It’s the season of giving! After all the ups and downs of 2020, there’s even more reason to get together – virtually and in person!

While the festive season is full of reasons to be joyful, it can also be a tad stressful. So, this year, Amazon Australia has assembled six small business owners to form The Festive Collective to make your holidays that little bit easier. From how to pick the best holiday fashion to new ways to fancy up your festive drinks, The Festive Collective has you sorted!

Joining us from The Festive Collective is Kirsten Ainsworth from The Rocks Push, with tips on how to lighten up your summer wardrobe and be sustainable while you’re at it!

Our oceans are full of plastic that doesn’t belong there – 8 million tonnes are dumped every year, and marine life is swallowing more plastic than ever.

As founder of The Rocks Push, Kirsten wanted to find a way so that some of the plastic pollution doesn’t make its way into the ocean. “I saw the plastic pollution and thought there had to be a better use for it. I started The Rocks Push nine years ago with board shorts for men and boys using recycled plastic bottles. Not only does it keep them out of our oceans, but it also gives them a second life as a loved piece of swimwear.”

In just one pair of their shorts, The Rocks Push is able to reuse 8 plastic bottles, or a kilo of salvaged driftnet. With 10 per cent of the world’s marine pollutions made up of abandoned driftnets, clearing up the mess is a big job, and one Kirsten is happy to help with.

“One percent of our profits are donated to the Australian Marine Conservation Society to support their work protecting the Great Barrier Reef.”

The Rocks Push partners with artists from around the world to create fun, bright prints that are perfect for a day at the beach followed by those long summer nights. “Having a piece of clothing you love and you’re going to take care of is a big part of shopping sustainably. If you can wear our pieces lounging around the pool and pair with a linen shirt to wear out for a summer night, then that’s better than buying two separate pieces.”

Tips from The Rocks Push for adding to your summer wardrobe:

  • Buy pieces you love – Buying pieces you really love and are going to wear again and again is the best way to shop. Care for your purchases and they should last for seasons to come.
  • Cover up with Linen – Staying protected from the sun during summer is important, so covering up with a light linen shirt during the day is going to help cover your skin.
  • Stay cool at night – pairing a bright pair of board shorts with a light linen top is the perfect smart night time summer outfit.

See more from The Festive Collective here