I wish i had a little shop.

Tell us about I wish I had a little shop and how it all began…

Once upon a time there was a girl who was not enjoying working on her PhD. One day the girl, let’s call her Rosie, decided that she would rather be doing something that satisfied her creative spirit and threw her PhD in the recycling bin (literally -actually, it filled two bins). Thus, I wish I had a little shop was born and the girl lived happily ever-after.

Where or who do you look to for design inspiration?

Everywhere! I’m always looking for new and unexpected colour combinations- in the natural environment and the online-verse (I’m a bit of Instagram junkie). My designs are primarily driven by wanting to explore colour and its infinite combinations.  Admittedly, my combinations don’t always work and I often have, ‘what was I thinking?’ moments.  My newest collection (debuting at Hustle&Scout) is heavily influenced by the revival of the Memphis movement- bold colour combinations and geometric shapes abound!

When you’re not working, what do you like to do for fun?

I collect hobbies. Any opportunity to learn a new craft or technique and I’m there! In the past few years I’ve attended workshops for basket weaving, shibori, macramé, loom weaving and ceramics.

What item in your studio could you not live without and why?

The sofa! Also, the kettle (for coffee), the bar fridge (for beer) and the heater (for those chilly Hobart mornings). Oh, and my business partner (Flock of Two), Ruth!

What is it about Hustle&Scout that made you want to be a stallholder?

Having heard nothing but good things about the Canberra events I was so excited when I head Hustle & Scout was coming to Hobart. I’d been trying to work it into my interstate market calendar for a few years, but it never quite happened. Happily you guys are coming to me instead! I love the vibe of being part of a well curated design market and, for me, Hustle & Scout ticks all the boxes -great exposure, amazing venue, access to the right market, good food and live music.

MY FAVE THINGS

Guilty pleasure: watching Game of Thrones and eating salted caramel ice cream.

What you wanted to be when you grew up: taller

Fave fashion piece you own: Jane Hodgetts earrings and studio ugg boots

Fave place to unwind in Hobart: my studio couch or anywhere that serves good beer

Your role model/s: I was going to say someone like, Julia Gillard, Hilary Clinton, or maybe, Margaret Thatcher, but in truth my role models are The Goodies (especially Bill & Graham, not so much Tim).

SOVATA.

Tell us about your label, SOVATA, and what the name means?

My label name SOVATA came about because I wanted it to be a reflection of me without using my name. S comes from my sir name Sargent and Ovata comes from part of the Botanical name for a Jade plant Crassula Ovata. When combined Sovata was born. (http://succulent-plant.com/families/crassulaceae/moneyplant.html)

 

Tell us about your recent collection debuted at Fashfest.

My collection at Fashfest 2015 was called ‘Taking Control’. The idea behind the collection was a reflection of what was happening in my work life. I realised I am not so good at sitting at a desk and my creative dream was calling me. I decided to ‘Take Control’ of my work life and chose to go part time to give me more hours to help push Sovata forward so that eventually I can be creative full time. 

With the name ‘Taking Control’ coming before the designs in the collection I was looking at what taking control meant in a design sense. For me it boiled down to this, knowing when to control something and when to let it go and fitted structure with drape. I looked at my zero waste pattern making and experimented with excess fabric draping from the fitted form. I then experimented with how one could control drape, this lead to experiments with embellishment and I ended up using elastic. Elastic gives the wearer choice of when to let the garment go and drape on its own or help control the garment attaching to small buttons on the garment allowing the wearer to individually control the garment and create texture, structure and an individual fit.

 

Colours came from inspiration I had been collecting all year from Instagram, saving photos that I had a connection with and was drawn to which resulted in many mood boards but the final one chosen had a Moroccan feel. I love colour and unusual colour combinations mixed with the contrast of black and white to help give the colours more drama. For me colour is important in giving the garment a life, making the catwalk visually exciting and making the creative process for me more exciting. With all these design decisions the Sovata 2015 ‘Taking Control’ collections was brought to life.

What are your creative goals for coming year?

To say yes to as many creative opportunities for Sovata as possible, do more markets and hopefully find a few stockists.

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

A lot of my Fashfest collection including winter variations of some garments, felt hats, beanies, scarfs and some elastic jewellery.

