FK talks to Sydney based Jen Allison about her amazing origami based artwork.

How would you describe the style of your work?
My style is dictated by my medium – paper, and my technique – origami. I don’t use origami in a traditional way, my work is usually simple in design with clean lines and bold colours. Sometimes the concept of the work is more important than the style… and it’s often these ones that end up with the most style!

What is your background and how did you get to where you are today?
I have been working with paper for 9 years or so. I used to do a lot of collage works, but then 4 years ago I was given a book about origami and my work evolved into the 3rd dimension. Origami has endless possibilities and I do think I’m just getting started with it really.

Where do you find inspiration for your pieces?
I find inspiration in day to day life, the big issues as well as the trivial things. Some of my works have a social bent. Going to new places always inspires me and seeing creative people creating awesome things all over the world.

Where did you like to go in Melbourne for inspiration?
Although I am based in Sydney now, I lived in Melbourne a while back and I love the arts scene there. The Rose St Artist’s Market is a great little design market filled with good people making very good things. In Melbourne there are a lot of shops and galleries that support artists at the grassroots level and it’s always good to see what’s being produced by the locals.

What do you love most about working with paper?
I like the clean lines of paper and I also like that it’s not as common or traditional as other mediums… although it’s getting quite popular which is uber exciting. I like the traditions and rules of origami - it suits me to work with a discipline. I love the 3D aspect and it’s also very convenient – one can fold on the bus if need be!

How has your creative style developed and what is your working process?
My works developed from drawing and painting a lot to making collages and now folding. I think my creative style is sort of innate, I don’t think it’s changed much since I was a kid! I have never been afraid of bright colours and my work has always been kind of androgynous. My working process is to suddenly, out of the blue, come up with an idea and then develop it. I can’t force ideas, I don’t work like that.

What has been your favourite project to work on?
I always enjoy the personalised commission pieces that I make. They’re usually a combination of a client’s ideas and my own and it’s nice to collaborate. I will usually use the client’s own photographs and often the works are gifts so it’s nice to know you’re working on something that will mean a lot to someone.

How was your debut collection at Finders Keepers Sydney?
FK Sydney was tip-top! It was good to get my Christmas shopping done actually…

www.jenallison.net

FK talks to Jessica Hyde from illustration based label Truth.be.told

Can you describe your illustration style?
My illustration style is whimsical and feminine. I’m interested in portraiture and fashion, so I like to bring detailed patterns and line work into my drawings.

What is your background and how did you get to where you are today?
I have always loved drawing since I was a little girl but I really began to take it more seriously after I finished studying Architecture in 2007. I soon realised that I enjoyed illustration and design a lot more than drawing buildings, so I started drawing, making cards and wedding invitations in my spare time. With a little encouragement I started truth.be.told in early 2008, and really it has just become an integral part of my life.

What are you looking forward to the most at FK Melbourne markets?
I’ve visited the FK markets in Sydney and last year in Melbourne and I was blown away by the amazing talented designers Finders Keepers bring together. I’m really looking forward to being a part of all of it – plus sneaking in a little shopping!

Where inspires you and your work?
I’m inspired by so many places and people. I love old movies so a lot of my inspiration comes from watching movies like High Society and Funny Face. And I am inspired constantly by imagery of the city, probably a welcome hangover from studying architecture. I think studying architecture opened me up to a lot of different styles, I especially love Art Deco. After visiting the US last year I am even more inspired by amazing cities like New York, if I’m ever stuck I just look through my photos and sketchbook and I am instantly back on track.

What are your favourite places to hang out in Melbourne?
There are so many places I love – I live and work in the inner North so I spend a lot of time in that area. I love vintage shopping at gems like Lost + Found on Smith Street, as well as having brunch – Each Peach and Palomino are two of my faves. If I get a spare moment I love going to NGV and spend time wandering around the city taking pictures and sketching. I also love going to see live music so places like the Corner Hotel and Northcote Social Club are regular haunts. And I love going to markets, even when I have my weekends off – Rose Street Artist Markets and CraftHatch are both great.

What advice would you give other illustrators starting out?
The best advice I have ever gotten was to just draw what I loved and the rest will follow, which I believe is true. I truly enjoy every time I sit down to start a new illustration. If you enjoy it, you won’t mind the hard work. Get your work out there anyway you can – blogs, competitions, submit to magazines and companies you love. They may say no but one day it will lead to a yes.

What have the highlights been since starting your label?
There have been so many highlights – starting and developing truth.be.told over the last three years has been in itself a highlight. Things like making my first sale and seeing my work in magazines were also pretty exciting moments that may have resulted in a few star jumps. Getting the chance to exhibit my work in some amazing group shows has also been a big highlight.

