It was great to have a reason to head to Byron Bay yesterday, playing tour guide around the lighthouse and Wategos for my New Zealand cousin Keri and her offspring Olivia and Liam.

Although I didn’t buy anything, I took the opportunity to chat with Glen Casey who owns the new Patagonia – Byron store and learn about the company’s impressive environmental and social commitment.

The integrity of Patagonia products is reflected right through the company and includes the Common Threads Partnership to encourage recycling and reducing consumption by creating products that last a long time. The partnership is fostering a culture of reduce, reuse, repair, recycle and reimagine to lower our collective environmental impact. A fabulous ethos underpinning a great clothing company. 

Meanwhile, at an individual level, other ways we can act to reduce our environmental impact is refashioning what we already have to extend its usefulness. Here’s little Olivia, wearing an upcycled top her mum Keri no longer wanted. We adapted it to fit by making a tuck in the front and sewing it in place from the V-neckline to about halfway down the front, taking care to match the stripes, It worked a treat – and now we’re off to catch the CityCat to Southbank.