Post market re-cap!

Did you get along to the inaugural Hustle&Scout? It was an absolute buzz of a day in NewActon last Saturday - the place was crawling with people. After months of organising and visualising what my 'perfect market' would entail, I felt nothing but pride and relief to witness the day unfold with so much excitement and energy. We had over 2,500 people through the doors, which blew my expectations out of the water. I felt very humbled to receive positive feedback from various visitors claiming that 'Canberra needs more events like this'. My response to this is - bring it on. The biggest challenge for me now is to keep pushing the boundaries and developing new ideas that will continue to give this market a unique edge. That being said, I am absolutely pumped to bring together the 14 December market, and many more markets to come.  

One of the biggest goals I had for Hustle&Scout was to create an unrivaled atmosphere. After years of going to markets to stock up handmade and unique pieces, I have observed what, in my opinion, works really well and what does not work as well. One of the biggest elements missing from your stock-standard market, for me, has always been the lack of sensory experience. Having a room filled with stalls is one thing, but adding some trimming and extra TLC to the venue to bring it to life has the potential to take a market to another level. I felt very motivated with Hustle&Scout to develop a visual feast for visitors, which was born from a personal interest in interior decoration. I drew upon props from my pile of collected treasures, which included different sized glass bottles and jars filled with bright flowers scattered up the Nishi grand staircase (thanks to Coco and Dave Florist), handmade vintage fabric bunting, an old 1950's blackboard sign, giant round balloons, and a display of retro furniture brought to life with roaming models adorning beautiful vintage outfits and playing 'house' in their assumed characters. April's Caravan took upon this challenge and created a stunning display, which I have an inkling will feature in markets to come. I was also very keen to get one of the beautiful Rockstars & Royalty gowns displayed in the middle of the Nishi Foyer. Having only seen Rockstars & Royalty gowns in photographs or on the runway, I was very excited to give people the rare opportunity to closely admire the craftsmanship and skill involved in producing one of these spectacular gowns. While some may have found all of these trimmings a sensory over-load, it reflected me and my taste, and that is something that I want to continue to bring to each event to give it my creative stamp.

Each of the 22 stalls at Hustle&Scout did a fantastic job at bringing their spaces to life. Opshoppers featured a big spray-painted poster display that gave their stall an edgy feel; Corr Blimey staggered brightly-lit mannequins up the Nishi staircase, and Rancho made impressive, custom-made solar lighting displays to make their pieces shine. Jodie Cunningham also used solar lighting to bring her cylindrical displays to life, and Pure Pod spotted their stall with fairy lights to bring a little magic to their bustling corner spot. Feedback from the stalls has been very positive and I know many are very excited to return for the Summer market. Although the first hour was extremely busy and many stallholders battled to get through lines of customers as quickly as possible - this was the best problem to have, and we quickly learnt that the punters were on a mission to get in early! I was very honored to chat to each of the stallholders throughout the night and was blown-away at how lovely and down-to-earth each of them are. It felt like the true spirit of the design community was alive, and I was pleased to see designers catching up and laughing with each other throughout the night. For me, seeing each of the designers and collectors take so much away from the night has given me a huge boost to continue using Hustle&Scout as a platform from which emerging fashion businesses can build their client base and increase the exposure of their brands to a new demographic. 

