Triangle Of Bears

May 29, 2017 by adriana perri in Fashion Interview

Gem is a start-up brand who is based in Melbourne Town. Her talented brooch creations brought her popularity over her Esty online shop and throughout the months she has grown rapidly on Instagram with a popular fan-base who also share the love of wearing and collecting brooches. Her interesting interview explains how her dream grew into a local business.

Firstly how did you get into the brooch business?

I started making brooches after I had been studying metal-smithing. I lived in a tiny little flat with no equipment or tools to make metal jewellery, but I didn't want to stop creating! So my solution was to start making things with fabric instead. It was cheap and I could just sit on the couch & sew while I watched movies. I never thought it would come this far!

What inspires you for your different creations?

Most of the time it's the fabric. I find my fabric at op-shops. I buy old handbags and wallets - anything that is faux leather or similar. I never know what I'm going to find & what it will inspire which is why I'm still so excited about what I do after all this time! Also, animals & skulls are a huge influence on my work.

What's the process of creating a brooch? From idea, sketch to actual pin?

Well, now I make mostly necklaces & brooches. Occasionally I make earrings, bracelets and other bits & pieces too. But the process is pretty much the same each time. I do a terrible sketch of the piece to get the basic shape down. Then I cut that shape out on paper & define it a little more as I cut. Then I pin that shape to the backing fabric & cut that out... Then I cut the paper shape up into each little piece & pin those little bits to all the different fabrics I need. It's like a puzzle made from fabric pieces! Once all of the fabric shapes are cut out I sew everything together & then comes the fun part - adding any last details with beads, metal, fabric paint etc. It's quite tedious sometimes, lucky I have OCD!

You've recently started creating bangles, how did this idea come about?

I have made some cuffs in the past (way-way in the past!) but recently I stumbled across some plain vintage wire bangles that looked perfect for sewing my creations on to! So I gave it a go & I think it was pretty successful... I'm still ironing out the kinks in this process though!

Lastly, any advice to any one who wants to create their own local start up?

Don't work for your business, make your business work for you! #girlboss... After I took this advice myself & really implemented it, I saw such a difference!

Foxy Five

Fav pin you own?

A tiny vintage enamel motorcycle pin that my Pop gave me. He's the OG pin collector.

Best place you've travelled to?

India with my fam. We were up North, in the Himalayan foothills.

I never leave the home without my...

Balms! Lip balm, Tiger balm, bee balm, Egyptian magic. Balm me up.

Favourite ice-cream flavour?

Choc Mint always and forever.

Glitter or Matte?

How can you make me choose? I can't. I can't!

Instagram @triangleofbears
Be sure to check Gem's store HERE

Fashion Illustrator: Aaron Favaloro

January 17, 2016 by adriana perri in Fashion Interview

Aaron has the fashion industry in love with his unique fashion illustrations. Loved and respected by all. He rose to fame with his unique fashion illustrations via social media.
Aaron has worked for the biggest names such as Swarovski, shop bop, jack London, Topshop, Tolls Royce and Harper’s Bazaar just to name a few. You’ll find him surfing on the northern beaches enjoying a good red wine with his lunch when he is not sketching away!
Fact- He has a twin brother!

What did you want to be when you were growing up? Did it always involve fashion or was that something that appeared later on in life?

For as long as I can remember I have always loved fashion and from a young age I had this dream of being a fashion designer, I’m not sure where the love for fashion came from as my parents aren't into fashion at all, yet that love for fashion has stuck with me, I can’t seem to shake it off.

Originally you studied Fashion design, how did you end up becoming an internationally recognised fashion illustrator?

I originally studied Fashion design here in Sydney after High school yet quickly realised that sewing was not my strongest suit so I diverted from study into Visual Merchandising with David Jones, where I resided for nearly 9 years. I kind of fell into illustration, a friend had told me about Instagram and I was immediately addicted! I posted a little illustration of a card I did for my brothers anniversary and as I was running late I left the faces off the illustration, I posted it on Instagram and from that received my first job, I just thought “ lets give illustration ago” and since then haven’t looked back. I have to keep pinching myself that this is my job, I have meet some incredible people through Instagram it has truly been a dream!

