“Life’s Too Short for Boring!”: Frock On for a Good Cause this October
- Words by Peppermint
above PEPPERMINT BARDON DRESS. PHOTO BY RACHAEL BASKERVILLE.
During October you can do some good as easily as getting dressed in the morning! For the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (OCRF), October is Frocktober, the biggest (and most stylish) fundraiser for ovarian cancer research in Australia, empowering peeps of all genders, shapes and sizes to channel their creative caring flair through their most fabulous frocks and raise urgently needed funds for the OCRF’s innovative research projects.
Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynaecological cancer, claiming the life of one Australian every eight hours. Frocktober funds are dedicated to the development of an early-detection test, which could save the lives of 1.3 million people globally over the next decade.
As far as excuses to dress up go, it’s hard to think of a better one! So, inspired by this year’s theme – “Life’s too short for boring!” – we’re putting our best frocks forward and celebrating some of the loudest and proudest Peppermint dresses as made by our Peppermint pals!
If you’re interested in learning more, head to frocktober.org.au where you can donate directly to the OCRF, or register a fundraiser of your own!
THE EVERYDAY ESSENTIAL
The foundational Frocktober challenge is to wear a frock all 31 days of October so where better to start than with the Peppermint Everyday Dress made in collaboration with In The Folds? @JuanitaFlett serves everyday glam in her Nerida Hansen cotton sateen number, while @RavenMaureen_ rang in the new year with her sequin-tastic hack!
THE BOUNTIFUL BOWEN
The fabulously floaty Peppermint Bowen Dress is an easy breezy make! Crafted by the brilliant Hubba Ding, it’s simple to put together with dramatic results. @Rhi___Made’s floral number flourishes in the beauty of the outback landscape and @LittleDanaDoes‘ patchworked spectacular tells the story of her sewing journey within its different fabric pieces.
THE BODACIOUS BARDON
A firm favourite among our sewing patterns, the Peppermint Bardon Dress is a perennial crowd-pleaser from the extraordinary Elbe Textiles! @SewDoItEmma is serving cottagecore cuteness in her bird-embellished Bardon, while the crafty @Maker.Mother.Crone has concocted some circle skirt magic in the tiers creating a show-stoppingly swishy skirt!
THE MAGNIFICENT MAXI
Another fantastic showing from the beloved Elbe Textiles, the clever construction details of the Peppermint Wide Strap Maxi Dress can’t be beat! From its premium pocket design to its ease-allowing elasticated back, it’s a joy to make and wear!
@PopsCanSew rocks her maxi in a wildin’ wildlife Ellie Whitaker print and some gloriously eye-popping colour combos, meanwhile, @Geri_In_Stitches opted for a tasteful white – then used her extreme tie-dyeing abilities to create a dazzling kaleidoscope of colour!
THE BEDAZZLING BUTTON UP
An oldie but a goodie, the Peppermint Button-Up Dress, also an In The Folds collabo, presents a pantheon of opportunities to bedazzle, bejewel or otherwise bedeck your make in adornments. @_GooglyGuys’s punk-rock frock features a funky print portrait, while @AutumnYarn eschews the buttons for a nifty zip and some excellent embroidered pockets!
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Look, I don’t want to make anyone panic but IT’S DECEMBER!!! If you’re planning to give homemade gifts, you’re going to have to act fast. …
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🌻 The Paddington 🌻
This is a much-loved staple, created for Issue 50 in 2021. We love seeing the #PeppermintPaddingtonTop continually popping up in our feeds!
How stunning is our model Elon MelaninGoddessEfon – she told us it was one of the first times she had been asked to come to a shoot with her natural hair. 🌻
We worked with South African patternmaker Sarah Steenkamp of @FrenchNavyNow_ to create this wardrobe essential – the perfect puff-sleeve blouse. Raglan sleeves make it the ultimate beginner sew, plus the gorgeous back buttons let you add your own personal twist.
Pattern via the link in bio! 🪡
Photos: @KelleySheenan
Fabric: @Spoonflower
Model: MelaninGoddessEfon
“In the 1940’s, Norwegians made and wore red pointed hats with a tassel as a form of visual protest against Nazi occupation of their country. Within two years, the Nazis made these protest hats illegal and punishable by law to wear, make, or distribute. As purveyors of traditional craft, we felt it appropriate to revisit this design.”