Live music was another essential part of bringing the Nishi Foyer alive at Hustle&Scout. I was pleased to feature four different local music acts throughout the market, starting with Amber Nichols and two accompanying vocalists, who kicked-off the afternoon with some dreamy acoustic tunes. Next, we had James Pender with his acoustic guitar, who shared the stage with another male acoustic talent, followed by a female vocalist who played the flute - these guys played a range of covers and had many visitors stopped in their tracks to just watch, listen and enjoy. After the sun had set over the lake, we decided to turn up the beat a little and get DJ Jayo to fill the space with some funk and reggae music. Jayo's upbeat set saw the models from April's Caravan dancing up and down the staircase and into the crowd. Lastly, the night ended with Mr Michael luring the crowd into the Prosecco Bar, where he played his violin alongside DJ Doppel during a wonderful fashion parade coordinated by Haus Models. The fashion parade saw models showcase looks from the various Hustle&Scout stallholders. Each model channeled their wild side and wore animal masks to keep with the theme of 'Hustle' the stag and 'Scout' the fox - the two 'manimals' that represent the Hustle&Scout brand (by illustrator Alice Carroll). The models trotted, prowled and hopped around the magnificent circular Prosecco Bar at Palace Electric Cinema, and golden-ticket winners enjoyed front-row seats to the show. Throw in fresh, spring-themed $10 cocktails and we had ourselves a fabulous night filled with quirky surprises and a whole lot of personality. 

I am now hard and work planning for the Summer market. It has been lovely having a week to recuperate after the first event, but I am more motivated than ever to make the next Hustle&Scout bigger and better. I am excited to announce that HotelHotel will be opening up on the first floor of the Nishi Building, which may see the next market spread across two levels of award-winning designed spaces, including a new bar and lounge for those who enjoy taking 5 with food and drink to soak up the atmosphere (in between shopping stints, of course). Applications for stallholders are currently open and I am on the hunt for interested musicians and entertainers to get in touch about contributing to the entertainment line-up. Spread the word, and the love, and I look forward to seeing you all on 14 December!

Photos: Courtesy of Ark Photography and Red Photography

Having fun with fashion.

Wonderland. This word would evoke a myriad of different images and scenarios for various people. For Zoe Brown, wonderland is a place 'where you don't know the rules, the guides or danger but you want to play anyway'. This is the philosophy behind her independent label, wnd.lnd (pronounced 'wonderland').

Zoe, who graduated from a Bachelor of Design at CIT in 2011, was one of the lucky designers selected to showcase at Fashfest this year. In addition to this achievement, Zoe has interned for New Zealand label, 'The Stolen Girlfriends Club', as well as for Australian label 'Lover'. When she's not designing, Zoe also throws herself into freelance styling projects, and anything else that allows her to immerse herself in a creative happy-place.  

I am really drawn to Zoe's label. The whimsy and doll-like aesthetic combined with edgy streetwear influences is intriguing and some-what mesmerising. Wnd.lnd garments allow women to express their femininity but also evoke a unique, fantastical quirkiness that transcends conventional design trends. Zoe plays with a range of textures, mixing materials and incorporating objects - all to give her pieces that special something that make them stand out from the crowd. 

I asked Zoe a few quick questions about herself and her design...

Why did you want to become a fashion designer?

I guess I've always lived in my own fantasy world. From Barbie dolls to making my own clothes at a young age.   I think I've always known fashion is my only option...and I'm pretty illiterate! 

How would you describe the wnd.lnd aesthetic/style?

I guess the wnd.lnd aesthetic is innocence playing with rebellion. The wnd.lnd girl has a sweetness to her but can also hold her own. 

The garden collection is a 2 part trans-seasonal, inspired by Sofia Coppola's movie adaptation of the virgin suicides. 

In what ways are your designs sustainable?

My designs are created to be sustainable in the way that wnd.lnd pieces are to be cherished in your wardrobe forever. Playing on the idea of unique features and small run lines create longer lasting connections to each piece. I will also experimenting with off cuts to create unique accessories out of fabric wastage. 

Zoe will have a stall at Hustle&Scout tomorrow along with the talented Jade Stone selling pieces from her handbag collection, and Nastia Zaric selling her gorgeous handmade jewellery (pics below). Make sure you go and say hello to these gorgeous ladies!

For those colourful characters...

Final year CIT student, Holly Squair, is amongst the caliber of Canberra designers producing sustainable and innovative collections with a clear goal in mind. For Holly, the goal is to produce a zero-waste collection that appeals to a mature demographic of women with an appreciation for unique design and bold colour. 'Character' is the name of Holly's label, and it is one to watch out for at Hustle&Scout tomorrow. Holly will be displaying her garments as a means of customer research, which is an important part of developing a brand before retailing a collection. I asked Holly a few questions about her collection, and am now very excited to see her garments up close tomorrow. 