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

It gives me a chance to travel somewhere I have never been before, check out the creative scene in Hobart that I have heard so much about, meet up with a dear old friend and try something new. I am excited J

 

MY FAVE THINGS

Australian fashion designer:

Akira Isogowa. He isn’t afraid to experiment, his designs are simplistic and beautiful, he isn’t afraid of colour or pattern, he often accessorises hi looks with hats and exciting creative jewellery and he achieves a simple drama which is something that I hope to achieve.

Meal to have cooked for you:

A beautiful home cooked roast with delicious crisp baked potatoes and gravy….. Yum!

Fashion piece you have made:

One of my hats I made for my first Fashfest experience in 2013. It is simple, effective and such a beautiful colour. It is one of my favourite things I’ve made to date.

Country you have visited:

Kota Kinabalu,  Malaysia, for my honeymoon last year. The scenery is beautiful the people are friendly and the wild life is amazing.

Item in your studio:

I can’t say it’s my favourite item in the studio but it always gets noticed... An old mannequin torso saved by my dad from an old store closing down in Braidwood NSW where I grew up. It’s vintage, missing one eye, a little creepy and definitely a conversation starter.

Tanja von Behrens.

Tell us about your eponymous jewellery label, Tanja von Behrens, and how it all began.

To be honest, it still feels very strange to me to consider my work as a Jewellery label, or ‘brand’. I just consider myself as a person who makes things, really! Jewellery is wearable - so of course it does fit into the fashion realm; however this is often not what drives me to create something. I’m fascinated by design, technique, process, and artistic practice - and I like to try and tell a story through the work I create in the studio. The fact that people might choose to wear it, and understand or appreciate the work or context behind it is the icing on the cake, really.

I was brought up in a very creative household, so art in all forms has always been a part of my life. My mother is a painter, and both my parents have always encouraged our creativity. I started making jewellery as a hobby while at Uni in Sydney, went on to teach beading and jewellery-making in my job as a youth worker, and then after years away from it, moved to Tasmania in 2010 to complete formal study in Jewellery/Silversmithing at TAFE.

Tell us about your recent collection showcased at Fashfest in Canberra?

The body of work I created for FASHFEST 2015 in Canberra was quite personal. For me, memories and place are intimately connected – and I wanted to create a body of work that really celebrated some of the things I love about Canberra. Each piece that I designed for FASHFEST was based on Canberra places - referencing local street maps. I used these as my starting point - selecting streets that had graphic beauty and personal or cultural significance, and then creating a body of work inspired by them. The works referenced the Australian War Memorial & Anzac Parade; The Parliamentary Triangle; The National Film and Sound Archive; Glenloch Interchange; London Circuit; Captain Cook Crescent and Arthur Circle - places that have personal meaning for the Canberra folk that travel these roads every day - but that are also beautiful in their own right.  Each original piece was constructed by hand in the studio, and then moulded for future reproduction. It was an 8 month long process of planning, thinking and making – and such a relief to see it all come together on the night.

What brings you the most joy from your creative practice?

I love designing and creating work in the studio – and when something I’ve been working on finally comes together the way that I intend, it definitely feels like a win. There’s a sense of satisfaction and empowerment that comes with doing something for yourself that can be hard to find when working for someone else – but having said that, it can also be very challenging – financially and emotionally!

I would have to say that the thing I’ve enjoyed the most in trying to create an income for myself from my creative practice are the incredible people I’ve met along the way. Salamanca Arts Centre has been an absolute blessing – and I do my best to network and collaborate with other creative people as much as I can. We all seem to support each other – and it really makes so much difference. When I see someone who I know has worked incredibly hard on their craft achieving something awesome and finally seeing reward for all of their hard work, it makes me pretty happy J.

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

I’ll be sharing a stall with the lovely Simone Pfister at Hustle&Scout Hobart in June. We’ve both been helping out a little behind the scenes, and want to be involved both back and front of house this time round! I’ll be selling some of the work from my Canberra FASHFEST collection, and a collection of other designs that have become my favourites over the last few years.

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

I participated in Hustle&Scout in Canberra last April, and have helped a little backstage since, at Canberra events. I’m always trying to find ways to bridge the gap between my Canberra and Hobart worlds - and this feels like the perfect opportunity. I love the way the event is staged, and how multifaceted it is.

MY FAVE THINGS

Guilty pleasure: Dark Chocolate. I can pretend it’s still healthy, and actually doing good things for me…

Song on your ultimate mixtape: There would definitely have to be some Xavier Rudd in there. When everything else fails, Xavier Rudd and a long walk does the trick!

