Leatheron.

Tell us about your label, Leatheron, and how it all began.

You can say that I grew into it. During my early childhood, I grew up around my grandma, who made clothe for the family, because we were poor. We used to go fabric shopping together and I would do the bargaining in the markets. My first stitches came from her manual machine with a side roll and a foot pedal. I was also under the care of my aunty for sometime before my teens, she was a model and my love for fashion was a given. I designed my first leather jacket when I was twelve. The jacket was designed to match my signature Jordan shoes. I love the idea that I had something that was unique, it made me feel like a superhero.

What do you love about working with leather?

From a young age I travelled a lot, due to having separated parents. I had to mature quicker than other kids and be mentally tougher. I got this toughness from my life experiences and learnings. Every new environment became a fresh learning and development process. I made a life pattern from an early stage to live without regrets. I live everyday knowing that time will never stop. My ideas will never stop. All my sketches are drawn using a pen. I do not want to be fixated on mistakes, but quickly learn from them and create the next with a better calculated execution. Leather is something can not to altered or changed with ease. Hence my love of working with it. Leather is a material that only moves forward and can not shift backwards like life and time.

 

What exciting creative projects do you have planned for the next 12 months?

I am currently working on 3 new collections. I have just finished the Silencer Collection.

1.   Heroes Collection - inspired from Marvel Heroes.

2.   White Collection - couture dresses for evening and event wear.

3.   TbyGe - casual leather detailing using cotton, denim and knit.

What can market-folk expect to find at the June event?

I will be showcasing two of my newest collection, Silencer and 11Kingdoms. The Silencer Collection is about strength in contrast. I used distressed leather to represent raw hardship and created drapery and curved silhouettes to really focus on contouring the frame. 11Kingdoms is about giving power to the wearer. I drew inspiration from Game of Thrones. I wanted to represent each individual house from show with different pieces. There was an emphasis on modernised armour look. I created this collection to be simple, structured, wearable but detailed enough to be versatile and flexible as it transforms from office professional to subtle evening event wear.

 

What is it about Hustle&Scout Hobart that made you want to be involved?

Tegan the owner of Hustle&Scout is someone who is true to her art and I support that. I also think this is a great way to enter the Tasmanian market.

 

MY FAVE THINGS

Food - because food is my second love.

Family - because they are with you through thick and thin.

Shoes - because shoes tell a lot about the wearer.

 

Australian fashion designers:

Betty Tran - can stack details together so well
Arthur Gallan - commercialised his label well 
Akira - just a hero
Camilla and Marc - Love their subtle and strong lines

 
Meal to have cooked for you:
Eggplant and potato with chicken - My favourite Mum’s dish.

 

Fashion piece you have made:
My interchangable coat, it was a trend coat that turned into a sports jacket that was able to be wore with a single zip or double breasted look. The coat excess turned into a side bag. - This is one of the hardest piece that I have ever worked on. It took 2 years from idea to garment.

 

Country you have visited:

Morocco - my wife’s country.

Item in your studio:

My pen and paper - where it all begins.