Where does the name 'Character' come from?

The name Character comes from my unique customer. They have a quirky personality that makes them memorable to everyone who knows them. The name comes from the saying 'oh she's a character' and the customer’s exuberant nature portrayed through their style and attitude to life. 

Photo: Brett Sargeant of D-eye Photography.

Explain the sustainable techniques incorporated into this collection.

Character's sustainability is influenced by the lifestyle and buying habits of the customer.  The customer holds a high value of things they purchase, looking after and caring for their garments, sometimes keeping them for years up to decades in their wardrobe.  They follow a slow fashion movement purchasing less and of durable quality each season to stay in style.

Character’s garments follow this sustainable approach to fashion by valuing the materials and process that are used. The pieces in each collection are produced using a developed zero-waste pattern making technique. This technique values every part of the length of fabric and thus incorporates it into the construction of the garment, and so no waste is produced.  The fabric is also specially chosen and designed by me, thus placing a high value into the fabric once again.

What is the inspiration behind your designs?
I draw inspiration from a range of things each season, but I always use 3 main ideas as a starting point – my two Grandma's, my consumer, and the ideas and aesthetics of pop art.

Look out for Holly and her beautiful and bright creations as they sashay down the runway at the Haus Models fashion parade (Palace Prosecco Bar at 9.30pm). 

              Photo: Brett Sargeant of D-eye Photography.

Taking 5 with Corr Blimey

Today we take 5 with Louisa de Smet, who established design label 'Corr Blimey' with her partner Steven Wright in 2001 and has never looked back. You may recall Corr Blimey rocking the catwalk at Fashfest in May? If you liked what you saw then this Saturday is your chance to buy up big, particularly if you're a guy because Corr Blimey will be launching their Criminal Vibes menswear collection.  

Tell me a little bit about your Criminal Vibes collection.

With this collection we've referenced some of the silhouettes from Vilha Nahke but evolved it for the street. The coats from the collection have influenced the silhouettes and feel of the new collection but, Criminal Vibes has and extra element of realism. The designs are so good they should be illegal!

How would you describe the Corr Blimey style/aesthetic?

Creating dynamic silhouettes has always featured heavily in our collections. Making the customer feel like they have something special is important to us. For a long time, we only made one of kind pieces so customers would be drawn to a garment on the rack by a print or fabric. Instead of following the micro trends like most labels, we design for shifts in ideas and concepts. Each collection says something to the consumers and about the consumers. When someone wears a Corr Blimey garment they are communicating a message of confidence and self-assuredness. 

What sustainable practices do you incorporate into your designs?

Over the years we have approached sustainable design from many different directions, be it Environmental, Social or Conceptual. In this collection we're interested in teaching our customers about extending the life of their purchases and thinking about life-cycle of the garment. We use a raw denim for our jeans with no treatments so the wearer can break them in and dictate how they will age. So many jeans are sold pre-aged which not only reduces their life span but takes away any opportunity for the wearer to inject personality into the garment.

Corr Blimey represent exactly what this fashion industry needs today. As expressed by the creative duo - "It's not about owning the latest from this season or catering for the masses, fashion is about the individual's relationship with the garment".

http://corrblimeyfashion.com/

Canberra designers assemble!

Only a number of weeks ago, Lonsdale Street in Braddon welcomed another boutique shopfront to its trendy hub of quality craft, coffee, food and design. Meet - Assemblage Project. 

Gemma Jammeson and Francesca Altenburg (of label 4 Minutes 33) and Karen Lee (of eponymous label, Karen Lee) are local womenswear designers who are dedicated to creating beautiful quality, comfortable and contemporary clothing for women with an appreciation for Australian-made, unique design. The three ladies graduated with a Bachelor of Design (Fashion) from CIT in 2008 and have been developing their labels ever since. Taking their businesses to the next level by collaborating and opening a retail space seemed like a natural progression for these three talented designers.