Fashion piece you own: I Op Shop way too much – and as a result I really need to clean out my wardrobe and get rid of the stuff I don’t wear! My favourite top is a black $4 silk job I bought in Adelaide about 5 years ago. It’s seen a few too many different occasions, & I keep having to find ways to pretend I’m wearing something different. My other favourite is a handmade black dress I bought for $6 in a Deloraine op shop. I love hunting for the gold on the op-shop shelves – it feels victorious ;)

Place to unwind in Hobart: Wherever my legs will take me, really – and if there are dogs around to hang out with and cuddle as well, then I’m really in a happy place ;).

Item in your studio:
Good question – I’m not really sure! I definitely have a number of favourite tools though - as odd as that may sound. My Nylon Jaw Pliers have definitely made life a lot easier.

Corr Blimey.

 

Who is Corr Blimey?



Image: FASHFEST

We are a collective of 2 likeminded people who draw inspiration from the objects and city around us to create sculptural streetwear and private commissions. Our collections always incorporate textile manipulation and unique fabric choices to give a sensory experience for the wearer.

If your latest collection, Propaganda Z (recently launched at Fashfest), could be encapsulated by one song, what would it be and why?

Propaganda Z could be encapsulated by the song 'Monument' by Royksopp and Robyn (Inevitable end remix).

The collection was inspired by the furniture of Walter Knoll and we wanted to translate this into a story of experiencing the furniture from all angles. All design is some sort of propaganda because it is sending a message. We choose furniture to serve multiple purposes not just comfort. This collection was designed to encompass all these different elements including creating textures and feelings when wearing certain pieces to emulate that of the Walter Knoll furniture.



What do you hope to achieve over the coming year for your label?

We’d like to take it interstate to a new audience, which we are with Hobart. We are always looking for the next adventure. Working with Walter Knoll was fantastic because it had so many challenges which we love. Ultimately we’d like to take Corr Blimey overseas. Maybe Hustle&Scout could go to New Zealand??

Image: FASHFEST

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

We’ll be taking both Propaganda Alpha and Z down to Hobart along with many of our other CB staples like jeans, CB Tees and Luft Ballon skirts. We will have a new range of accessories along with the new collection from Silver Atom. This will be the first time that both collections will be seen together. This is very exciting because the whole collection tells a story. The collection contains streetwear, after 5, winter coats and unique shell garments. There is something for everyone. This will be the largest collection we’ve ever offered.

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

Hustle&Scout is the ultimate fashion market in Canberra so taking it to Hobart can only mean it’s going to be great experience. Social media has enabled us to meet some of the other stall holders already and we’re looking forward to making new friends. It’s a great community of people. H&S always has a good vibes which customers love and they know that they’re going to find unique products that are often not available in regular shops. It can be very exclusive.




 

Cottage Industry.

Tell us about Cottage Industry and how it all began…

Cottage Industry opened 7 years ago but I’ve been in the industry for 30 years now, starting out when I was studying BA Textile Design at RMIT. I’ve always worked freelance and have designed for lots of different companies while also running my own business, including a stint as a consultant to Country Road. Anything textile based, from fashion and accessories to home wares and I’ll have a go at it! A really bad accident 15 years ago made me refocus and get back to my roots in the handmade and craft based. Cottage Industry grew out of that as I felt a retail space best helped us to talk directly to the customer to explain what we were up to- hand made in small runs, the use of vintage fabrics, our passion for textiles, supporting ethical and fairtrade makers in India and Africa. 

 

 

Describe some of the sustainable aspects to your designs.

I make all of our home wares from vintage fabrics, we do a lot of recycling. Almost all our garments are made in our studio and a lot of our offcuts end up made into quilts or smaller items. My inner textile design loves the scarves we bring in from India and it is very important to me that we support charitable trusts like WomenWeave who make these and Karm Marg who make all our shop carry bags from recycled newspapers. I am passionate about using all natural fibres in our products and we use either local digital printing or screen printing in some of our products. We’ve always made clothing that is not ‘fashion driven’ and a huge part of what we do is to create wearable timeless garments that are comfortable and utilitarian.


How does a typical workday unfold for you?

As I make most of what we sell my usual day involves not getting enough work done! My studio is down the road in Fitzroy and I am usually there drafting patterns, sampling, cutting and sewing. The office and home is at the shop so I am in and out of the shop during the day, as well as working into the evenings….. I dye all out beautiful angora/lamb’s wool gloves in the evenings and weekends in the laundry so I am always surrounded by work that needs to be finished. Never ending!

