.  For Baby This is always the most exciting part to pack. Folding up those little outfits, beanies and swaddles always get you right in the feels. Here’s the essentials we pack for our little ones.  2 x Blankets - Always take an extra for sick babies. If you have a summer baby, maybe change these out to light cotton or muslin blankets. 4-5 Newborn Onesies - You'll probably use less, but its always helpful to have extra on hand incase. We had two winter babies and one summer baby, but even then we use onesies with sleeves because of the air-conditioning. Beanies - A light jersey beanie works great for summer and again, for that air-conditions, or a heavier knit for winter. Going Home Outfit - We all love taking some snaps leaving the hospital and a special outfit is perfect for this. Our full knitted bodysuits a little bit more special and super warm for winter bubbas. Newborn Dummies - Like the Natural Soother Company! We started with the round ones, and later found our kids didn't like the ortho dummies. Our kids also had stomach problems, so a dummy was a massive life saver.  1 packet of newborn nappies or cloth nappies. 1 x packet water based baby wipes. 3 x Muslin Cloths - I used these as bibs after feeding. They are my go to and their multi use abilities make them amazing.  Booties - as small enough socks to stay on tiny feet. Baby Capsule - Not essential, as I didn't have a capsule with my eldest or middle child. We invested in one for our third child and it was one of the best purchases we ever made. Our little girl was in it for 12 months, she was a lot smaller then our boys and it was great with the older two being able to not disturb her sleep while in the car doing school drop offs and sport. Also make sure it's installed ahead of time so you're not doing it in the hospital carpark like we did!  Tips for baby clothes sizing: I've had small babies and extra large babies - babies that went into 0000, 000, 00000 straight from birth. My advice is to have a couple of varying sizes with you. We were told from an ultrasound the day before I gave birth that our middle child was small, and the next day he was born 10.5 pounds, so it never hurts to be over organised.  We’d love to know what you pack in your bag! All our love, Miann & Co x

It's no secret that the textile industry isn't exactly the most ethical industry in the world. From using dangerous chemicals and dyes, processes that are damaging to the environment, unethical labour practises, to fabrics that aren't biodegradable - as a parent, it can be hard to know if the clothing you're buying for your baby is safe for them to wear and makes a positive impact on the environment. At the start of our business journey, 'organic' was a term that was only just starting to be thrown around in Australia - commonly relating to a product derived from living matter, produced without the use of chemical fertilisers, pesticides and other artificial chemicals.  But the organic clothing movement had started as far back as 2002 - when organic textile representatives came together in a conference, recognising the need for an organic textile standard that would be globally recognised - and it was in this that GOTS - the Global Organic Textile Standard was founded in 2006. GOTS is recognised as the most stringent, hardest to obtain certification in the textile industry. It is the worldwide leading textile processing standard for organic fibres, including ecological and social criteria, backed up by independent third-party certification of the entire textile supply chain - with GOTS fibres, people & planet are the foremost consideration. To obtain a GOTS certification means every part of the textile chain has been analysed to ensure four criteria have been met. The criteria is as follows: Contain at least 95% organic fibre Not be treated with bleach, formaldehyde or any other toxic substances Be coloured with nontoxic dyes Be produced in a mill that enforces strict social and environmental standards, treating their employees and the earth with deep respect. It's because of this certification that you can ensure GOTS Organic Certified Clothing is the safest choice when clothing your baby - Not only is it the safest alternative, there are so many more benefits to choosing cotton! CLEAN Clothing manufacturing alone uses over 8000 synthetic chemicals, many which are known to be carcinogenic, endocrine disrupting and hazardous to our health. Because such rigid standards are in place with GOTS, certified clothing is free from these chemicals - as the skin is the bodies largest organ, we think this is so important to our overall health. SOFT When you pick up a piece of GOTS clothing, you'll immediately notice just how soft it is. With an incredible hand feel, you just know it's incredibly comfortable and perfect for your little one to grow in. SUSTAINABLE Organic Cotton uses 87% less water in the manufacturing process, and emits 45% less greenhouse gases. The seeds aren't genetically modified and because toxic chemicals are omitted from the process and the land it's grown on stays fertile for longer. We hope you can understand why we're so passionate about GOTS and why we believe it's the safest choice for your baby! All our love, Miann & Co x