Assemblage Project is an intimate space. This works just fine for its inhabiting designers, who opened the store to have more direct interaction with their clientele and to maintain their design practice. The store features a workroom out back, which transforms the space into more of a studio than just a shop. This concept is really exciting for customers as it reinforces the unique and handmade quality of all the pieces. The fit-out and decor of the space is a huge testament to the creative eye and dedication of these women. They scrubbed and oiled the floorboards, hand-painted and waxed a feature wall using a special vanilla-bean paint, and custom-designed special metal-piping clothing racks. Together, these elements give the space a warm feel with an industrial edge.

Karen Lee in Assemblage Project  

Gemma Jammeson (4 Minutes 33) styling a customer

The clothing you will find in Assemblage Project is beautifully constructed and suited to a range of body shapes and ages. Karen Lee's designs promote a sense of movement and are designed for changing body forms. Her sizes are extremely versatile - a garment that fits perfectly as a long top on one body could look just as stylish as a loose dress on a smaller frame. 4 Minutes 33 garments transcend age, body shape and culture. The clothing is intended to represent a means of communicating poetic expression, an idea that is actually inherent in the story behind the label's name. 4 Minutes 33 is a reference to the John Cage composition of 4'33 of silence, and represents an idea of space as: pause, silence, observation, contemplation, space between body and the garment and the Japanese idea of 'Nakazora' - the space between ground and sky.  Together, Karen Lee and 4 Minutes 33 garments work well when styled together. The collections are both drawn from a monochrome palette with hues of vibrant primary colours, such as red, allowing their designs to be easily styled with other garments and perfect additions to any wardrobe. 

Gemma, Francesca and Karen have been busy making new stock and will be having a change of scenery this Saturday with a special stall at Hustle&Scout. Make sure you come and have a chat to the ladies, and if you haven't visited the store yet - get down there and check it out next time you're grabbing a hot cup of legal moonshine.

4 Minutes 33

Karen Lee

Channel the child within.

If more men dressed like they were perpetually five years old, the world would be a more happy, colourful and carefree place. I imagine guys walking around in super-hero inspired outfits, bright-coloured suits and clothing stamped with fantastical illustrations taken straight from a story-book or a child's scribble-art. People wouldn't take themselves so seriously. They would freely express themselves, drawing inspiration from the deepest crevasse of their imagination. Canberra's public service would transform from a sea of black and grey to one big bureaucratic rainbow. 

There is one guy out there who entertained a similar vision, and decided to produce a collection that aims to put the fun back into mens fashion...

'Perpetually Five' is the cool, quirky and colourful label by CIT graduate,  Mitchell Thompson. Mitch's garments are inspired by the endless source of creativity that children provide, and intend to give guys more options to express their personalities through fashion. In an industry where childrenswear is commonly marketed towards parents by reproducing mini-me adult fashion trends, Mitch sees a need to reverse this pattern by encouraging adults to wear garments that are more young at heart. This is a fascinating concept and I've recently become more attune to what kids are wearing. There is no way I was half as 'trendy' as the children of today when I was a youngster, but I am really glad that my parents let me dress myself and encouraged me to express my personality through my outfit choices, albeit very daggy ones. 

Perpetually Five was one of the designer labels that showcased at FashFest earlier this year. The male models brought a fun element to the catwalk, expressed not only through the clothing but also through their lively performance...

Image courtesy of FashFest

Image courtesy of FashFest

One of the stand-out garments for me at FashFest was the raincoat. I've never seen a stylish raincoat until I saw Mitch's creation. The clever thing about this piece is that it is transparent, allowing the colourful garments to pop from underneath. The raincoat almost acts as the perspex to a piece of art, whilst being a piece of art in its own right. Another thing that strikes me about the Perpetually Five designs are the fun and sophisticated prints. Mitch worked with a graphic designer to help him develop a colour-way for the prints in this collection - the result being vibrant, eye-catching designs reflecting the imagination of a child. Check out the giraffe print below...

