Featured Designer: Kindling

FK talks to lovely Nina from Brissy based fashion label, Kindling

Introduce us to your brand, Kindling.
Kindling is clothing and paper goods created from all that juicy-designy-crafty-moosh that was once ideas in my heart. Inspired by beautiful old teacups, Scandinavian and Japanese design and 1950’s wallpapers, I draw pictures, pattern-make dresses, screen print textiles and hand sew the cutest buttons I can lay my hands on.

What inspired you to start your label?
I was always on the hunt for beautiful vintage fabric from around the world. When I found something amazing I would try to make the perfect piece from it. Sometimes it would work and sometimes I would cry because I knew it was unsalvageable- I knew I had to learn pattern making and how to make clothes properly. I was the only person in my college who didn’t want to have a label but when I finished I could see the potential of my ideas now being a reality as I had skills to make it work every time. Kindling grew from menswear, to children’s tees and now I have worked up to a women’s collection which I love.

Describe your creative workspace.
Firstly I have one beautifully sunlit fabric/sewing/making room. Secondly, one darkish concrete space under the house with big tables for printing pattern making and cutting. And thirdly, my backyard – where I take my macbook and work on a table under a very old and beautiful frangipani tree surrounded by my vegie patch and the neighbourhood crows and birds.

What advice would you give others starting out?
If you have passion and ideas that are truly yours, that will never run out, so go for it, because there is nothing more inspiring then somebody doing what they love and sharing that with the world.

What do you love about living in Brisbane as a creative?
I live just 200m from the best gelati this side of Italy, (not to mention a plethora of yummy dinner options and cake!) we have beautiful galleries on a beautiful river, a supportive indy designer crowd, and I think we have one of the best indy music scenes – so many great bands it makes me proud!

What are the next stages for Kindling?
The women’s Spring/Summer collection is in production, Christmas card packs are being sampled, and three new illustrations for card designs. On the side I offer illustration for business branding and graphic design and there are few projects brewing there too. I love working with people so its really exciting at the moment!

www.kindling.com.au

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