Beau In The Wood
Get acquainted with
, creator of a new raft of fashion, the Wanderlust design, BEAU IN THE WOODS. A former media mogul (journalism and communication), colluding in secret and every woman has a Rendez-voux with herself, Kylie ran with her secret. There she entered the Universe of an unimaginable fashion career.
Residing on the ever so captivating Brisbane, lined with shimmering warmth of the sun and white sandy beaches, Kylie began a love affair in retail fashion.
Not a seasonal girl, she focused her tag lines on a summer theme, as she lives for summer.
We are loving BEAU IN THE WOODS and with a luxe of whisper, I invite Kylie Dadson to hone in on her vision and her incredible rise towards her success.
Below Kylie answered some of my curious questions about herself.
What is your label about?
It’s about a wanderlust, summer life style. (Yep two words!) …
Beau is the love and In The Woods is the adventure. It’s really about loving the adventure of life and creating a lifestyle that individually suits you…
In my world it’s always summer!
Our prints are created from photographic images, so travel is my biggest influence, but I am also inspired bygone era’s for their classic styling and design. I love a 50’s, 60’s and 70’s woman as a style muse and often think in print design with 1920’s deco lines.
What’s a usual day in the office?
I don’t think there is ever a usual day in the office in the fashion world, but it’s always very task focused and I break it into timeframes to suit. It might be based around pattern or production meetings one day. Design time another. I also tend to work best at night when nothing can distract me!
Did you study fashion? If not what did you study?
I studied journalism and communications whilst working in a photography lab/shop. Towards the end I moved to the Gold Coast so I could be near the beach and fell into fashion retail as a back up plan to support my socialising and travel addiction.
What is your favourite part about being a fashion designer?
When people come to us for an outfit for a special event. At the moment we are outfitting a bridal party … We have customized the boys bow ties to go back with each bridesmaid who is wearing a different style across one of our prints. It is going to look so fabulous! It’s been such a fun process to communicate with the bride leading up to the wedding!
How do you select the materials you used?
I have a slight obsession with silk. In particular crepe de chine silk. It’s heavenly to wear on the body, perfect for travelling and lasts season after season. Plus our digital prints look amazing on it.
How many in your team?
Me + my pattern maker, machinist and production. It’s a small circle and I couldn’t do it without them.
How did you get to where you are now with your label?
With a lot of support and encouragement from people in my life … My husband and customers that are now more like friends have been amazing!
How and what gives your inspiration for each collection? Do you go on fashion trips to gain inspiration?
I have planned trips to gain inspiration, but honestly it just hits me sometimes when you see an image or have an experience. I collect everything I can, screen shot everything on my phone, take photos like crazy and then wait for a vibe to hit me. Anyone that knows me will tell you I am happiest when near water, so generally all great ideas come together in my head in the shower… it’s a lot more practical that being constantly pool-side.
Who is your target market?
Confident girls that know what they love and don’t want to strictly follow trends. Our age demographic is anywhere from 16-60. It’s crazy but fabulous that a piece like our Palms Kimono or Bow Cami can kit out such a wide age bracket so perfectly.
How do you go about sourcing your products?
We create them all! I am super passionate about building local industry and manufacture all of our garments locally. I drive to drop off items for production, then drive to pick them up. Soon I will have to get couriers of course but I love the conversations I get to have with our makers. It puts life into the garments and everyone is so passionate and proud of the work they have created.
Where is the final product made?
Brisbane.
What’s your current achievement with the brand that you are most proud of?
I can never answer this questions!!! Sorry, maybe in another a few years!! ;)
How did you go about creating this label?
Omg, sooooo many years of trial and error and fabulous moments all in between. Jumping in head first. Just going with it. A ridiculous amount of passion for an idea and turning it into a product. First there was a trip to Vietnam and falling in love with fabrics. Then my husband and I started a fashion agency. Then our first label. A few stockists. Then a shop. Then a raiding of my step father’s photography from which the Beau’s first prints were created. Then a flagship boutique. Now I have pulled it back and am starting super organically with everything I have done to move it forward on a e-platform. I feel that this is a more modern approach to retail and pop up’s will give the brand the flexibility to change each season. It’s been a constant work in progress for almost 4 years so far.
Any difficulties in creating and production?
There will always be a challenge somewhere along the line but because we work so closely with everyone involved in the process it gets sorted quite quickly. Maintaining great business relationships and creating a beautifully finished garment is the utmost importance to us all.
Before creating your brand did you work for another label?
Not behind the scenes, just on the shop floor.
What are your future plans with your label?
Online retailing is my focus at the moment. I am working on developing a new website and have plans to re-launch the label later this year for the resort season. Moving forward Beau is about summer all year long. (I can’t pretend to care about winter anymore!) We plan to do pop up’s with designer friends too! Kind of like the wanderlust lifestyle we constantly covet!
Who’s your inspiration/ fashion designers who you look up to?
I always rave about Jenny Kee. I love following Matthew Williamson on instagram. I am terrible at looking at style.com to follow new season shows and trends. I much prefer street style, architecture, vintage finds such as bohemian glassware and purses and daydreaming about as many travel destinations as possible.
What’s your feeling for future trends?
I don’t really follow trends personally. I think it’s the flipside to working in retail for so long and getting such a huge wardrobe that gets outdated so quickly. (There are only so many market stalls one gal can do!) I love styling for longevity, lifestyle and personal taste. I only buy pieces I absolutely love and encourage my fabulous customers to do the same. Quality is the biggest trend. The second is knowing your style and just simply rocking it.
And lastly, any advice to people who want to get into the industry!
Get as much experience as you can. And get onto that shop floor! Listen to what people like and don’t like and really gauge if there is a market for what you want to produce. Just do it.
Special thanks to
Kylie Dadson xx