On average, how long does it take for you to produce an picture?

On average for a private commission about 6 hours and then for a big job, I have spent a few months on illustrations, it just depends on the brief and what the job entails.

So I noticed on your instagram that you were using eyeshadow in an illustration - unexpected by rather ingenious. What are you favourite mediums to work in?

Oh thank you so much, I do love to use eyeshadows in alot of my works. I have this MAC palette that has every colour under the sun, so I do love to use eyeshadows as it gives such an amazing powdery finish. A few of my other favourite mediums are Copic Markers, water colours and pan pastels, I love using a little of everything there are so many incredible options out there its so hard to not want to try them all ahaha I am like a kid in a candy store.

Your pieces are altogether delightful, but how would you describe your style of drawing?

I think my work lends itself to not being to serious with a focus on fashion, and I love that, delightful ahah I may just steal that, thank you.

It’s well known that you have a pretty impressive hoard of celebrity fans and rightly so! How does it feel to have your talent acknowledged by such prolific social figures?

It still blows me away, it is crazy how social media truly connects the world in so many ways, having my work seen by incredibly talented people who inspire me is crazy, I don’t think I will ever get use to it.

Who or what would you name as strong creative influences/inspirations?

There are some incredible illustrators on Instagram who I love to follow yet my main inspiration comes from fashion, I love following the insane stylist @juneambrose and also Olivier Rousteing for all his incredible designs. Stalking Creatives on Instagram I find very inspiring and keeps me thinking of new ways I could capture an illustration or design.

What is it that you enjoy most about creating fashion illustrations?

I Love being able to zone out and illustrate a moment of incredible style or fashion and having that piece immortalised for a time. Its my way of keeping a memory, others take photos whilst I sketch, although I am struggling to store them all, Im slowly turning into a hoarder aha

What are you most looking forward to at the moment?

Oh I think first on that list is a massive break, other that that I’m really looking forward to a fresh start and taking things in 2016 to a whole new level, I can’t wait to share what’s to come,

Thank you so much for this interview has been a joy.

XXAF

RIXO: LONDON

August 02, 2015 by adriana perri in Fashion Interview

From buyers to designers, these creative designer girls give us an insight about what it's like to transition in the fashion industry from one concept to another. Having both sharing a great amount of experience in the industry with working as buyers at asos, Orlagh and Henrietta tell us all about their friendship, travelling and creating their new and up coming brand RIXO.

Tell us about both of you! Your fashion experience and how you were perviously working for asos and your studies!

Tell us a little bit about your buying careers what that entailed?

Orlagh: I started off wanting to do fashion design so I moved from Ireland to London after getting accepted into the London College of Fashion. I quickly realised I didn't want to do 4 years at university solidly focusing on design so after the first year I took a gap year travelling, worked in New York and reapplied for the fashion management course at LCF which is where myself and Henrietta's paths met. Henrietta had just finished her A levels in Cheshire and moved to London.

We became inseparable from first semester, working on uni projects together, spending our weekends trawling vintage and antique markets and found someone to share our vintage obsession with. We would literally sued to ring each other at 3 in the morning after finding an insane 1970's prints or a vintage 1930's bias cut dresses.

Henrietta worked at Kerry Taylor auctions during our time at university, (a really famous vintage auction house outside London), whilst also working at Selfridges. Every spare minute we had we would be sourcing the best vintage, materials, fabrics, print designs. Even on vacations we turned professional trawler to explore the fashion and vintage whatever country we where in.

We decided even before we finished university that we would start RIXO but wanted to get some experience under our belt first. This has been the key to our success so far. I worked at TK Maxx buying off-price and the buying principals really inspired me to think in a different way when working with anyone along the supply chain, from our factory to material sourcing. We both then worked at ASOS in womenswear own brand where Henrietta worked on Dresses and I worked on Accessories, Bags and Swimwear so we had quite a broad insight into the development and production.

Our buying job roles varied massively day to day from the exciting tasks of souring inspiration, developing product and ranges to the not so exciting but extremely important critical path control, sales analysis, cost price negotiations and endless fit sessions. There is never enough hours in the day.

