The Story Behind the Name
So, what does Sustainably Sunpres even mean?
The Story Behind the Name
I’ve been meaning to write this for a while, but I kept waiting for the perfect idea to come. Then it hit me, that’s not very Sustainably Sunpres of me.
Sunpres (originally sunpres_studio) was my first Instagram handle after the cringingly named lovebiscuit, circa 2011. It started as my professional photography Insta and website. The name came from sunprint, one of the earliest words for photography, and press, as in print. I dropped an s because it looked cuter. I liked the sound of pre over press and kept it as a nod to my photography roots. Sunpres, pronounced “sun pre.”
Then came Sustainably.
It followed the studio, the camera, and years spent striving for creative perfection that was never mine to achieve. What came next was something I’ve always loved: thrifting. It’s never been a phase, thrifting has always brought me joy. I’ve been frequenting Op Shops (New Zealand’s name for charity shops) for as long as I can remember, from finding sports-day costumes at school to dress-ups. It’s where creativity meets conscience: where what you wear tells a story, not follows one. It’s the volunteers, the surprise of a find, and the feeling of knowing you’re wearing something no one else is.
A while back (2017), I set myself a New Year’s resolution to only purchase pre-loved, which I’ve stuck with. But I’ve realised that sustainability isn’t meant to be a rule you live by, it’s a relationship you build with yourself. Instead of hiding away anything that wasn’t pre-loved, I’m learning that sustainability isn’t a rulebook I wrote for myself. It’s finding balance and giving yourself permission.
Being Sustainably Sunpres isn’t about being perfect. I don’t live light; I live loud. And that’s okay. Sustainably is being authentically you. Doing what feels natural, not wearing a costume you have to take off at the end of the day. It’s reminding yourself you’re doing your best. We’re so good at self-criticism that we forget that beating ourselves up isn’t sustainable either.
I went to see Miriam Margolyes’ show in Dublin a couple of weeks back, and I wanted to buy a T-shirt. Before I let myself feel any level of guilt, I reminded myself why I wanted it; I love Miriam. She’s in her eighties, unapologetic, wears what she wants, and says what she thinks. That’s the kind of energy I want more of. She’s proof that you don’t lose relevance with age, and that confidence doesn’t need permission. The ESG rating for the T-shirt was “good”, but that’s beside the point. Haha, can’t help myself.
Sustainability is doing your bit, making your mark, and feeling proud of it. Focusing on the good. Appreciating the bad. Finding that middle ground between caring and over-caring.
Right now, getting dressed is my daily way to stay creative without having to overthink it, because it comes naturally. Every piece of clothing tells a story: where I found it, who I was with, the compliments that came with it. My camera’s been quiet lately, but my wardrobe’s doing the talking.
The more we share, the more we realise we’re not that different in what we think and feel. It’s connection, not comparison, that keeps us creative.
Sustainably Sunpres is all of that for me: the balance, the awareness, the colour, the loudness. It’s permission to keep creating, keep trying, and keep being real. If there’s a rulebook I’ll live by, it’s being sustainably me.
x Brodie
