The interaction of soft materials with optical vortices can give rise to exciting new science and technology. In this paper, I will review a few recent examples of research based on such combination. In particular, I will consider the recently demonstrated applications of the liquid crystal "q-plates" to quantum communication without the need to align the reference frames of the communicating parties and to ultra-sensitive measurement of rotation angles, the latter by the new device concept dubbed "photonic gears". Moreover, I will discuss the observation of nanometric spiral-shaped structures generated by vortex light on the surface of azopolymers.