You will find Mitch and his collection of beautifully-tailored menswear at Hustle&Scout this week. Get ready to channel the child within.

http://perpetuallyfive.blogspot.com.au/

Japanese-style.

At Hustle&Scout, we will welcome a few select interstate designers to promote a diverse mix of Australian-made products for all to enjoy. One of the special interstate designers travelling to Canberra for this event is Harper & Edie - a Melbourne-based clothing and accessories label by Michele Taylor. 

Michele's range consists of dresses and tunics, denim skirts, cotton dresses, tops, vests, belts and much more. All of her designs are unique and handmade in her Melbourne studio using beautiful quality fabrics sourced from Japan. The colourful Japanese patterns used throughout Michele's pieces feature a gorgeous mix of delicate floral shapes, and are typically paired with a black fabric to make them pop. Michele will sometimes use all of her Japanese fabric to create a garment, and other times she will just use a panel, or sew circles or squares onto fabric to create a a bold, contemporary look. A lot of the dresses are reminiscent of the 50s, making them classic pieces for that modern woman who wants to mix colour and unique patterns with timeless and flattering styles. 

I love the way that Michele not only embraces the Japanese aesthetic through her fabric selection, but also through some of the layering and use of obi-like sashes. Her double knit merino wool vests from her winter collection, for example, take on a contemporary Japanese feel when layered over a merino wool top and skirt, and secured with an obi to create a beautiful, hourglass shape. This look reminds me of a more wearable and modern take on a kimono.

Come and try some of the gorgeous Harper & Edie collection next Saturday 21st September. 

http://www.harperandedie.com/

Pleasurably pre-loved.

In my last blog post, I explored the notion of eco-fashion and highlighted the importance of a 'green' fashion industry within a world dominated by cheap, imported and environmentally unfriendly fashion. For those of you thinking, 'I want to buy eco-fashion but cannot always afford to', there is another way to tick that 'conscious consumer' box. 

Vintage fashion - it's been the rage for as long as I can remember because, let's face it, it never goes out of style.  In contrast to the cheap, mass-produced clothing of today, vintage clothing is usually better quality, as the production techniques and fabric were made to last. Buying pre-loved fashion is also special because it is effectively a form of recycling. Buying vintage and second-hand designer clothing helps to keep garments from ending up in landfill. 

Material Pleasures, a local Canberra business established by Rebekah Griffiths in 1987, prides itself on this very idea. Rebekah's business is arguably the biggest and longest standing second-hand and vintage retailer in Canberra. I had the pleasure of having lunch with Rebekah recently and hearing about her story. She first started selling at markets when she was 17 years old. Until this very day, she clearly remembers her takings from her first market gig - $68.00. This drove her to continue collecting, selling, setting goals and growing her business. Rebeakah has since travelled the world collecting unique fashion pieces and has become a renowned name within Canberra's fashion community.

I have been buying clothing from Material Pleasures since I earned my first paycheck - first at their market stalls and now at their showroom in Fyshwick (often on my lunchbreak). One of the things that really strikes me about Material Pleasures is their commitment to customer service. I don't think I have ever walked into their store without being greeted with a smile, offered to take a load of clothing off my hands and into a change room, and just generally made to feel welcome. I have also been privy to the action that goes on behind the scenes in the Material Pleasures' workroom. This room is often alive with dedicated staff ironing, repairing, sorting and cataloguing the piles of clothing that come in each week (but that doesn't stick around for long). It is so refreshing to see a group of staff so passionate about recylcing fashion and so willing to share this passion with their customers. 

You will find Material Pleasures at Hustle&Scout on 21 September with select pieces from their new Spring Collection. Material Pleasures are always taking on hew stock, so if you have some good quality threads that you would like to see go to a good home (and not to landfill), pop into their showroom!

http://www.materialpleasures.com.au/

Nature on your skin.

What could get better than a unique, beautiful piece of tailored clothing? One that is eco-friendly! 