When you first click onto Dom's Instagram Page - you'll be instantly floored by her style. It's crisp, authentic and neutral with an incredibly European vibe. With a long, successful resume behind her - including Condé Nast and Estée Lauder - she moved from Germany to the Gold Coast where she now freelances in Content Creation, while running two other projects - Hawker Studios & The Bare Sea. Following Dom, you can see her talent shine and her industry experience ooze through each and every one of her posts - it wasn't a hard choice to get in contact, we just knew we had to work with her! Hi Dom! Thank you so much for sitting down with us today. Tell us a little bit more about yourself - you grew up in Germany and lived there for much of your life and worked in the fashion industry, why are you so passionate about fashion? I grew up in a beautiful country town in Germany and subscribed to German Vogue magazine from a young age, cut out my favourite outfits and created mood boards. Never would I have dreamed of reading my own name in the magazine one day but after working in Paris for 6 months at the German office for Vogue & Glamour magazine this dream came true! I just never considered working in any other field and worked very, very hard from a young age to make this happen. There is no background story like dressing up in fancy clothing from a young age - I kind of just knew that I wanted to work in fashion/within the creative industry and went for it! Your photography looks effortless and stunning, and truly tells a story which is one of the main reasons we wanted to work with you. I'm willing to bet that it's not as effortless behind the scenes though, where did you learn about photography and how did you get into work with brands? You're too kind - thank you so much! I am a self-taught photographer and believe there is much more to photography than knowing all the technical aspects. I shoot in natural light only and spend a lot of time location scouting - over the years you just develop a feeling for what time of the day works best. I started working with brands while still working full-time and eventually left my full-time job to free up time to focus on content creation only! From my previous roles at renowned print magazines and PR agencies I know both sides which I believe is very valuable when working with brands. When I flick through your feed there's a distinct style there, it's just so incredibly you. What has influenced you, and how did you create this unique style? Again, thank you so much, that makes me so happy to hear! I am very selective with the brands I work with and create for. I am not following every trend (I am certainly influenced by trends and will definitely go for them if I love them!) and generally just wear and style what I personally love.  With The Bare Sea & Hawker Studios on top of creating your own content, and content for brands, your day to day must be pretty hectic! What does the average day in the life look like for you, Dom? I am so grateful I get to do what I love every day - and for being my own boss! Having worked within the corporate world definitely shaped a strong work ethic and I usually work Monday - Friday and try to take weekends off. Taking actual holidays is another story haha.  With my most recent business, Hawker Studios, I actually got into a much better work routine since it is also my office and I no longer work from home. I usually work out in the mornings (hello barre!) or go for a beach walk before heading to the studio. We often have shoots in the morning so I'll make sure everything is clean and prepared before heading upstairs and working on my laptop until lunch. Afternoons are usually reserved for content creation and location shoots for brands. Occasionally I also work as a fashion and set stylist which takes me to beautiful places along the coast with an amazing team of creatives! We were absolutely floored in the office by your imagery, you've made Miann & Co look like it was made for you - what's your most loved piece? I absolutely adore the white shirt dress because it is such a versatile piece made from the most beautiful fabric! I am wearing it under a warm knit or over swimmers in summer. And finally, how do you make everyday count? What's most important to you? Even though I haven't seen my family and close friends since February 2020 and probably won't see them for another year due to COVID-19, I try to see the positive in every situation and be grateful every day for what I do have. An amazing support network here in Australia, daily Face Time calls with my loved ones at home, my health, my wonderful clients!

Here at Miann & Co, we find it's so important to treat the earth as you would your own home - with respect, kindness, love and gratitude. We only truly have one home, and she deserves to be celebrated and taken care of. As with most movements, it begins at the grassroots level. A small community of people singing a message that starts to resonate with the wider world - it begins with you. Those small, everyday changes you can make to your routine, your life, your home - it influences those around you to do the same - it all makes an impact, and it begins with you. Start slow - we cannot stress enough that starting slow is the best way to make an impact in the long run - with considered, small choices that you can easily adjust into your daily routine. That way, you can find the swaps that best suit you and your family, your way of life. An important switch for us was to slowly incorporate more plant based fibres into our wardrobes, slowly swapping the synthetics out in favour of natural pieces and donating or disposing of the synthetics responsibly to not add to fashion pollution. By slowly cutting out synthetics, you're able to reduce your carbon footprint and walk lighter on our gorgeous planet - these truly are layers that matter. Instead of going through your wardrobe and culling all the synthetics, continue wearing them until you no longer can, or donate them responsibly. Is there a local womens charity that could benefit from some warm jumpers and cardigans? That dress your friend has always loved? Maybe it's time to give it another home.  For the pieces that aren't in good enough condition to be donated, take them to your nearest in-store recycling schemes. Some of the larger retailers run these programs and then repurpose your old, rundown garments into new pieces - reducing demand on the already limited resources synthetics are made from and further synthetic pollution. There are many other changes that you can make in your home - a big concern for us was the amount of single use plastic we were disposing of everyday. Soft plastic is commonly used in supermarket packaging and is one of the most damaging plastics for our ocean as they can easily get blown into waterways. We started slowly by finding alternatives for our family at our local bulk wholesale food shop - In Geelong we have a few, but our favourites are Valerie's Pantry and The Source Bulk Foods. These shops are amazing as you can take your jars in there and fill them up, rather than taking on excess soft plastic into the home. Living this way means a little more consideration for your weekly shop, but when you're raising kids this is often easier said than done. For those times you can't skip the soft plastics, selected Woolworth's & Coles have teamed up with Redcycle - an organisation dedicated to the safe recycling of soft plastics and have drop off points for post-consumer plastics. Gather up all your soft plastics from the week and take them to your nearest drop off point, so easy! These are just a few of the ways that we as an office have decided to walk a little lighter on the Earth, but there are so many other ways to treat her with kindness - let us know your favourites.  All our love, Miann & Co x