 
What do you enjoy about having a shopfront and being able to do markets as well?
We are very selective about the markets we participate in and they are great for us to make contact with new customers or customers that can’t make it into the shop. It can be fun to take Cottage Industry on the road! 

 

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

We've been working with a lot of lovely linen and linen/wool fabrics lately and are planning a lot more styles to bring down to Hobart. Our 'Harvest Smocks' and 'Chemise' styles are proving ever popular and we are working on a new range of digital print leggings. The hand dyed angora/lamb’s wool fingerless gloves will definitely be packed along with the beautiful socks and handwoven scarves we import and our one-off vintage canvas and leather bags too. So much work to do in the nest month!

 

 

MY FAVE THINGS

 

Guilty pleasure: Eating cake from the fabulous Beatrix Cafe in North Melbourne (that’s not actually a guilty pleasure… it’s a weekly necessity).

 

What you wanted to be when you grew up: An Archaeologist, and I am still a nerd about the history of textiles.

 

Fave fashion piece you own: I have a rather fabulous Azzedine Alaia coat that was a present from a friend but really I live in jeans and one of our signature ‘Harvest Smocks’, I tend to dress in comfortable work clothes.

 

One place you’d like to visit when in Hobart: I travel to Hobart and Tasmania a couple of times a year so I am very familiar with the place now. I am looking forward to going down to Geeveston to eat the fabulous sushi at Masaaki’s, of catching up with the marvellous Lou of Oyster and Pearl fame and hopefully I will get a night out photographing the Aurora Australis if I am very lucky….. a visit to Hobart isn’t about just one thing!

 

Your role model/s: I don’t really have role models but I am a great lover of the handmade and of skills so I am fascinated by craftspeople and makers, especially those carrying on tradition trades.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sea Soul Studio.

 

Tell us about Sea Soul Studio and how it all began.

Sea Soul Studio has been in existence for about six years now and is the identity and umbrella under which all my points of inspiration coalesce into clay forms.  I have always been a maker (thanks Mum for dyeing endless packets of macaroni for my sisters and I to make necklaces with!) and when I eventually got around to clay it felt like my universe exploded… Today I am still excited and brimming with new ideas; the possibilities seem endless.

My main points of inspiration are our dear old cottage by the sea here in Tasmania, location and lifestyle. Also travel, roadtrips and general gypsy wanderlust. Gosh, that’s not very concise is it? Ok, as an example I recently created a cicada wing pendant which came about on one of our jaunts in our campervan “Madeline”; I found a deceased one and took it home, it brought back so many memories of my childhood summers at a shack by the beach that I wanted to create something to always keep those memories close.  On our property we find lots of pieces of old china and you can see that referenced throughout many designs, particularly in my favourite blue and white. All my pieces and collections have a story.

 

 

What can’t you live without in your studio?

A ceramicist is only making mud pies if she doesn’t have a kiln to fire with and I’ve just bought a second one; hopefully this will help my cramped studio run a bit more efficiently.  Kilns are treacherous things and opening the lid after a firing is equal parts anticipation and terror, so much can go so very wrong. So I always say a little prayer as I set her up; so far we mostly get along.

What inspires you creatively and keeps you motivated?

I’ve just returned from a rather grand elopement to Santorini and 7 week jet-setting honeymoon! I have thousands of photos, many of which will form points of inspiration for new designs. I have already started a new pendant I want to call The Aegean and there’s a backlog of other things all jostling about in my head trying to be the next one to get formed. Other than that, I am focussing on meeting retailers whose aesthetic and lifestyle-promotion most closely ties in with Sea Soul Studio. It’s so important that the right products are in the right place to be found by the right people! That sense of continuity and connectedness from maker to owner, often via the experience of a lovely retail space, feeds my soul.

What is it about Hustle&Scout that made you want to be a stallholder?

Hustle&Scout coming to Hobart is so exciting. I’m looking forward to showcasing some of my more out-there and one-off pieces and hopefully finding an audience for them. It’s also nice to bring the focus back to my jewellery as over the last 12 months I’ve been kept busy with the homewares side of my business (greedy plates and spoons taking up all the space in the kiln). Oh! And of course, the opportunity to meet and buy from some of the makers whose work I know of but haven’t seen in the flesh yet.