What projects do you have to look forward to this year?
There are lots of great things coming up for truth.be.told and myself personally this year! Apart from new designs and lots of markets I have some exciting custom work and collaborations coming out soon and an exhibition planned for later in the year. I am also working on my new custom wedding invitations and styling jobs which I am extremely excited to share soon.

http://www.truthbetold.com.au/

FK chat to Megan Quigley about her screen printing label, Dangerfork

How did your label come about?
The idea to start screen printing came when we were traveling through Europe. We found some really cool prints and thought that was a good way to purchase artwork on the cheap. It was also really easy to send back to Australia. Once we got back to Australia at the beginning of 2010, a friend of ours was selling his carousel so we got thought why not and set up a little space in our garage teaching ourselves along the way. We are now based in a studio in Richmond, Melbourne.

What is your background in the creative field?
I studied fashion to begin with but found it wasn’t really for me and tried my hand at shoe making instead. I still really love shoe making and work as a repairer part time. Chris studied Fine Art and has also been emerged in the graffiti culture for quiet some time. This is our main contact for a lot of the artists that we work with.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?
Our biggest inspiration for our prints come from the artists that we work with.

What fascinates you about printing as a process?
Screen printing is a dying art form. There are many variables that can go wrong with screen printing which is why its probably a dying art form, but it is these variable that give each print an individuality. You are also able to print on many different mediums, I would love to experiment with more leathers and canvas. Also trying to work within the constraints of the medium and breaking down the original artwork into a screen printable image can be a challenge and when you get it right it feels great.


What has been the most rewarding part of working on Dangerfork so far?
I’d have to say the most rewarding part of starting dangerfork has been working with a large range of artists and watching our collection grow. Also each print that we do has been different and a challenge which we have had to work out along the way. And its also pretty cool when you hear someone else say that it looks cool.

What can we look forward to seeing from Dangerfork next year?
Next year we have to work on our website, tedious job but it needs to be done. Also we will be looking for another pop – up shop in Melbourne where we can exhibit our prints. And we also want to try and expand our product range into stationary, cushion covers and larger prints. So keep your eyes on our space!

www.dangerfork.com

FK talks to Sydney based label &company, and their collective of designers.

Tell us about your label &company.
&company is a design studio for emerging designers. We host events and exhibitions showcasing new works, and also produce a homewares range. We give our designers a brief to work to, provide mentoring, facilitate manufacturing and look after the distribution of products – leaving the designers to do what they do best: design. Our very first range, Food&company, will be hitting the shops soon, so make sure you keep an eye out for it!

What is your background and how did this concept come about?
I have a Bachelor of Design (Product and Textiles), and have been lecturing in tertiary design courses for the last 5 years. I watched a lot of my peers and students who were exceptionally talented designers graduate, only to be faced with a difficult and often invisible industry; jobs are hard to find and not every designer wants to be an entrepreneur and open their own studio straight away! Perhaps this is particularly so for object/product graduates. Sadly, I’ve seen many designers take on soulless corporate-web-design work to pay the bills. It just didn’t seem right. I’ve always enjoyed working on the big picture, project managing and curating events, drawing on the philosophy that many hands make for exceptionally interesting work. &company has allowed me to build a platform for local talent, and to showcase this talent to a broader audience.

You have a number of designers under your label – where do you find these smaller designers and what qualities do you look for?
The first designers we worked with were students, friends, and other talented folk whose work we had seen, loved and wanted to work with. With each new event we host, our designer mailing list grows longer and longer. &company is interested in designs that can be loved and used everyday – an intermingling of the practical and the poetic – useful, thoughtful, responsible, beautiful. We look for designers who are passionate about what they do, and willing to work hard to see their designs come to life. &company is also committed to supporting local industry and designing with a responsible ethos – that means our designers need to be open minded and a little ingenious when faced with the challenges and opportunities of local production. We try not to be too prescriptive because we want designers to bring their own style to the range. Which is why we co-label all our designs ‘Designers Name &company’.

What do you enjoy the most about working as a collective?
Well, technically &company isn’t a collective. We like to think of ourselves more as a satellite network of designers and artists. Working this way allows for many, many people to come on board, and for collaborations to form at different levels, on the designers’ terms. Some designers get involved in exhibitions and markets, while others focus on designing for the range, or come in as guest curatorial assistants and speakers. &company welcomes all kinds of talented people within and beyond design. We also collaborate with other organisations – we just wrapped up a special Sydney Design project with Gaffa gallery and The Company We Keep, called See-Saw.

What inspires you about working with others?
There are so many young designers doing great work – to bring them together and share their talent with the community is just so exciting! Whilst big chunks of my time are spent at my desk in the studio, it is always inspiring to head out to meet designers, manufacturers, galleries, retailers (and all the other people who bring &company to life) – it’s such a rush to meet people who are really passionate about what they do, and a real privilege to be let into their world and their process of thinking and creating. A mentor once described &company as a boat with a captain. While I love this analogy, the collaborative focus of &company has highlighted another truth: The boat doesn’t leave shore without a crew. The designers we present are a fundamental part of who we are, they inspire us to keep doing what we do.

