In the vibrant heart of Sydney's Northern Beaches, amidst the crashing waves and sun-soaked streets, you'll find a sanctuary of creativity and community: Meg and Nat's eclectic warehouse-style shop in Brookvale. Here, amidst the hustle and bustle, they've woven a haven where conversations flow as freely as the coffee, and new perspectives bloom like the cacti that adorn their shelves. Meg, with her penchant for art and a green thumb for cacti, and Nat, a master of craftsmanship and all things mechanical, have crafted not just a store, but a living, breathing embodiment of their passions. From handmade pots to vintage clothing, surf culture to sustainable living, their shop is a testament to their values and a reflection of their journey. Join us as we delve into their world, where creativity knows no bounds, and every corner holds a story waiting to be told.
Above Meg wears Trooper Tee Off Black World & Arch Straight Jeans Black Used. Below Nyla Top Light Grey Melange
Nat wears Trooper Tee - Pale Taupe World Traveller & Omar Baggy Jeans Canyon Light Worn
WHO ARE YOU AND WHERE ARE YOU BASED?
We are Meg and Nat from the Northern Beaches of Sydney
WHAT DO YOU DO?
Work really hard! We own an epic warehouse style shop in Brookvale. You can find hundreds of cacti, handmade and hand painted pots (all made by me), vintage clothing, artwork, coffee and local wares. It’s an eclectic mix of goods that we love and it all works together well.
Our shop doubles as a functioning timber, metal work and motorbike workshop. After finishing his shift as barista, Nat will turn around and start welding up a frame, taking apart his vintage motos or making some beautiful furniture. It’s pretty cool to see!
WHAT WAS YOUR JOURNEY TO CREATING AND OPENING YOUR STORE?
Nat already had a workshop two streets away where he was creating hand-crafted furniture. I was teaching art full time at a local high school and wanted to shift from the 9-5 life. I’ve always painted since I was a grom and have collected cacti for a long time. The first few pots and cacti I was just giving to mates until they convinced me to start selling them. I soon took over Nat's workshop which he really loved (not!), so hence our new space evolved.
Above Meg wears Trooper Tee Off Black World
DO YOUR VALUES INFORM YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO CLOTHES?
Yes of course! We are both super active and work with paint, soil, grease, saw dust etc. Our clothes need to be sturdy, comfortable and withstand lots of abuse over the years! We also both surf so with that comes a deep appreciation for the environment. We will always seek clothes that will last, have been made ethically and use fabrics and methods that aren’t toxic. If we can find these second hand, even better!
HOW DO YOU FIND YOUR LIFE SHAPES YOUR EXPRESSION THROUGH CLOTHING?
I dunno, I usually look like a grub and get weird looks at the grocery store. But I take it as a compliment because I'm wearing the clothes that I love working in and it’s pretty clear that my job is doing fun, creative things. We both like to wear comfortable clothes that carry us from one activity to the another. Surf culture/fashion is embedded in our outfit choices.
Nat wears Madi Shirt Off Black Around AOP
Meg wears Demi Singlet & Donna Baggy Jeans Stream Light Worn
WHAT DOES A WEEKENDS AT MOOR IN THE SUN LOOK LIKE?
Our shop is open from 7am-2pm. Sometimes we’ll have a painting workshop or an event after hours. If not, we’ll go to the beach, get on the Harley or work on a project.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON NOW?
My breakfast...haha but after that I’ll go shred some waste plastic. This goes into my handmade pots. I have a very short attention span though so I'll probably do ten other things as well.
HOW IMPORTANT IS CREATIVITY IN YOUR ROUTINE?
The most important. Whether its drawing new designs, experimenting with materials, researching methods, testing products or discussing concepts with other artists, it’s what drives me to work hard and keep things spicy. Nat is the most creative person I’ve met. If he’s not making something or pulling apart a carburettor for instance, he’s on YouTube constantly learning. He doesn’t like regular trashy TV. It’s a waste of time for him haha.
HOW/WHY DID YOU DECIDE ON THE INCORPORATION OF CACTI & COFFEE?
We’re in a pretty hidden spot and wanted another avenue for people to visit us. We also wanted to create community in our space. Now that we have the coffee, we’ve definitely got the community!
Above Donna Baggy Jeans Stream Light Worn & Nina Tee Off White
WHAT IS YOUR DENIM GO-TO?
Baggy jeans and an oversized tee or a vest for me. Nat's choice is slim or straight leg jeans and a regular sized tee. We like having quality jeans especially when going for a rip on the Harley.
WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO/FAVOURITE SONG CURRENTLY?
Van Morrison’s album Moondance. We have a nice collection of records.
Above Trooper Tee Off Black World
GOT TO RECIPE?
We’re both pretty lazy cooks lol. We see food as just a means to keep going and I have the patience of a flea when it comes to cooking. So we’ll probably make a salad or cut up a whole bunch of veggies and leave them in the oven while we continue working. If it takes more than 10minutes prep, I'm tapping out ahaha.
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