 

MY FAVE THINGS

Guilty pleasure:

Black Russians as a night cap; it’s my new chocolate.

 

What I wanted to be when I grew up:
All the predictable things, hairdresser, vet...

 

Fave fashion piece:
A beautiful, locally designed and made leather jacket I bought on my honeymoon in Mykonos, I’m sure it was made just for me.

 

Fave place to unwind in Hobart:
On top of my stand-up paddleboard! I also like brunch at Ginger Brown cafe in South Hobart.

 

Role models:
I really like the deconstructed styling of Sibella Court and particularly when I’m travelling I try to focus on the unusual and unexpected; at the Trevi Fountain in Rome I’ll be the one with my back to it taking a photo of a rusty window grate.

Tasmanian Timber Jewls.

Tell us about Tasmanian Timber Jewls and what inspires your designs.

Tasmanian Timber Jewls (TTJ) is a unique jewellery collection hand-crafted in Tasmania by woodworker Emily Nash (me!). Every piece is made with ethically sustainable, salvaged Tasmanian timbers, with designs inspired by the temperate rainforests which cover the State, versatile wear and contemporary developments in the field of jewellery design. Each piece of timber used by TTJ is TWICE salvaged (yes, twice!), once from that discarded on Tasmanian Forestry floors spanning the last 25 years and once from my fathers’ own woodwork floor! Now the second-generation of ‘Nash’ woodworkers, I work in close partnership with my father in down-streaming the timber left-over from his larger woodwork business into colourful and versatile timber jewellery.

As the child of a woodworker I have been raised amongst piles of beautiful timber and inspired with a profound value for the laboured growth and natural beauty of our temperate rainforest species. My mother's passion for everything Tasmanian horticulture has given my work grounding in knowledge about our species’ unique characteristics. I have watched my family enjoy the challenge and freedom of self-employment, experiencing the fulfilment which this provides.  My sisters and I have grown amongst the cultures, community and crowds of the Salamanca Markets, listening to the timber blurbs or our father and napping under the hessian-covered tables at site 217. All of this has culminated to inspire the home-grown and honest work of TTJ, with no pretence in its production or display, just beautiful timber rescued from fire and rot, offering customers their own piece of Tasmanian heritage.
 

How did you get into wood turning?

Many years ago now, as we burnt Huon Pine off-cuts for kindling in our wood-fire in Franklin (Tasmania), dad thought to further down-stream this beautiful timber as wooden beads. Given to me as a way to earn my pocket money, the designs have slowly grown from plastic Chickenfeed flower and timber beads to the more mature, versatile range of jewellery which is TTJ today. My love for the many skills involved in woodworking has grown throughout this time, but the past year has seen major growth in the time I’ve afforded to my woodwork and TTJ creations. The creative outlet, market life and customer contact which woodwork provides fuels my passion for the skill. There’s no going back now!

Describe your typical day in the studio…

Each day is a juggling act between student and woodworker. While woodwork is always on my mind, I often get pulled away during the year by the requirements of a Master of Teaching (Primary) degree at UTAS. When I do steal away some woodwork time, you can find me in my backyard ‘studio’ (un-lit shed), equipped with scroll saw, buffer, drills, orbital sanders and all the other little tools which are used to produce the various pieces. When time permits I’ll visit dad at the family home in Franklin (Tasmanian) to do spots of work for him and retrieve the wooden beads which he puts through the homemade beaderisator (so loud that it can’t live with me in suburbia). A trip to Wilderness Woodworks in Strahan is also sometimes on the cards, as the fabulously skilled woodworkers there share their wisdom in tools and design and allow me to use their laser to cut some of my more intricate designs. My home, my fathers’ home, my mothers’ home, Tasmania in general – it all becomes part of the scattered ‘studio’ producing  TTJs jewellery, designs, photography and display.

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

A twisting display of Tasmanian timber jewellery, sprawled over Huon Pine driftwood with a background of hessian. A versatile range of TTJ will be on offer, from the traditional adjustable timber beaded necklaces to the contemporary timber jewellery harness, with earrings and sterling silver work between. With colourful mixes of each timer, or statements exclusively made from Huon Pine, Myrtle or Sassafras, there’ll be something for every jewellery appreciator.

What is it about Hustle&Scout that made you want to be a stallholder?

Actually, a customer tagged me in a post about a new opportunity coming to Tasmania – why not? I love being a part of the creative community of Tasmania and would love to extend this to ‘the main-land’. I’m looking forward to the exposure for my work and the chance to meet a new group of designer/makers.