Over recent years, 'eco-fashion', or 'sustainable fashion', has grown into a style rather than just a trend. Larger international companies and fashion designers, such as H&M, Timberland and Stella McCartney, have invested in this 5 billion dollar industry by releasing eco-fashion collections and encouraging buyers to turn their wardrobes green. Today we see more events driving eco-fashion, such as Vancouver Eco-Fashion Week, and a growing number institutions training their designers to work with organic materials and adopt zero-waste approaches to their production. I think it is safe to say that the fashion industry at large is working harder to cultivate a culture of sustainability rooted in the conviction of consumers to live, create and shop with a conscience. 

Don't get me wrong, this does not mean that our fashion industry is without fault. Clothing and textiles still represent one of the highest polluting industries in the world. Cheap materials such as polyester, elastane and lycra remain the industry's 'miracle' fabrics. What a lot of people don't know is that the synthetic fibers that make up theses fabrics are produced from petro-chemicals, creating more pollution in the manufacturing process and taking several decades to decompose. Then we have to consider the stiff competition that drives manufacturers to source cheap production methods. Most often than not, this is taken offshore to millions of child labourers living and working under poor conditions. 

Let's look on the bright side again though - at least we have designers out there that are championing eco-fashion and making it their duty to create awareness and educate the public about the importance of ethical fashion. Pure Pod is one of those design labels that has become synonymous with ethical and sustainable approaches to fashion. Established in 2007 by ex-CIT graduate Kelli Donovan and her pillar of support, husband Sean Watson, Pure Pod has taken the Australian eco-fashion industry by storm. Pure Pod recently showcased their pieces at FashFest in Canberra, adding another honour/acclaim to their long list of achievements. Some of these achievements include being a finalist in the 2011 FGI Sustainable Business Awards, and being one of only 7 Australian fashion designers to showcase their collections in New York as part of the Australian governments 'G’Day USA' promotion.  More recently, in October 2012, Pure Pod was accepted by the Ethical Fashion Forum in the UK to be a part of their 'Fellowship 500' sustainable fashion collective; and was also selected to show at the 2012 Asia Essential Textile Fair in Hong Kong. Breaking news has revealed that Pure Pod will be heading off to participate in the Vancouver Fashion week this October - stop being so amazing Pure Pod, please!                     (Actually, don't stop). 

Some of the wonderful things about Pure Pod garments is they are made ethically in Australia and with beautiful-quality fabrics. These fabrics include merino wool, soya bean, bamboo, organic cotton, hand-woven organic denim dyed in natural indigo, hemp, silk, veggie & herb-dyed organic cottons & linen. Kelli has received loads of positive feedback from customers praising the beautiful feel of the soft, organic fabric against their skin. Kelli  believes that because our skin is our biggest organ in our body, putting plastics and other synthetic fabrics against them does not make sense.

There is no denying that Pure Pod has a very bright and a very 'green' future ahead. We are very proud to have Pure Pod participate in the inaugural Hustle&Scout, as we share similar beliefs on the importance of giving people greater access to quality designed fashion, particularly in Canberra. The tight trio, Kelli, Sean and daughter Ruby are currently living in Canberra, but have a number of overseas ventures lined up. So! Make sure you catch them at Hustle&Scout next week before they jet-off...rumour has it that this market may be their opportunity to launch the latest collection!

http://www.purepod.com.au/shop/index.php

Carved from a rainbow...

On 21 September, Hustle&Scout will present a range of quality jewellery, including none other than local designer, Jodie Cunningham. A visual artist and maker of objects, Jodie has become known around Canberra for her bright, signature circle designs which range from statement necklaces, earrings, and even hanging art and light shades.

It is hard not to be attracted to Jodie's pieces - they are so unique and colourful - you feel happy just looking at them. This is interestingly an important part of Jodie's practice - exploring the power and energy that colour has in affecting someone's emotional state. Working largely with hints of complimentary opposites, Jodie draws her colour-inspiration from both past and present. Whether it be the lime green from her 70s childhood or the mint greens in her present 1940s kitchen, her pieces are works of art that could have been carved out of the most magnificent of rainbows. 

