Our Sunshine People

Stay close to those who feel like sunshine. By far one of our most favourite words to live by and something that we’re honouring this month in celebration of our latest collection, Sunshine People. We sat down with four of our most loved creatives and entrepreneurs, who really do bring the sunshine into our life whenever we’re around them. Coming from all walks of life, we’re chatting all about fostering ‘sunshine’ into our lives through work, passions, creating and everything in between. 

TROY FREYEE - FOUNDER OF FREYEE PHOTOGRAPHY

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF- WHO YOU ARE, AND WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

My name is Troy Freyee aka Freyee photography I am a fashion based photographer who grew up on the sunshine coast. I started photography approximately 8 years ago and have never looked back. I love the passion it brings out of me and all the amazing people I get to meet along the way.

WHAT SETS YOUR SOUL ON FIRE AND BRINGS SUNSHINE INTO YOUR LIFE?  

Oh great question, because there are A LOT of things that set my soul on fire & brings sunshine in my life :) my friends, my job, my family, my house, the nature, the beautiful world haha i could go on… i'm so darn grateful for my life.

CREATING IS A BIG PART OF YOUR LIFE, WHEN DID THIS PASSION BEGIN? 

It all began just over 8 years ago, I was working as a manager at JayJays and I was thinking there must be more to life than working in retail… so i bought a camera randomly and then started taking pictures and realised how much love i have for it… from there it was just a snowball effect - I suppose it was all meant to be :)

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONAL STYLE?

Hmmm great question, my favourite type of style would be raw and real with a bit of emotion in it… I'm not sure what you would call that style, but I hope I fit into that.

WHO IS A SPECIAL SOMEONE OR PEOPLE THAT BRINGS SUNSHINE INTO YOUR LIFE? 

Ohh, that's too hard to narrow down, I have so many special people in my life.. You know who you are :)

WHAT ARE SOME DAILY PRACTICES THAT GROUND YOU AND KEEP THE SUNSHINE IN YOUR LIFE? 

Usually when i'm feeling ungrounded I go on a beach walk & do some breathe work… basically take some time out for me and only me.

YOU SHOT OUR GORGEOUS ‘SUNSHINE PEOPLE’ COLLECTION WITH THE BEAUTIFUL SAM, WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE STYLE FROM THE COLLECTION?

Ohh that's also a hard question.. If i had to pick it would be the Anita Dress and the long boilersuit. I love the 70’s energy of these pieces! 

WE SHOOT QUITE A LOT WITH YOU, AND IT’S ALWAYS SUCH A VIBE. WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE THING ABOUT SHOOT DAYS?

I love shooting days with you… I love your whole team, I love the fun bold looks you do.. And think outside of the box energy you all bring… I just love that we are all on the same page which always makes it a fun day. I always get excited when we get a day together.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR TROY?

Oh, I have so many exciting things on the horizon. I am bringing out an exclusive fine art print range with my United States stockist this week which I'm so excited about… I am heading to Europe for 3 months this year and I am in the process of making my first ever coffee table book. 

ANITA GHISE - DESIGNER, CO-FOUNDER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR, ANDEAN

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF- WHO YOU ARE, AND WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

I was born in Romania, a multicultural history of different tribes of refugees for many many generations. 

Myself and my brothers and parents escaped Romania under communist dictatorship and found a new home in germany. We moved around a lot, initially between refugee homes.

It was a bit of a rough place to grow up and I've always searched for some place that would feel like home. I tried to move back to Romania as a teenager only to realize that I was as much a foreigner in my home country as I was anywhere else.

Which was a big moment in my life. I then spent some time with my aunt in Eugene, Oregon in the US which I loved. Back in Europe I kept on moving around a lot until I somehow ended up coming to Australia (another long story for another day) - more precisely Byron Bay, the Arts factory,  in 2008 it was I believe and that was the moment where I knew I had found home.

WHAT SETS YOUR SOUL ON FIRE AND BRINGS SUNSHINE INTO YOUR LIFE?  

My main source of soul sunshine are my furry family - my rescue dog Jeru and my rescue kitty Mr Myagi and of course my partner and soulmate Dave. 

As well as living by the ocean, being able to immerse in it every day, the sound of birds around my house, the touch of soil, digging my hands deep into it. Growing my own food, throwing roots in deeply into this Australian home soil. 

Holding my face into the sunshine, the sound of wind rushing through tree canopies. All the simple things.

And - I love the freedom of dressing up every day however my soul pleases. You’ll see me in a golden jumpsuit walking my dog or a fancy gown, or my bfs t-shirt. It’s all about that freedom of expression in dressing that keeps me happy.

CREATING IS A BIG PART OF YOUR LIFE, WHEN DID THIS PASSION BEGIN? 

Ohhh, for as long as I can think. When I was really young - I designed my own clothes, which at the time were ruffled dresses with ruffled aprons and had my grandma and aunts sew and knit them for me, haha.