Crafters have often been at the heart of many protest movements, often serving as a powerful means of political expression. @NeedleAndSkein, a yarn store in Minnesota, are helping to mobilise the craftivists of the world with a ‘Melt The Ice’ knitting pattern created by @Yarn_Cult (with a crochet pattern too), as a way of peaceful protest.
The proceeds from the $5 pattern will go to local immigrant aid organisations – or you can donate without buying the pattern.
Raise those needles, folks – art and craft can change the world. 🧶
Link in bio for the pattern.
Images: @Gather_Fiber @NeedleAndSkein @a2ina2 @KyraGiggles Sandi.204 @WhatTracyMakes AllieKnitsAway Auntabwi2
#MeltTheIce #Craftivism #Knitting #CraftForChange
TWO WEEKS TO GO! 🤩
"The most important shift is moving from volume-led buying to value-led curation – choosing fewer, better products with strong ethics, considered production and meaningful stories. Retailers have real influence here: what you buy signals what you stand for. At Life Instyle, this means using the event to discover and invest in small-scale, planet-considerate brands that align with your values and your customer’s conscience. Consumers don’t need more things; they need better things, and retailers play a key role in selecting, contextualising, and championing why those products matter."
Only two more weeks until @Life_Instyle – Australia`s leading boutique retail trade show. If you own a store, don`t miss this event! Connect with designers, source exquisite – and mindful – products, and see firsthand why this is Australia’s go-to trade show for creatives and retailers alike. And it`s free! ✨️
Life Instyle – Sydney/Eora Country
14-17 February 2026
ICC, Darling Harbour
Photos: @Samsette
#LifeInstyle #SustainableShopping #SustainableShop #RetailTradeEvent
Calling all sewists! 📞
Have you made the Peppermint Waratah Wrap Dress yet? Call *1800 I NEED THIS NOW to get making!
This gorgeous green number was modelled (and made) by the fabulous Lisa of @Tricky.Pockets 🙌🏼
If you need a nudge, @ePrintOnline are offering Peppermint sewists a huge 🌟 30% off ALL A0 printing 🌟 when you purchase the Special Release Waratah Wrap Dress pattern – how generous is that?!
Head to the link in bio now 📞
*Not a real number in case that wasn`t clear 😂
#PeppermintWaratahWrapDress #PeppermintPatterns #SewingPattern #WrapDress #WrapDressPattern
8 Things to Know About January 26 - from @ClothingTheGaps:
Before you celebrate, take the time to learn the truth. January 26 is not a day of unity it’s a Day of Mourning and Survival for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
It marks the beginning of invasion, dispossession, and ongoing colonial violence. It’s time for truth-telling, not whitewashed history.
Stand in solidarity. Learn. Reflect. Act.
✊🏽 Blog written by Yorta Yorta woman Taneshia Atkinson.
🔗 Link in bio of @ClothingTheGaps to read the full blog
#ChangeTheDate #InvasionDay #SurvivalDay #AlwaysWasAlwaysWillBe #ClothingTheGaps
As the world careens towards AI seeping into our feeds, finds and even friend-zones, it`s becoming increasingly hard to ignore.
We just wanted to say that here at Peppermint, we are choosing to not print or publish AI-generated art, photos, words, videos or content.
Merriam-Webster’s human editors chose `slop` as the 2025 Word of the Year – they define it as “digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence.” The problem is, as AI increases in quality, it`s becoming more and more difficult to ascertain what`s real and what`s not.
Let`s be clear here, AI absolutely has its place in science, in climate modelling, in medical breakthroughs, in many places... but not in replacing the work of artists, writers and creatives.
Can we guarantee that everything we publish is AI-free? Honestly, not really. We know we are not using it to create content, but we are also relying on the artists, makers and contributors we work with, as well as our advertisers, to supply imagery, artwork or words created by humans. AI features are also creeping into programs and apps too, making it difficult to navigate. But we will do our best to avoid it and make a stand for the artists and creatives who have had their work stolen and used to train AI machines, and those who are now losing work as they are replaced by this energy-sapping, environment-destroying magic wand.
Could using it help our productivity and bottom line? Sure. And as a small business in a difficult landscape, that`s a hard one to turn down. We know other publishers who use AI to write stories, create recipes, produce photo shoots... but this one is important to us.
`Touch grass` was also a Merriam-Webster Word of the Year. We`ll happily stick with that as a theme, thanks very much. 🌿