While her artistic practice (and being a Mum) keeps her busy, Jodie also spends her days working as a Lecturer in Visual Art and Design in the Centre for Creative Industries at the Canberra Institute of Technology. Jodie was once trained as a painter, but her skill set obviously doesn't stop there. Jodie also works with drawing, digital imaging, sculpture and design. Jodie is also no stranger to exhibiting her art. She has participated in 8 group exhibitions and presented a major solo exhibit, Succulent-Jodie Cunningham, at the ANU School of Art. The title 'Succulent', for me, evokes images of hard-candy I devoured as a child - round, delicious treats embellished with whimsical patterns and layers of colourful encrusted sugar.

The patterns that are unique to Jodie's designs have been sourced from domestic features of the home, such as wallpaper, fabric, utensils and furniture. My favourite is the crochet pattern (pictured above). Jody says that every piece 'represent[s] an archaeology of [her] domestic life and family history, with reference to patterns from different periods in time'.

Jodie's pieces have recently made an appearance at the new Assemblage Project store on Lonsdale St in Braddon. Her designs can also be found at the Craft ACT shop. BUT! For a more extensive look at Jodie's range of jewellery art, and to ask her more about her making-process and inspiration, you will have to come along to Hustle&Scout next week...

http://www.jodiecunningham.com/

Re-defining trends.

One of the key things I want to achieve with Hustle&Scout on 21 September is to create more awareness about, and access to, fashion by independent designers.  I know a lot of us out there are busy and therefore don't have the time to seek-out the few shops around town that stock our local designers' collections. Sometimes when you know you need a new item of clothing, or just want a hit of retail therapy, it is easier to just pop down to your local department store and choose something that you know is 'in trend'. 

BUT, what is being 'in trend' all about anyway? If being 'in trend' means we must shop at those stores that pump-out high-street conventional labels that have been manufactured in China or Bangladesh, reinforce standards of living and work that barely keep factory workers above the poverty line and produce clothing that falls apart and ends up in land-fill before you know it, then I don't know if I want to be 'trendy'. 

We are lucky in Canberra to have some really talented designers that are building their lables and starting to give buyers the option to walk away from chain stores and prioritise design and quality over commercial trend. One of those designers is Andie Meredith. 

Andie, who graduated with a Bachelor of Design (Fashion) from CIT, is the creative mind behind the eponymous, independent fashion label 'Andie Meredith'. Andie's seasonal collections, which consist of accessories and womenswear constructed with beautiful quality natural fibres, can be described as feminine and timeless. The signature prints on her pieces have been developed through a process of two and three dimensional artwork, and are replicated not only throughout Andie's designs but also as fabric-framed artworks - what a lovely way to upcycle I say.

Another one of the special things about Andie's designs is that they are so comfortable, versatile and wearable for women living diverse lifestyles. The reversible loop scarf  and spare sleeves are two of my favourite accessories - you can reverse the scarf to show more or less colour, and the sleeves are a brilliant addition for when you need that little bit of added warmth but don't want to don a jacket (they also just look super cool). I wore both of these items in a photoshoot Andie and I did for City News last month. Andie's designs also have this fantastic ability to be easily dressed up or down, which is a smart move because who wants to be getting changed two to three times a day? Not me, anyway. 

I think being 'in trend' should be more about feeling beautiful in quality, carefully handmade and sustainable clothing that is unique and stands out from the crowd. Andie Meredith's clothing is a real stand-out for me and I can't wait to look through her recent collection at Hustle&Scout. I've been telling Andie since I met her that I NEED a pair of those spare sleeves, at the very least - so I hope you come stocked-up next week Andie ;)

http://shop.andiemeredith.com/

One of the looks that Andie showcased at FashFest in May 2013...

Image credit: Leighton Hutchinson

A vintage crop.

