While summer is winding down in the northern hemisphere, for our friends in the south, things are about to heat up. As an Australian living in London, I’m kind of between both – and when I’m missing home, I turn to my favourite Australian brands to bring a little of its sunny shores back to me.
Whether you’re reluctant to let go of summer or are getting ready for the season to finally come your way, we’ve teamed up with Papa Salt, the quintessentially Australian coastal gin, to celebrate some of our favourite Australian brands across fashion, beauty, interiors and food to keep summer going, wherever you happen to be.
The Coastal Gin To Keep On Hand For Cocktail Hour
Papa Salt, the lovechild of Australian royalty Margot Robbie, her husband Tom Ackerley and three of their closest friends, is a pretty good place to start when you’re chasing that Australian summer feeling. Distilled in Byron Bay using native botanicals, it’s an easy-drinking gin with bright citrus and floral notes and a hint of salinity. Pour it over ice with soda or tonic, use it as the base for your favourite cocktail and display the sea-blue glass bottle proudly on your shelf, bar cart or anywhere you want people to see what excellent taste you have in drinks. £40.99, Papa Salt at Selfridges
The Throw-On-And-Go Dress
If you get a peek at the wardrobes of some of Australia’s best-dressed, you’ll spot St. Agni hanging proudly. This Byron Bay design studio is all about considered, minimalist pieces, and this cotton-jersey mini dress is the ultimate wardrobe staple. Throw it on with sandals to call upon those long, hot Australian summer days, or layer over jeans with a thick coat when the weather turns. AUD $279, St. Agni
The Shorts You’ll Wear Everywhere
Fellow Byron Bay brand Nagnata is one of those labels that Australians in the know seem to live in. Designed to move from studio to street, these high-stretch knitted shorts are made from superfine Merino wool, making them breathable, temperature-regulating and very comfortable. They’re made for the kind of warm, slow days we’re dreaming about. AUD $240, Nagnata
The Multi-Tasking Hair Oil
Australian-founded, Black-owned haircare brand Bread Beauty Supply was created by Maeva Heim to make nourishing, uncomplicated haircare for textured hair (though it works on all hair types). Its Everyday Gloss is the kind of do-it-all elixir you’ll want to keep within arm’s reach: a lightweight oil that hydrates and seals in moisture, leaving hair and skin soft glossy. A few drops give you that post-saltwater sheen, even if you haven’t been anywhere near the water. £22, Bread Beauty Supply at Cult Beauty
The One-Step SPF
In Australia, SPF isn’t optional. The sun has a way of reminding you of that pretty quickly (cue rouge-tinged shoulders). Naked Sundays makes this non-negotiable one of your favourite steps in your skincare routine. BeautyBarrier is a mineral SPF that doubles as a smoothing primer, for a soft-focus finish to skin, whether you wear it alone or under makeup. More importantly, it offers broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection while helping to soothe and support the skin barrier. £28, Naked Sundays at Sephora
The Towel For The Beach And Beyond
Some things are synonymous with a coastal lifestyle, and a good towel is high on the list. Baina’s Busby Pool Towel is made from 100% organic cotton, with a soft, weighty feel and a reversible chequerboard design. Throw it over your shoulder for the beach or pool, drape it over a sun lounger or reserve it for home when you’re back on dry land. AUD $140, Baina
The Scent That Takes You To The Sunshine
Scent is one of the quickest ways to transport yourself somewhere else, and Dutchie’s Sundowner incense sticks take you straight to a sunset Down Under. Hand-rolled in Indonesia from organic herbs, they’re infused with lemongrass, clove and citronella, which also naturally help keep mosquitoes at bay. No matter your postcode, light one as the sun starts to dip and let that sweet smell do the rest. AUD $26, Dutchie
The Bikini You Can (Will) Practically Live In
Australian summers are characterised by cozzies (swimwear, for those wondering) and, if you can believe it, we’ll wear them from the water to the cafe to the supermarket and everywhere in between. Zulu & Zephyr’s Signature range is made from recycled fibres and designed to hold its shape, whether you’re swimming, sunbaking or doing the dash from sand to sea. For those of us facing winter, we’ll just have to make do with donning them the sauna but close your eyes and, for a blissful moment, imagine you’re soaking up the heat on the Sunshine Coast. AUD $90, Zulu & Zephyr
The Glassware For A Proper Pour
What’s a summer drinks trolley without a chic glassware? These hand-blown borosilicate glasses from Australian design house Maison Balzac come with a little lime suspended in the base, so you’re never without that final garnish. We’re filling ours with plenty of ice, tonic and a generous pour of Papa Salt, before we find somewhere in the sun to sit (knowing London weather, that might be under a very bright lamp). AUD $119, Maison Balzac
The Cap That Says It All
Nothing is more Australian than acknowledging the First Peoples of this land, home to the world’s oldest living culture who have cared for Country for more than 60,000 years. Sovereignty was never ceded and Take Pride Movement’s Sacred Land 5-Panel Cap puts that message front and centre, with “Sacred Land” written across the front and the Aboriginal flag on the side. This is as Australian as it gets. £32, Take Pride Movement
