As Seen in Paradiso Magazine
Radical Yes is a brand that was first and foremost conceived to make shoes and bags that would give women the freedom to move, in turn allowing them to be creative in their daily life while feeling grounded. Being able to share and celebrate the work of creative women, whether friends, customers, team members or muses, has always been one of our highest values.
That's why when we came across Byron Bay based, independent, female owned and led publication Paradiso, we felt they were a perfect partner to introduce us to inspiring, creative women within their community.
Meet three local Northern Rivers women doing creative things, who in their own ways, share our 'hasten slowly' philosophy of being productive in a considered and self-directed way.
Words by Nat Woods. Photos by Lila Theodoros. Shoes by Radical Yes.
Lora Ward - Designer, art director and publisher
Who are you and what do you create?
I am a designer and art director. I also run Good Publishings, (soon to be Bacteria Books) a bookstore, distributor and independent publisher. I see it as a means to contribute to culture and community through a place of assemblage, collecting and ongoingness. The project was founded for the cultivation of conversations and connectivity between artists and creatives through the medium of print and has ignited a personal search and exploration for the unexpected. A compendium of ideas. A gatherer of the book.
What does the creative rhythm of your days look like?
My days vary immensely but more and more I value malleability and the opportunity to work in the realm of the physical and material. After a very computer-heavy career, the things that really ignite my creativity are through the use of my hands – whether that be building a boat with my Dad or baking bread once a week with a wonderful woman in Wardell. The physical helps me enter a sphere of cosmic reverie that in turn carves out space for visceral creativity to exist.
What is currently inspiring you?
Being a sponge of all human, non-human and novel environments. Soaking everything up allows one to become the water that intricately disperses nourishment on all that it surrounds. Some inspiring readings that friends have handed to me are: The Carrier Bag Theory of Fiction by Ursula K. Le Guin, Pharmako/Poeia by Dale Pendell and an essay on Queer Theory for Lichens by David Griffiths. All have a similar symbiotic view that the linear binary world that has been handed to us is tightening its grip and has led us in a singular direction. I also love Brian Eno’s theory of Scenious and Creative Intelligence of a Community. He speaks of new ideas articulated by an individual that are generated by a community as a whole.
What do you consider radical?
I have really been loving listening to the interviews of Timothy Morton. He manages to weave a delicate web of positivity around the Anthropocene and the ending of the world as we currently know it and the interconnectedness that surrounds us all. He has coined the term ‘Hyperobjects’ which is his concept of matter so large and complex, we as humans can no longer grasp them or understand our individual relationship with them. Things such as plastic, styrofoam and global warming have grown to such a scale that they become impossible to define. Morton argues that in order to understand such things, we have to shift the way we understand the world.
Lora wears our Grace Velcro Mary Jane in Milk Leather and Neptune Hiking Sandal in Black/Milk splice.
Nidala Barker - Proud Djugun musician, sustainability educator and activist.
Who are you and what do you create?
I am, as we all are, many things! At the moment what I am the most is a musician, a custodianship educator, an Indigenous rights activist, a nature education mentor for kids and a self-taught tiny house builder. I create anything that helps me lean closer to a sovereign state of being, where by standing firmly on my feet I can make a space to bring people together ... (but I think my favourite will always be music).
What does the creative rhythm of your days look like?
Pure chaos, always.
What is currently inspiring you?
My big sister. Untethered to past ideas of herself and graceful in admitting her mistakes. She is not yet clear on her role in the world and that is part of her magic. She is the type of woman who navigates the world on storm winds and gentle tide, with curious eyes and the sweetest of hearts. It is beyond me how someone wouldn’t be inspired by her very presence.
What do you consider radical?
Taking my time. Following inspiration with no set purpose. Prioritising process. I have no interest in reaching destinations. I want to spend my days sitting in the middle of the road with mangoes and hot tea, talking to strangers and playing with the bugs ... and maybe by doing so, I can prick the curiosity of those rushing past, so they too may slow down enough to see the ants crawling under their toes. In my eyes the most radical act of all is reclaiming our time.
Nidala wears our Solstice Fisherman Sandal in Black Leather and our Neptune Hiking Sandal in Bronze.
Paige Miller - Upholsterer
Who are you and what do you create?
Hi! I’m Paige Miller from The Dusty Road. TDR is a team of creatives and artisans that upholster and create custom made furniture.
What does the creative rhythm of your days look like?
It’s forever changing but there’s always music playing in the background.
What is currently inspiring you?
Music and art are a constant inspiration. Colour and fun fabrics always inspire new ideas. And my friends – they’re all so talented, interesting and colourful in their own ways.
What do you consider radical?
People driving positive change. Original ideas that challenge the status quo. Choosing colour.
Paige wears our Double Happiness Slide in Chocolate (currently sold out). See more sandals and slides here.