In a world where cheap imports and mass-produced 'fast fashion' rules, there remains a silver lining for those of us who don't want to blend in with the crowd. Vintage fashion has become somewhat of a saving grace in today's fashion industry. It provides a fun and sustainable way to curate an outfit that is timeless and distinctly different from the norm. 

Stylist, vintage clothing dealer, history teacher and ex-librarian - Mel O'Brien - has wholeheartedly assumed this stance and poured her love for vintage fashion into her local business, Librarian Chic. I imagine many Canberrans have come across Mel and her collection of beautiful vintage threads at local markets around town. That is how I first met Mel - over a mustard 1980s dress (below) at the Handmade Market. It wasn't long before I was scouting around for the Librarian Chic stall at Mel's next market stint, where I bought a gorgeous wool-blend, grey plaid coat (below). 

The reason Librarian Chic stands out among other vintage stalls is its careful selection of quality garments. Mel sources her pieces predominantly from Sydney and Melbourne, and clearly has an eye for edgy, classic and well-tailored looks.  
  

The Librarian Chic style is very true to its brand - it 'resonates with women who are into history and literature, or who just want a look that embodies femininity and elegance'. Mel speaks of a time when she worked at the National Library, where beautifully dressed women would come and go in their tailored suits, looking as classic and intriguing as the books they were reading. Like an old book, a vintage garment has a story to tell. Sometimes we may be lucky enough to hear the story, other times we are left wondering where a garment has travelled, what impact it made to others, how it was styled and where it first caught the admiring eye of its owner.  

Vintage collectors and cataloguers, like Mel, have an important job in the context of today's fashion industry. Like boutique farmers, they continue to feed our hunger for beautiful fashion by harvesting quality crops of vintage garments and sowing the seeds for future generations to reap the rewards of adorning a beautiful, classic look. It is our collectors who will help to stop future vintage crops from yielding cheap, rotten produce. 

If you would like the opportunity to consume the fruits of Mel's much-loved labor in life, come along to Hustle&Scout on 21 September and grab yourself a special vintage piece. 

http://www.librarianchic.com.au/

Books are the glass of council to dress ourselves by.  ~Bulstrode Whitlock

Hustle&Scout Giveaway - up to $1200 worth of prizes up for grabs!

Hustle&Scout Giveaway!

Courtesy of  fashion blog - 'Closet Voyage'

First Prize:

A Librarian Chic makeover valued at $250 (including $100 worth of clothes)

1 x Missoni Foulard Scarf valued at $399 courtesy of Material Pleasures

1 x Wink Jewellery Silver or Gold filled ‘Infinity Necklace’ valued at $45

1 x Character Wrap valued at $30

1 x Rancho Designs iPhone 4/4s cover and 1 x Rancho Designs iPhone 5 cover valued at $24

Total value: $748

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Second Prize:

$80 dinner voucher at the Mocan and Green Grout cafe

1 x Andie Meredith Scarf valued at $69

1 x Rancho Designs iPhone 4/4s cover and 1 x Rancho Designs iPhone 5 cover valued at $24

Total value: $197

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Third Prize:

2 x VIP movie tickets from Palace Electric Cinema valued at $56

1 x Pure Pod Scarf valued at $45

1 x Rustic Treasures ‘Solo’ earrings valued at $44

Total value: 145

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Runners up prizes:

$50 Aprils Caravan voucher

$30 Pure Pod voucher

$25 Rockstars and Royalty voucher

$25 SZN Voucher

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How to enter:

1. Post a picture of your favourite shoes on Instagram
2. Hash Tag #hnsgiveaway
3. Complete the Rafflecopter Widget entry form on the Closet Voyage blog
4. Get up to 6 more extra entries to increase your chances of winning by following the instructions on the Rafflecopter Widget!

The winners will be selected and notified on Friday 20 September 2013. The prizes must be claimed at Hustle & Scout Twilight Fashion Market on 21  September 2013 between 4pm and 9pm at Nishi, New Acton.