MY FAVE THINGS

Guilty pleasure: Dipping chocolate in coffee… sugar and caffeine forever!

What you wanted to be when you grew up: I was always unsure, and still am!

Fave fashion piece you own: My own birds-eye Huon Pine harness.

Fave place to unwind in Hobart: Home is where my heart is, but a café with good coffee comes a close second. Berta and Retro Café are both places which tick this box.

Your role model/s: Moo-ma (mum) and Moo-pa (dad) – here’s to hoping someone gets the Black Books reference ;)

 

Eva Cassis.

Tell us about your eponymous women’s wear label, Eva Cassis, and how it all began.

Originally I wanted to create beautifully designed high quality clothing that I wanted to wear. I struggled to find the quality I desired and timeless designs that were not trend driven in shops. I wanted to create clothing that encouraged women to be themselves and not look like their friends, colleagues, neighbours etc.
 

Soon after launching my label in 2012 I realised I had more responsibility than just creating beautiful things. I felt I needed to help educate consumers about process and encourage everyone to take responsibility for the way they consume fashion.

Tell us about the sustainable aspects of your label.

Eva Cassis is about bringing the art of fashion back and the appreciation of process.The philosophy can be summed up as ‘slow’ and ‘humble’. Focusing on design integrity, small artisan production and choosing sustainable materials sourced from fairtrade and ethical suppliers. My intention is to design high quality seasonless collections that create longevity for the wearer.

I want to minimise the waste I produce by recycling and re using fabric off-cuts and sourcing recycled materials to work with in the first place.

As the business owner I feel it is my responsibility to set standards in my own business. I feel very strongly about running my business ethically whilst creating beautiful garments and accessories.

It is very true “There is no beauty in the finest cloth if it causes hunger and unhappiness”  - Ghandi

If you could see anyone in the world wearing your designs, who would it be and why?

My style muses for a while now have been Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen. I love their relaxed casual chic style and the sophistication they can pull off on a red carpet situation. Absolutely anything they wear looks effortless, chic and timeless.
 

I think they have a very mature interpretation of fashion & dance to the beat of their own drum, which I really like.

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

We have been so busy creating some beauties for Hobart in June!

•       Gorgeous Wool/Cashmere Capes
•       Merino Wraps & Scarves
•       Some new Linen Tunics for layering and;
•       Our stunning new winter range of sustainable jewellery that works back perfectly with all of the above!

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

Hustle&Scout is a celebration of design.

Founder, Tegan, is truly passionate about art, fashion, design and most of all Hustle&Scout. The amount of talent and vision that has gone in to each and every Canberra event has been incredible. The vibe is always a relaxed happy celebration where you can connect with design appreciative customers and lots like minded folks. I can only imagine what a killer event Hobart will be so of course I jumped at the chance to be involved!

MY FAVE THINGS

 

Australian fashion designer:

This is a hard one because there have been so many incredible designers over the years. I think for me Akira Isogawa is still a real stand out. He was really one of the first to push the boundaries of traditional fashion design in Australia. The beauty he achieves & the time invested in every piece is something to be truly admired. He respects tradition whilst being innovative & fabric choices are spectacular. He is a true artist!

 

Meal to have cooked for you:

Nothing beats my mums traditional Greek cooking. It is the one cuisine I really struggle to eat out (and cook myself).

Fashion piece you have made:

My Dixie Dance Pants are probably my all time favourite piece. The pattern took me over 2 years to perfect. The panelling is interesting unique & after you own a pair you don’t want to wear anything else! They are the most comfortable & flattering trousers you will ever wear & almost all my customers who have purchased them now own 2-3 & even 4 pairs!

Country you have visited:

Definitely New York! Anyone that knows me would know this! Full of Art galleries & interesting places to go. There’s such a unique vibe and it’s always buzzing with energy & creativity. Fashion is abundant & so unique. Empire state of mind! (Thanks Alicia).

I’m always coming up with crazy ideas of how my husband and I can relocate there but unfortunately he hasn’t agreed to any yet.

Item in your studio:

My favourite item in the studio is my huge wooden cutting table that was donated by my lovely mother-in-law. It is where most things are created wether its patternmaking, cutting or jewellery making. It probably plays the biggest part in the design process & where most of the action happens in the studio. It’s also awesome that it was passed down by another creative genius who I admire.