The Journal

The most beautiful brands often start from a passion and a personal need that coalesce to form ingenious ideas and businesses. Fankery, an online bakery, started just this way. The business was borne during the 2020 lockdowns when Cathy started experimenting with making cheesecakes and cookies filled with sweet, gooey mochi (a rice cake made of mochigome, a short-grain rice). When Cathy was hit by hypothyroidism in 2021, her focus shifted back to baking and spending more time in the kitchen, experimenting. This led to the development of unique food and flavours, and the signature Asian-fusion bakes she creates at Fankery today.

Inspired by her delicious and innovative flavours, we chat with Cathy about what inspires her and how that has influenced her bakes.

Bonnie is the talented creative behind Studio Bon, and we started following her work nearly 3 years ago, falling in love with the bright colours and quirky shapes that are reminiscent of the pop art movement of the 60’s.

Bonnie wears many hats: artist, illustrator and ex-independent magazine publisher, and we’ve been secretly fan-girling over the opportunity to work with her, so creating these exclusive Esse art totes to raise funds for Sustainable Coastlines is a little bit of a dream collab. Read on to learn more about Bonnie and our collaboration.

Gabrielle is a renowned name in the screen industry and make-up artistry world. Having worked as a makeup designer for over 25 years and trained new makeup artists through her business, The Makeup School, she’s deft with her makeup brush and familiar with creating art, albeit on a different canvas. Now taking on a different canvas, we’re thrilled to showcase one of her personal paintings and collaborate with her to create a limited edition Esse Art Tote to raise funds for charity, Sustainable Coastlines. Read on to learn more.

The transition for most women as they enter motherhood is an underlying pressure to fully focus on their children, but mothers need an opportunity to feel like themselves, rather than being a “mum” 24/7. What does this new identity look like and how can mothers make space for mental wellness while they reshape their identity?

We speak with our close friend, Summer, who is the founder of KAISO, a leather accessories brand, as she opens up about the challenges of being a stay-at-home mother and how that has redefined her identity and perspectives.

When you meet Sarah for the first time you’re immediately drawn to her warmth, sincerity and down-to-earth nature; traits that one is hard-pressed to find these days, especially given her credentials. In 2021, Sarah launched her own conscious footwear brand, Bronwyn, dedicated to and named after her late mother. We speak to the mother of two on the values that have shaped her; how that is reflected in the work she puts out into the world and the legacy she hopes to pass on to her sons.

Tell everyone you fixed it yourself, or help a friend patch things up. We’ve put together easy to follow repair videos with Renee of Repair Redefined, a clothing repair advocate and mending enthusiast.

Why not pick up a useful repair trick or two, and make your grandma proud?

When you first meet Ziling, you’re immediately drawn to her graceful elegance; much like the ethos of the brand she runs, RE:ERTH. 

Besides exuding the quiet confidence of a founder and COO, the busy businesswoman also has glowing and luminescent skin to boot. We speak with her to learn more about RE:ERTH and her beauty secrets.