Hoot's Rescue Story
By Jaide & Steve
Nightfall, Lamington QLD
Precious Hoot’s story began alone in a dry paddock two valleys north east from Nightfall. Local fellow Bruce was out on his tractor when he spotted this tiny ball of silver white fluff. Bruce thought he had found a baby Kookaburra. Now this kind fellow has an interesting phobia... A phobia of feathers. Due to his fear he was unable to pick this little bundle up let alone care for it. Bruce called for his wife Janice to collect the baby bird and search for a nest and parents. 
At the time when Hoot was found the Scenic Rim, along with most of the east coast of Australia was experiencing severe drought and wild fires. With a wild fire blazing only a few kilometres from where Hoot was found. Possibly her parents had flown away to safety unable to take their newly hatched chick with them... We can only guess.
Hoot then went into the care of Bruce and Janice daughter Laura who is part of the Nightfall team. The days Laura worked baby Hoot, a Tawney Frogmouth would come with her in a tiny little old foam esky, constantly making sweet chirping noises and sleeping in the shade of the birds nest ferns. Unfortunately Laura was unable to continue caring for baby Hoot. Laura’s 2yrs old daughter loved Hoot but did not understand Hoot was a wild animal not a toy to play with. This is when Steve and Jaide Nightfall’s hosts became Hoot’s full time committed carer’s on the 2nd of December 2019.
Steve began to research so as he could understand their new little companion. He figured that by Hoot’s weight we could determine how old Hoot is. On the 14th of December 2019 Hoot weighed 168 grams so most likely 5 weeks old. She was definitely a fledgling as she was beginning to use her wings to explore and catch food.
Tawny Frogmouth’s mainly eat insects on rare occasions they eat frogs, lizards or mice. Hoot’s diet is mostly pellets made from ground up insects and what can be found and caught on the Nightfall grounds. In summer their was abundance of insects especially grasshoppers which Hoot loved. She would consume 8-12 in the evenings.
Hoot has never been kept in a cage, she has a tree stump at the main building where she spends most of the daytime sunbathing and sleeping. As the sun sets at Nightfall Hoot takes off to find food and most likely a companion. From a young age Hoot has responded to Steve and Jaide's call. She would sit on shoulders as they walked about and loved being cuddled she is very loving and affectionate. Steve has made a roost just on the outside of his safari tent home Hoot comes and goes as she pleases usually returning at 5am for cuddles. Flying into the safari tent and making herself very comfortable with Steve and Jaide as they have a morning cuppa.
On the 28th September 2020 Hoot did her usual fly into the safari tent 5am ... but this time was unsettled was behaving like she was trying to make a nest. By about 6am there was a beautiful little egg. Hoot is now in season unsure of how much longer she will be with Nightfall Camp at the edge of wold heritage Lamington National Park. Her desire to find a mate will be strong and of course the Nightfall Team hopes that she does. 
Born out of an appreciation for the natural world and an affinity for the outdoors, SHAPES IN THE SAND is an Australian swimwear and lifestyle label that has been contributing to sustainability within the industry for over a decade.
In 2012, Alexandra Dash founded SHAPES IN THE SAND while studying Fashion Production and Textile Design at Sydney’s Ultimo TAFE. Recognising the environmental impact of the fashion industry, Alex dedicated her final year to exploring circularity and responsible manufacturing, establishing the foundation for the distinctive playfully Australian identity that SHAPES IN THE SAND embodies today.
With a Diploma in Sustainable Living, Alexandra has not only crafted a unique brand but has also played a role in encouraging responsible practices within her community and the broader fashion landscape. SHAPES IN THE SAND stands as a testament to her commitment to both purpose driven design and environmental responsibility.
"Our commitment is to sustainably shape exceptional Australian made swimwear by implementing purpose driven approach. We strive to foster a movement towards thoughtful fashion decisions, empowering people to make choices that benefit both themselves and the Earth. Our purpose is to encourage and support the protection of native wildlife and habitat through community-based conservation partnerships." - Alexandra Dash
Circular Design
Circular fabrics form the lively canvas for the imaginative Australian textile prints of SHAPES IN THE SAND, each design celebrating the natural world with attention to detail and vibrant, colourful considerations. Since the very beginning, SHAPES IN THE SAND has consistently centred its values around circularity, local Australian manufacturing, and community-based conservation.
At the core of the labels commitment is a closed-loop system, where pre and post-consumer materials seamlessly reenter the production cycle, giving rise to new life. Fibres are sourced from diverse materials, including plastic waste destined for landfills, discarded ghost fishing nets, and other pre and post-consumer items like carpet fluff.
Fabrics, originating from Italy, adhere to the stringent OEKO-TEX® recycled standards, ensuring sustainability throughout our supply chain. Printing takes place locally in Sydney, Australia, using a method that is water-free and avoids harsh chemicals. This commitment not only guarantees the durability of our prints but also reflects our dedication to minimizing environmental impact. Through this eco-friendly approach, we assure you of vivid, enduring, and colorfast prints, inviting you to embrace both style and sustainability in every piece from SHAPES IN THE SAND.
Environment
SHAPES IN THE SAND swimwear is made locally in Sydney, Australia. We propel a minimal waste approach across all areas of the business. We consider the environmental impact of each process involved from the sourcing right through to the distribution of our capsule collections.
An outstanding commitment towards local conservation is recognised through the valuable partnerships we have formed. Supporting local not-for-profit organisations including WIRES Wildlife Rescue, BirdLife Australia, Aussie Ark and OceanWatch, Shapes in the Sand has provided critical support towards helping to protect vulnerable native species and habitat.
Local production
SHAPES IN THE SAND collections come to life through our partnership with a local swimwear manufacturer. A production house, run by the skilled artisans Raymond and Ivy, is a small family-run business based in Sydney. Operating with a commitment to sustainability, patterns are meticulously cut using minimal waste practices to minimise leftover fabric remnants. Any remaining fabric is carefully taken back to our studio and repurposed.
Each SHAPES IN THE SAND collection is crafted to be unique and is produced in small quantities, a choice to prevent garment waste and overproduction. We firmly believe in the philosophy of choosing garments thoughtfully and ensuring longevity. By adhering to these principles, we aim to make a positive impact on both the fashion industry and the environment, providing our customers with pieces that are considered and made for their intended purpose.
Our packaging
SHAPES IN THE SAND has a zero plastic packaging policy. Your swimwear is packed using only recycled, circular and sustainably sourced materials. All packaging comes from responsible certified sources.
Swing tags are made from 100% recycled card using non toxic inks for printing. Logo and Care Labels are made from regenerated fibres derived from recovered materials.
Swimwear bottoms and one pieces are lined with compostable hygiene liners, replacing the plastic ones that are widely used in the industry.
We're a Global Commitment signatory - part of the Plastics Economy to help eliminate problematic plastic especially within our manufacturing ; supplier to business where it's a little more challenging. Our Commitments are:
1. Take action to eliminate problematic or unnecessary plastic packaging by
2. 100% of plastic packaging to be reusable, recyclable, or compostable
3. 100% post-consumer recycled content target across all plastic packaging