Quickly i proceeded to my own sewing- i loved rummaging through flea markets and altering and changing pieces to what I had on my mood boards (at the time magazine cut outs) and eventually i studied Fashion at Uni in Buenos Aires, Argentina (another long story for another day) with a major in pattern making and garment tech. And even proceeded to learn the art of shoemaking after uni.

The desire to create for me manifests in so many shapes and forms and it is probably the only time where I can fully immerse myself in the moment effortlessly.

WHICH SUNSHINE PEOPLE PIECE CAN YOU SEE YOURSELF LIVING IN THE MOST?

The Anita Dress, of course! 

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONAL STYLE?

Eclectic.

WHO IS A SPECIAL SOMEONE OR PEOPLE THAT BRINGS SUNSHINE INTO YOUR LIFE? 

My soulmate and partner Dave, my best friend Mimi and a my very selected group of soulmates here in Aus - and my family that lives far away, but are true sunshine despite our rocky past

WHAT ARE SOME DAILY PRACTICES THAT GROUND YOU AND KEEP THE SUNSHINE IN YOUR LIFE? 

The daily practice of gratitude first thing in the morning, followed by a meditation and a sunrise walk with my dog on the beach ( I am an early riser, I love being up before the sun), exercise keeps me sane - at the moment i'm loving Peaches Pilate in Byron and of course - Yoga forever. A practice that encapsulates it all for me.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR ANITA? 

She nevers knows. It's all abrupt attunement and alignment. I’m definitely more intuitive than calculated. Whatever feels right and good is next.

Stay tuned. I know I will.

SACI MATA - MOTHER & FOUNDER OF GLOW TATTS

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF- WHO YOU ARE, AND WHERE ARE YOU FROM? 

My name is Saci, I'm the founder of GLO TATTS and a Brand Manager - born and raised in the Byron Shire. I'm an identical twin, from a family of 9 kids we were brought up in a very spiritual, hippy way. I travelled the world from an early age and have ticked off all the places that my heart has ever desired. I’m a new mother to my beautiful daughter Winona; my miracle baby after a long 8 year journey to get her, she’s here and she’s perfect I’m taking a good chunk of time off ‘work’ to soak up every inch of motherhood. 

WHAT SETS YOUR SOUL ON FIRE AND BRINGS SUNSHINE INTO YOUR LIFE?  

YOU’RE THE OWNER OF GLO TATTS - CAN YOU TALK TO US ABOUT THIS BUSINESS AND HOW THIS VENTURE CAME ABOUT? 

GLO TATTS is my first born really! I created the business 9 years ago from an idea my eldest sister and I had when we were going to music festivals. We loved the dress up element, and skin adornment, our childhood was spent at Hare Krishna temples, festivals etc so the Indian culture is a huge influence on the business as was Avatar the movie and the glow skin of the Na’vi people. 

The idea sprung to mix gold temporary tattoos and glow in the dark tattoos together which had never been done before but after an extensive search I found a manufacturer willing to partake in the idea with me and develop the product. I was feverish about the idea, so designed and manufactured 3 packs and took them to Splendour in the Grass and was applying it for free on punters and doing a street style blog and it was picked up by a local newspaper, then a beautiful actress Nat Kelley, then the retail giant Free People under Urban Outfitters started stocking the product and boom within 3 months I had to quit my day job.

Since then my designs have been worn by celebrities on red carpets, tv shows and I’ve collaborated on designs with celebs, influencers, stylists, brands and of course my twin sister who is a talented illustrator! She has also been a big support of the business over the years. 

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONAL STYLE?

My personal style is pretty bohemian, with a touch of sexy! Comfort is key but I also love a statement through vibrant colour. 

WHO IS A SPECIAL SOMEONE OR PEOPLE THAT BRINGS SUNSHINE INTO YOUR LIFE? 

I have the most incredible network of beautiful friends, becoming a mother really solidified my love and adoration of women and the mothers in my life, I don’t know how I got so lucky to have such a strong support network. My 3 sisters are also sunshine in my world and my divine nieces. 

WHICH SUNSHINE PEOPLE PIECE CAN YOU SEE YOURSELF LIVING IN THE MOST?

When I saw the collection the very first dress caught my eye, and it’s called the Winnie Dress - which is my daughter Winona’s nickname so of course ‘that’ was my dress…plus the green colour way matches my red hair so it was love at first sight. 

WHAT ARE SOME DAILY PRACTICES THAT GROUND YOU AND KEEP THE SUNSHINE IN YOUR LIFE? 

WHAT’S NEXT FOR SACI? 

What’s next? That’s a hard question and an easy one all at once. On one hand I am quite literally living the fullest life with everything I have ever dreamed of with the arrival of my baby girl, buying a home (at 7 months pregnant!), having a wonderful partner, being surrounded by a beautiful network of friends and family and also having a creative outlet through my business. And on the other I hope to keep growing GLO after a very quiet few years through covid, I hope to keep helping build brands that I love and believe in, I want to take my daughter all over the world and experience it all again through the lens of motherhood and continue to nurture my relationships and create new connections. 

