Rebecca is a half-Scottish, half-Kiwi writer living in Queensland, Australia. She’s the Deputy Editor of the much-loved Peppermint magazine – a quarterly publication dedicated to style, sustainability and substance. She shares with us her view on the world at large and her journey to where she is today, and why Iceland is at the top of her bucket list.
What’s your six-word memoir?
Pen in hand, nose in book.
You’ve had a love affair with words for a long time now with your journalism background. What’s your favourite kind of story to tell and why?
I love telling the stories of people who are passionate about what they do and who are working to make the
world a better place, in their own way. Through my work at Peppermint, I’m lucky enough to have the opportunity to talk to so many different kinds of people – from eco fashion designers and organic farmers to non-profit founders and sustainability experts – and hear their experiences firsthand. As a writer, I’m just the vehicle for getting these stories out into the world, but that’s good enough for me! And I hope that sometimes the people reading my words are inspired, too.
Being Deputy Editor at Peppermint is no mean feat. What does a typical day look like for you?
It all depends, really! It’s just so varied, which is one of the things I love about my role. Some days I could be writing articles and blog posts, and others I could be organising a shoot, briefing freelance writers and photographers, keeping on top of our social media, planning content around a theme for future issues, organising an event or brainstorming ideas with the team. Even when I’m ‘off-duty’ I’m always stumbling across incredible people and companies for us to feature on our pages. It truly is my passion, so it’s hard to switch my brain off at the end of each day. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Peppermint is all about sustainability and style. How do you define slow fashion, and what do you think it would take for it to go mainstream?
Slow fashion is the antithesis of fast fashion, and it comes in many forms. It can be fair trade, organic cotton, handwoven or printed fabrics, non-toxic dyes, ethical supply chains and more – anything that’s better for people and/or planet. There are so many brands out there really showing just how well it can be done; it’s an exciting time for the industry. I think that sustainable and ethical fashion is definitely becoming more mainstream, as people become much more aware of the harmful production process that are used to create the average item of clothing. Every garment in our wardrobes has a story – and I’d much rather pay more for a well-made piece with a positive past, than a synthetic, sweatshop-made equivalent that’s destined for landfill. There’s nothing like feeling those happy vibes when I open up my closet.
What’s an experience that has been instrumental to you being where you are today, but that you hated at the time?
I used to freelance
as a news reporter at a local radio station in Edinburgh. It was winter, and I spent my days traipsing around the streets carrying out vox pops, as the sleet seeped through my leather boots and the cold settled deep into my bones. It was during this time that I realised that news wasn’t for me, and that I felt driven to tell people’s stories on a much deeper level. It was definitely a character-building experience, but not one I’d be keen to repeat! These days I live in the gorgeous surrounds of sub-tropical Queensland, and spend my time doing work that I love and feels meaningful. But I’m definitely thankful for all the steps it took to get here. Each one was a learning experience – even
the terrible ones. (Especially the terrible ones.)
Dream travel destination?
Definitely Iceland! I’m not sure why (probably because I live on the opposite side of the world, so of course I’d
choose the most difficult place to get to), but I’m completely and utterly obsessed with Iceland. The mountains! The geothermal springs! The people! The mythology! I recently read the wonderful Burial Rites by Australian author Hannah Kent and that took my love for the country to a whole new level. It’s most definitely on the bucket list.
Famous last words?
Kindness is everything .
Rebecca Jamieson has had a lifelong love affair with language that has taken her through various jobs with one thing in common – listening to people and telling their stories.
We are inspired by Rebecca’s authenticity, humility and grace, and are proud to have her as Fieldtester, a group a group of inspiring friends that regularly test MATTER products in their workplace and travels to help us improve durability and design. Rebecca wears The Sailor Shorts + Chakri Grey, Size 1.
Photo credits: Kelley Sheenan