Hey Erin! Could you tell me a bit about yourself?
I’m 22 and live in Naarm. Im currently in my final years of Nursing.
I started making clothing towards the end of 2019.
I have no formal training in fashion or design. I have a loose background in art, and I think that’s what has assisted me the most throughout the process of creating this brand :).
Who are your fashion icons, and why?
There are so many! Theres a lot of great emerging creatives but for the personally iconic it would have to be the classic 90s designers like Prada, Dior, Helmut Lang and Vivienne Westwood (the list goes on!). Margiela has probably influenced me and the way i think about fashion the most. The channel of fashion that emerged in the 90s, and was catalysed by Gautier and Margiela offered a new view of fashion based on inclusivity and accessibility.
The founding concepts of my brand are based on versatility, sustainability, & utility. I think Margiela brought ideas such as repurposing, and ethical sourcing more into mainstream fashion in the 90s. His 1998 show is one of my favourites.
I try to create multiple purposes and looks from a single piece, while taking into account material characteristics. I hope to create a similar sense of diversity in how the clothing can be worn, and whom the clothing is worn by.
How would you describe your own personal style? (what you wear)
I’m not sure how to describe my style. Mood dependant and seasonally dependant at the moment ! My all time style icon is Kate Moss, so hopefully that gives an idea <3.
I'm honestly obsessed with your creations (and one of your early customers), so unique and delicately made. What got you into making fashion, and how did your brand come to be?
Thank you so much! I think I’ve always had a pull towards creative arts, when I was in primary school my grandma taught me to sew on her sewing machine. Sewing was a strong cultural characteristic in the female Eastern European diaspora in the 70s-90s. My mum and all the women in my life of that generation and above all had their own machines and were actually quite talented, so I guess its a bit in the blood.
When I returned from Europe in 2019, I had a lot more refined taste but no money! so I started sewing the clothing I couldnt afford. I started making things only for myself, but when lockdown hit I was able to dedicate more time into developing my skills. The biggest catalyst of my brand was my friends and my sister in particular. When they saw was I had made, they asked me to start making them similar pieces too, which assisted me so much in experimenting with different sizing.My friends really encouraged me to make my sewing a more public, and create a base to support myself in a different way. Their support is really what made this brand gain momentum.
What goes into creating sustainable fashion?
I think being a one-woman brand encourages the use of a more specific set of environmental and ethical principles. The type of clothing Im making at the moment, whether from scratch or up-cycled, always comes from recycled materials / remnants.
Making small quantities, or choosing a size a certain piece will be, is difficult when trying to represent and provide variety. However, I think it provides me with a different type of space to think about how pieces can be created to be worn diversely. Though the nature of recycled materials & deadstock fabric create certain limitations, it feels like i’m taking out of landfill, as opposed to contributing to it. I think a majority of it is based around mentality. I really consider which materials i use, whether they are durable, and support longevity. whether they are natural fibres or plastic based.
So, if I have a lot of off cuts from making certain pieces, I’ll try to make something useful from those scraps. and most of the time, those pieces turn into the most loveable and interesting pieces.
What advice would you give someone who wants to start their own fashion label but is intimidated by the highly competitive industry?
Entering into this industry, especially in Melbourne, with such a diverse and rich fashion culture is so daunting! I think its so important to keep your individuality and really remind yourself that you're a young person trying to do a startup based on your own talents. Theres some crazy beautiful pieces and brands out there but those high standards of fashion and quality are achieved through growing, experimenting and making mistakes.
It can be disheartening at times when looking to other more developed brands with great campaigning, teams and products but you need to remember you're a one person army at this point! I struggled a bit at the start because I didn’t have that foundation of fashion school, but I’ve realised I have the freedom to do whatever i want with this, and that feels empowering.
Don’t get discouraged by comparing yourself! There’s a lottttt of steps between starting a brand and having the polished successful brands we see, things take time !!<3
Where do you see yourself in five years?
In all honesty, I see myself working as a nurse but this brand will still be going! Even if there has to be breaks here and there :)