I’ve always lived my life with the motto of wanting to ‘see all the people and do all the things’ which I’ve embraced fully and now I’m loving and living by this quote: “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” - Albert Einstein. 

RADA CAMPBELL - MOTHER & ENTREPRENEUR, SATVIK FOODS. 

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF- WHO YOU ARE, AND WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

I am a mother, creative and entrepreneur. I was born into the Hare Krishna religion in Northern NSW and spent most of my childhood running wild with my 8 siblings. Growing up, I was deeply influenced by stories and traditions of the varied spiritual doctrines my eccentric mother subscribed to. This left me with a rich curiosity, and audaciousness to seek out the world for myself. I spent many years overseas and returned to my roots to raise my own daughters in the little rainforest village of Uki.

WHAT SETS YOUR SOUL ON FIRE AND BRINGS SUNSHINE INTO YOUR LIFE?  

Connecting deeply with people, dancing like nobody's watching, swimming in the ocean during a storm, and creating with my hands - whether I’m sewing, drawing, cooking or writing.

CREATING IS A BIG PART OF YOUR LIFE, WHEN DID THIS PASSION BEGIN? 

Satvik Foods was created by my wonderful sister, Kat, in her home kitchen back in 2010. It is a health food business that specialises in creating delicious and nutritious meal packs using high-quality ingredients. Our products are inspired by traditional Ayurvedic principles, which emphasise the importance of a balanced and wholesome diet for overall health and wellbeing. We offer a range of products that are all made with natural wholesome ingredients. What sets Satvik Foods apart is our delicious flavours and ease of use, as well as our commitment to sustainability and eco-friendliness. It has been an honour for me to help grow and expand it. I have focused on the creative side of the business, developing recipe tutorials, building our online presence, and transitioning our packaging to certified home compostable materials. Our commitment to quality, sustainability, and deliciousness has allowed us to expand our reach nationally and even feature on live TV shopping channel. It's been an exciting journey, and we are always looking for new ways to innovate and grow.

WHICH SUNSHINE PEOPLE PIECE CAN YOU SEE YOURSELF LIVING IN THE MOST?

My wardrobe is brimming with NLB treasures. I am excited for this release, especially the beautiful Winnie Dress in Arcadia, and the Andie Midi Dress in Wildflower.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONAL STYLE?

Fashion and colour theory has always played a huge part in my personal style from as young as I can remember. My background is fashion design, and making myself clothing was an intrinsic expression and communication through my adolescence, and young adult life. Nowadays I follow the ancient Ayurveda colours of the week to guide what I wear. For example, Friday is ruled by the planet Venus, the divine feminine and the colour pink, which is why I have chosen the beautiful Andie Midi Dress with its pink and gold wildflowers.

WHO IS A SPECIAL SOMEONE OR PEOPLE THAT BRINGS SUNSHINE INTO YOUR LIFE? 

I am so fortunate to be surrounded by women made of pure sunshine, from my daughters and sisters, to my best friends and work collaborators. I think it is so important who you share energy with, and I am a huge advocate for boundaries and observing who you are and how you feel around people. This kind of self care allows you to radiate authentically, and invites those around you to do the same.

WHAT ARE SOME DAILY PRACTICES THAT GROUND YOU AND KEEP THE SUNSHINE IN YOUR LIFE? 

Starting my day with ginger tea and writing in my 5 Minute Journal has become a ritual that I like to keep. It helps me to focus on the things that I'm grateful for, and to set positive intentions for the day ahead. When I don’t have time to write, I close my eyes and bring these things to my mind in clear pictures, and it always has a big impact on my mood and outlook.

One of the things that I'm most proud of is how my daily practices have inspired my daughters to start practising mindfulness and gratitude on their own. They see me taking time for myself each morning, and they've started doing the same thing. It's amazing to see them growing into mindful, resilient young women.

I've also been experimenting with a new practice recently, where I consciously give thanks for the time I spend on my phone or computer each day. I used to feel guilty about spending too much time online, but reframing it as something to be grateful for has really helped me shift my perspective. It reminds me that technology can be a source of connection and learning, but that it's also important to disconnect and seek out meaningful experiences offline.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR RADA? 

I am on a big healing journey at the moment, reconciling a colourful, yet often neglected childhood. Mending generational trauma is an important step to clearing the way for my next exploration. As well as feeling a sense of belonging within my community for the first time, I am feeling more inspired and creative than ever before, and I am exploring new artistic projects that I never would have had the confidence to pursue in the past. I am also thinking about how I can use my experiences to help others who may be struggling with trauma or a sense of disconnection. Ultimately, my goal is to live a life that is authentic and fulfilling, and I am excited to see where this adventure takes me.