Coming from buying in contrast to purely just a design degree background has really helped us understand how to make our passion into an actual business, not just a hobby, where we can see a real growth potential for what we are doing.

What made you both create RIXO? When was your moment?

We really felt like their was a huge gap in the market for a contemporary brand that offered real value for money at that £250 price point. We've got such a strong but over saturated high street market within the UK but our contemporary premium brands are few and far between. On one hand you've got lots of scandi minimal black and white premium labels or the opposite,really street graphic brands such as House of Holland. There is nothing that offers a more premium gown up bohemian vibe ... Think Kate Moss/ Olsen twinesque. We noticed how well certain Australian and LA brands where doing over here in the UK with a premium price point. RIXO has that bohemian element except we are doing it the British way, less beach like more London cool and take huge inspiration from the Ossie Clark, Celia Birtwell era's. Having done our time in the buying office we decided come that come New Year 2015 it would be our year to bring the world what we so strongly feel is missing - someone who knows their own style and is willing to pay a little bit more than Topshop prices to really invest in pieces that are not just one season wonders but wardrobe staples they will wear day and hight.

The virtues of rosemary is your first collection for your new brand. Tell us what was your inspiration behind this collection?

Our first collection was actually inspired by 15th Century manuscripts of old italian herbs which lay hidden away in the British Library. We were genuinely so excited - like kids in candy shop routing through these huge big old books finding everything from carrots to Rosemary & Poppies that inspired us. We were also inspired by vintage treasures we had collected over the years from details and shapes like the scalloping of our blouses and the jackets lapels int he collection.

How long did it take for you to sketch your idea on pen and paper to creating your collection?

From initial sketching to creating samples it took a couple of months. I was still working full time so every evening and weekend consisted of designing shapes and working on the print elements. We also didn't develop a few pieces we had originally sketched and planned in the range. We constantly challenged ourselves troll over our designs and think how well they work individually as well as a collection. Some pieces weren't as strong so we had no hesitation on whittling down to the pieces we absolutely loved and couldn't live without. You can't be too precious and personal about your designs as you have to keep in mind what will work best and constantly self critique to get the best result.

How did you source your material for this collection?

We sourced all our materials in London. We wanted beautiful silks that flattered the body. We felt really strongly about the fabric bases we put our shapes into - They can really make a garment. Even with linings we really focused on where best to use and not to use them on each piece so they feel beautiful when worn.

Will it be mass production or unique collectibles?

We are keeping our production units quite low. What we are trying to move away form is the mass production that is happening all over the highstreet. We still want to be global but we aren't trying to be something to to everyone, we want to be the brand that cool confident ladies any age, any country fell they need in their wardrobe and can afford to buy into.

I spotted some embroidery on this collection… along with hand painted original prints! How long did it take to complete this and what is the process?

The prints were inspired by the 15th Century manuscripts. We sketched the elements and painted everyone ourselves using watercolour. After this we arranged the elements onto huge card boards to get the spacing and alignment right. We actually done this about 4-5 times over before we got the placement just right. After this we scanned in we played with base colours. My sister is and architect and interior designer so we borrowed for her whizz kid photoshop skills and played around with it until we got our final prints. It probably took around 2-3 weeks and few late nights to get them nailed with a lot of minor tweaking but we loved the final outcome.

Advice to all students and people who aspire to get into the design industry?

Top advice is to meet as many people in person as possible when starting out. Contacts are key and building a face to face personable relationship is always best. A lot better than just emails alone! Email everyone first though asking for a quick meeting/coffee from manufactures, buyers, press, bloggers/influencers and definitely use your contact from your university years - These are the people that are the future of the fashion industry. Instagram is amazing for networking and finding out who you need to get in contact with in an informal way. Linkedin is also amazing for contacts. You have to be creative when trying to get in contact with right people but you will get there if you put some effort in.