Is it your first winter as a new parent? Or maybe your little one was just a newborn the last time the chill hit and you could spend most of your time cosy and inside - but now you have a one year old whose on the move and sometimes you just need to get out of the house? Are you having trouble knowing how to dress or layer your baby for the cold weather? We've got you. Gone are the days of babies rugged up to the nines, toddling around like marshmallows in the cold (you can probably relate if you were a baby in the 80's or 90's) - Australia is pretty lucky as the majority of us don't experience a true winter (looking at you QLD with your average winter temp of 11°C-21°C), so we don't have to wear those thicker layers like they do in snowy areas - but we still have to keep our babies warm. Instead of settling your bub in one thick piece of clothing, like a puffer jacket, layering has been found to be better overall for keeping them warm. It traps warmth between the layers, and insulates their little bodies better - it also makes it easier if throughout the day you need to remove or add layers. So - how do you layer? The Basics For the first few years of your little ones life, they'll probably be wearing singlets and other thermal like wear to keep them warm. For these bottom layers, we recommend choosing GOTS cotton, the safest, softest and non toxic fabric to have against their skin. Add socks and a beanie (and mittens) to complete these bottom layers and make sure they don't lose heat from these areas, which is so common for little ones. Photos of Leilani wearing the Ivory Long Sleeve Jumpsuit The First Layer For the majority of our little ones clothing, we choose natural fibres. Lightweight knits and fleece that's breathable and comfy to wear. A jumper like our Hooded Knit Jumpers are perfect for also keeping their heads and ears warm if you happen to forget a beanie. Photos of Leilani wearing the grey hoodie over the jumpsuit The Second Layer A cardigan adds extra heat and also can break up a more tonal outfit. This season we've added the Chunky Knit Cardigan to our rotation, in two lovely gender neutral colours Clove & Cloud. These can be done up or worn loose, depending on your style and warmth requirements for your little one. Photos of Leilani grey hoodie and cardigan The Final Layer And finally, add some pants. The dual warmth of the jumpsuit combined with pants like our Cuffed Knitted Pants will keep the warmth in. As a new feature, we've added an elasticated cuff to our pants that keeps those little ankles toasty and the cold air out. Photos of leilani grey hoodie, cardigan and pants These are our favourite ways to layer, but we're betting you have your own way to keep your little one warm - let us know in the comments! All our love, Miann & Co x

Here & Miann & Co, we're passionate about creating products that are as versatile as they are natural. For a few seasons now, we've been dreaming about creating the perfect oversized jumper - one that you could wear as a matching set, baggy over a pair of tights and boots or even alone as a jumper dress. And this season, we've perfected it. Introducing our new Rachel Jumper. Boxy and long line, it's the oversized jumper we've been dreaming of. With a ribbed, round neckline, slim fitting sleeves and a ribbed cuff and hem, it has just the right amount of detailing to take it from a simple boxy jumper, to something a little more special. Made from 100% lightweight cotton, it has give and body making comfortable to wear while still looking put-together. And that's one of the reasons why we love cotton so much, it just has that certain look - you can feel relaxed, warm and cosy and still feel chic. For these colder months, layer with natural fibre cardigans, beanies and other cosy accessories to keep you warm - and when the weather starts to warm up again, wear it as a jumper dress with long boots for an instantly cute, streetwear look. If you're pregnant and looking for some natural maternity wear, this is also a great option for eco-conscious mamas. We hope you're loving this piece too! All our love, Miann & Co x

