Here at E-C, we know about the value of giving back and so we started the search for a charity to support. This was not an easy task, with so many incredible charities within Australia and overseas.

Our family business is run by a father and daughter team aka Mollie and Andrew. Ando (Andrew) has worked with multiple charities throughout his career in the not for profit sector and has a deep understanding on the incredible effects that charitable donations make. While Mollie also happens to be a bee enthusiast and has just started to get into bee keeping. You might think that this would make choosing this charity a clear choice, but we had many discussions about who we would support and in what way.

While we were discussing what charity to support, we were also in the redesign phase of our popular riding tights and had been thinking about the silicon stick pattern we would be using on them. The original plan was to have our circular E-C logo as the stick on our tights, however, we ended up deciding against this. We still loved the look on some type of circular pattern on them, so went back to the drawing board.  

Weeks were spent trying to think of the perfect pattern, we wanted something modern and fashionable. The stick needed to be subtle, we don't want to be sticking to the saddle, but at the same time we knew we would need something to help us be secure in the saddle. 

One day, after being given some honey from one of our neighbours, the idea arose in Mollie's head. We needed a hexagon/honeycomb pattern and bam the ideal pattern we wanted was born!  It also then led us to discover what charity we would be supporting.

 Bee The Cure 

This un-bee-lievable Victorian charity was founded in 2014 by Simon Mulvany with the purpose of saving bees who had got themselves in some tricky situations and would of been exterminated. Honey bee numbers throughout the globe are dropping. Dr Anneke Veenstra, senior lecturer at Deakin University’s School of Life and Environmental Science, believes as far as important species go, honey bees are at the top of the list. ‘They’re essential pollinators – pollinating 70 of the around 100 crop species that feed 90% of the world,’ says Dr Veenstra. 

The charity still continues to save these bees in danger of extermination, while doing school talks, having a bee sanctuary and is spreading awareness about what we can do to help the species. You can find out more about the charity here.

We need bees to help provide us with the feed our species relies on. But it's not just us that relies on bees, small birds and animals also need these little creatures to ensure a food source.

Bee colonies are dying at unprecedented rates and while the causes may be complex, bee enthusiast and eco-stress physiologist Dr Reese Halter said the use of neonicotinoids on crops, rising average temperatures globally and the spread of the varroa mite, which causes deformed wing virus in bees, were the principal causes.

Conversations with a keeper

E-C headquarters is based in a small relatively unknown place in the Southern Midlands of Tasmania. We are surrounded by rolling hills, pastures and untamed bushlands. The spirit of community runs throughout the valley, with everyone knowing each other and always being willing to lend a hand. 

As you drive down the winding roads you might catch a glimpse of 10 white boxes, fenced safely off from the sheep and cows that also roam the paddocks. These hives are owned by Allwright Honey, our local apiarist, who was kind enough to help us with this article.

Each jar of honey will have subtle flavours that reflect the environment the bees are in. Don't believe me? Buy some honey from bees that have been on a lavender farm and prepare to be amazed. Our local Allwright honey has hints of prickly box and lucerne clover. I might be biased but this honey is incredible and it has a far superior taste to a lot of the supermarket honey!

Each hive can house 60-100 000 bees and are thoughtfully placed in a spot filled with sun, but protected by wind, to provide the perfect conditions for these beautiful little creatures. 

Bee-autiful Facts

1. Bees cannot see the colour red.
2. There are over 1500 native bee species in Australia.
3. The smallest bee is called the Quasihesma and is less than 2mm long!
4. There are 10 species of bees in Australia that are stingless.
5. In Australia there are 12 000 registered bee keepers in Australia.
6. All worker bees are female.

 Want to plant some bee friendly plants in your garden, have a look at this guide. 

 Want anymore info? Please don't hesitate to get in contact.

-Team E-C xoxo