Second best bit of advice is to always be nice to everyone no matter what level they are at. There is a a lot of people that you work with in the industry that think it's acceptable to treat this people below their position with diregard. We at RIXO have a strict 'No Flex Zone' in place - no egos please. Work hard and be nice.. that's our motto. We love a bit of Rae summoned in the studio.

Don't be disheartened by anyone telling you how hard it is to crack the fashion industry- every job worth having is hard in this world, you may as well do one that you have a passion for. Believe you can do it and figure it out bit by bit, if there is a will there is a way and things will click into place.

Where we have got in the last year I couldn't have predicted the lucky breaks we have got, but if you put yourself out there and keeping trying things will come your way.

FOXY QUESTIONS

Heels or Flats?

Heels

If I could go anywhere right now i'd go to…..

We want a Holiday and tan so Ibiza old town.

My most prized item in my wardrobe.

We have too many to choose but one of our favourites are

Orlagh: Purple vintage pucci dress.

Henrietta: 1920's oriental hand embroidered kimono

I never leave home without my….

Eight hour cream

Weirdest thing thats ever happen to you?

A weird encounter.. Meeting an eccentric artist in a coffee shop in north London retail park who happened to live in a derelict building just around the corner... 2 weeks later we shot our first lookbook there, although he turned slightly crazy on the day it was worth the final outcome and the building beautiful architectural details.

Kitte Accoutrement

July 20, 2015 by adriana perri in Fashion Interview

Emerging from Melbourne's performing arts scene in the late 90's, Kitte Cockerell fell into accessory design by chance.

In just a few years the small production line evolved into a thriving business and by 2000. The Richmond studio housed a large team to manage local manufacturing for Australia's largest fashion retailers. Since then Kitte has worked with industry leaders including Sportsgirl, Kookai, Mimco, Witchery, Seed and Forever New and in 2014 launched her own namesake label, Kitte Accoutrement.

Each Kitte collection is timeless and theatrical, offering bespoke pieces of art to be showcased and adored. Kitte finds inspiration in juxtaposition, contrasting the delicate with the tough. She pushes all boundaries to deliver unexpected combinations & textures while proportion & balance underly all her designs.

Since only launching her brand a year ago, it has already been seen on fashionistas such as The Olsen Twins, Jennifer Hawkins, Micah Gianelli, Kate Cebrano, Delta Goodrem and Ruby Rose, Kitte Accoutrement is fast becoming the accessory label to watch.

Design, made to adorn the brave and the audacious.

What made you want to create Kitte Accoutrement?

After designing for many other labels where I needed to create commercial and price driven styles, I was excited about the freedom of designing without limitations or restrictions.

What is it like being an independent Melbourne fashion label ?

Very busy! There is so much to do apart from design. I like to be involved in all aspects of the business so work closely with my team on marketing, social media, sales and branding.

Tell us the design process of creating a necklace or a ring, how do you source the right materials?

There are no strict rules when it comes to my design process. I tend to source materials such as beads, leathers, trims and metal components and combine them together in different ways until I like what I see. Once I’m happy with the initial sample I send to my manufacture offshore to replicate.

How long can it take to create a piece? Ranging from necklaces to bracelets?

It varies depending on the intricacy of a design or how easily my idea comes together.

You have a series of different collections, could you explain a little about each one and the inspiration behind it?

The latest collection, The Ivy, was inspired by the outdoors, nature, twisted vines and overgrown ivy. My childhood was spent growing up in The Dandenong Ranges, with memories of creek walks along mossy ranges. It was a magical time that I now get to revisit with my own children.

For the Insignia range, I wanted to explore alternate forms of adornment and was inspired by military accoutrement and antique furniture trims. Inspiration tends to find me at the most unexpected times and my love of theatrical costumes and vintage finds heavily influence my designs.

Biggest achievement with the brand?

The growth of the brand in such a short time is something i’m really proud of. Also that some really high profile people love wearing the brand too – Delta Goodrem, The Olsen Twins and Micah Gianelli have all been spotted in Kitte Accoutrement!

Advice to all students and people who aspire to get into the industry?

Young people who want to get in to the industry should consider doing a short business/marketing course. Being creative is usually what draws people to the industry, but having these other skills can be really helpful when starting your own label.