We're long lovers of cotton knit, we've loved and used it for years now. From our knitted toys, floor rugs and now to our clothing. Using cotton in a knit is not as colloquially known as say wool, cashmere or synthetic fibres.  Unlike wool or cashmere, cotton is plant based and doesn't require as stringent care requirements - in fact, most of the time you can throw it in the washing machine (well, we do with our front loader - we recommend putting knits in a delicates bag as they can snag on the agitator). After that, dry them flat and they come up as good as new. Because of this, it makes the perfect knitwear for little ones. Easy to launder and care, keeps them warm? That's all a parent wants with their kids clothing. For the second season, along with our lighter weight jumpers, we've released three new cable knits - one of womens, and two for babies & kids. Cable Knit Jumpers have always had our hearts. Sweet and textured, they just take a plain knit to the next level. There's an old Celtic legend that suggests the cable knit (also called aran) originated in Celtic Clans, where every clan had their own cable knit so that fisherman lost at sea were easily identifiable. It's admittedly a little morbid (what Celtic legend isn't), but it's more likely that cable knits originated from the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland, where the Aran women developed the cable patterns we know and love today. This season, we've released the cable in three colours. For our kids & babies line, it comes in Barley & Marmalade - the Barley a simple neutral, and Marmalade bold and syrupy for those who like a little colour. In our womens range, it takes the form of our Winnie Jumper, in our golden Honey colour - and we couldn't be more obsessed. Do you like cable knit as well? All our love, Miann & Co x

Leggings are one of our all time winter staples. The comfort, the stretch. The way you can lounge around in them so easily, throw them on with a hoodie for a comfortable everyday look. But we also love to wear them out of the house - errands, picking the kids up from school, shopping and more. And it hit us, why haven't we made our own leggings before? This year we made that happen. Meet Celeste. With all the Textured Rib Goodness of our kids leggings, the fit of your favourite pair, and extra detailing the cuffs and buttons, these can easily be dressed up or down. Think of them like your favourite pair of jeans, just so much more comfortable. There are so many ways to style these knits, and we can't wait to see them on you!

Located in the Great Otway National Park, just down the road from Hopetoun Falls is an 85 year old Californian Redwood plantation, left over from the logging industry that operated in the area in the 1930's. The trees were planted by the Forests Commission of Victoria, in hopes that the fertile soil, water supply and climate in the Otways (similar to where they grow in their native California) to be used in construction in the future. Though, as they grew quite slowly, the commission abandoned their ideas and left them to grow - and they've sat for the past 90 years and now sit over 70m tall. The forest is now dense, thick with ferns and moss and more - a combination of native and non-native cohabiting in one of the most breathtaking areas of Victoria.  A few years ago, we took a trip down to the Otways to explore the forest and shoot amongst their anciently trunks. Walking along the pine scattered flooring and mossy stumps, it takes on an ethereal quality that we adored. We cannot wait to go back to this magical, mystical place one day in the future. All our love, Miann & Co x

As a child, I can vividly remember feeling like a marshmallow in winter. My mother would layer me in heavy wools and synthetics, beanies and skivvies, heavy boots and the thickest of socks - anything that would keep the cold out, regardless of how warm I was underneath all those layers. Growing up in country Victoria, I see now those layers were important for keeping that chill that sweeps the countryside at bay. But as an adult, working in the fashion industry, I also now know that those heavy, heavy (and man-made) layers probably weren't the way to go. When we think winter, we think woollen knits, puffer jackets, snow days, rosy red cheeks and discomfort. That's just not for me anymore. Getting into the industry, I began to learn more and more about fabrications - the fibres work with the body rather than against it, the fibres that won't leave you all itchy and scratchy after wearing them all day - that's where natural fibres come in. I started working at Miann & Co back in 2019 and it was the first time I was ever really exposed to the world of natural fibres. After working in fast fashion for a few years, I'd grown to assume that synthetic fibres were the norm (which in fast fashion they definitely are) and that find pieces made from natural fibres like cotton and linen were far and few between - learning about the damage synthetics have on the planet and that feeling uncomfortable in your clothes wasn't the norm was so eye opening for me. I always assumed that to be really comfortable in winter you'd have to invest in the wools and cashmeres of the world, real leather and other animal based products which really didn't sit well with me. Through working here, I started to learn so much more about cotton, linen and other plant based fibres. I learnt that not only was cotton a great choice for summer, but it could also be woven into a knit (honestly, I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I didn't know until I was 25 that cotton could be woven in yarn for knitting) and I haven't looked back since. My mum had the right idea by layering me as a little one, the one integral thing she was missing was the natural fibre element. Because synthetics are so widely available, that's all she really used to put me in. It's what I mainly wore for so many years - feeling sticky and overheated and uncomfortable.  There are so many benefits to wearing cotton in winter - The fibres trap air between your body and the fabric, keeping you warm and cosy at an even temperature. Because of it's breathability, it absorbs moisture from the body and releases it back into the air unlike synthetics that trap the moisture in fibres, leaving that damp feeling and growing bacteria in that damp environment which leads to odour. As cotton is light, you can implement it best through multiple layers - think a long sleeve t-shirt, jumper & cardigan - to keep you toasty all winter long. Do you love wearing natural fibres in winter? All our love, Miann & Co