What’s the next stages for &company?
We’re pretty good at keeping busy! At the moment we’re manufacturing our first range, and will be shipping it to select stores soon. This Friday (September 17th), we are taking part in Object’s PARK(ing) Day (check out the link and come along!), with a fantastic installation by Marion Gelbart, Sarah Spackman and Harriet Watts – if you can’t get to the CBD on friday, it will be moved to Gaffa gallery for the following fortnight. Early next year we are guest curating a special show at Object: Australian Centre for Craft and Design. And, we’re about to start a series of New Designer Briefings, so if you know any talented designers who might like to get involved, please send them our way!

www.andcompany.com.au

FK chat to one half of ‘The Towns’ Kara Town, about their new art based label A Happy Death.

Can you introduce us to your fab label, a happy death?
A Happy Death was conceived whilst we were living in Paris in early 2010. Whilst there we were inspired to extend our individual creative selves, foster our penchant for art, and invite our relationship to enter a new chapter. We both shared a mutual desire to build the bridge between artists and the greater community, and in doing so challenge the way art is perceived, shared and received. Initially I had my heart set on a retail/gallery space of the same name, but that soon transitioned into the A Happy Death of today. A Happy Death’s aim was, and indeed is, to give artists a simple, freely accessible platform with which to share their work; whereby we act as curators if you like. We invite artists to create a collection for us, that is, very importantly, true to their aesthetic. It’s certainly not a new concept, however we wanted to represent a broader discipline of artists, to step outside ‘the norm’, and bring art to the masses through the clever guise of stationery. Our name, (after an Albert Camus novel), is undeniably strange when placed next to other stationery labels, but it reflects our desire to contribute to a better world; one of sharing visual pleasure and encouraging environmental awareness, no matter how small our contribution may be.

What are your individual backgrounds and how did you meet?
Chris is six years my senior, he’s originally from Sydney, and incredibly well travelled, having lived in Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Sydney, London, Mexico and Paris. He’s studied at both the National Art School, Sydney and RMIT, Melbourne. He’s also exhibited in such galleries as China Heights, MOP and Monster Children here in Sydney, and had some of his work purchased by ARTBANK, to join their permanent collection. I also have background in the arts, with a degree in Visual Arts, studies in Fashion Design, a couple of small exhibitions to date, and I also dabble in both drawing and printmaking. We are both heavily influenced by art, fashion, design, literature, and popular culture. At the time we met, Chris was living in Adelaide, where I’m originally from; we met rather fortuitously in 2006, through a mutual friend. We instantly bonded over our love of art, vintage and Nick Cave, and fell in love. It was a rather fast courtship; we were engaged within two months and married six months later. In hindsight it was quite a crazy ‘experiment’ that has paid off in ways we never imagined. We’ve been happily hitched for five years now; A Happy Death is one of our greatest achievements to date (apart from becoming ‘The Towns’ that is).

What qualities were you looking for in the artists for a happy death?
For our first collection we chose from our favourite established and emerging artists, who are incredibly varied in their aesthetic and subject matters, and that’s just the way we like it. In all honesty, we tend to gravitate towards the art we both like first and foremost. A Happy Death also delights in the idea of helping emerging artists, by giving them a simple platform with which to share and promote their work. In choosing our artists, and considering their artwork, we aim not to be age or gender specific, curating each artist’s collection with a varied customer in mind. After all, we want to capture the attention of those who aren’t as literal minded when purchasing cards. Those looking for something vastly different, that will give their recipient an artistic experience along with their intended greeting; a product at the end of the day they may display or frame.

How do you maintain your environmentally guilt free ego?
We adopted the catchcry ‘a life well used, brings a happy death’, to not only bring clarity to our (odd) name, A Happy Death, but to bring attention to our environmental conscience. We loved the notion of working together toward a happy death; after all death is inevitable, let’s make the most of life and leave the world with a mark of happiness, of good. It’s quite a comforting concept really. So, it was in the initial stages, that the environmental factor became very important to us. We became adamant that our product was made locally, in Australia, and under the most environmentally sound conditions, on 100% recycled, FSC approved papers, using offset printing and vegetable inks. Our approach was; if we are going to be putting paper goods out there, we to do so in the most responsible way possible, and in doing so, encourage others to do the same.

What are your favourite blogs/websites right now?
I’m certainly the mad blog trawler of the two, and enjoy my daily intake/hourly morning ritual of visiting a variety of blogs and websites that cover food, art, design/home, photography and fashion. For art; Exhibition A, Dossier Journal, First and Fifteenth (Daily Metalations). For design/house/home; The Design Files, The Design Sponge, Design For Mankind, Honestly WTF and Miss Moss. For food; Smitten Kitchen, BKFST, Veggie Num Num and Sous Style. For photography; Rose & Crown, Fourteen-Nineteen, Turned Out By Maya and Backyard Bill.  For Fashion; Opening Ceremony, Creatures Of Comfort, Vanessa Jackman and Stockholm Streetstyle. (I told you I was a mad blog/website enthusiast, and the above are just the beginning.) I actually have my own blog to record all of the information I collect on a daily basis too (otherwise it all gets far too overwhelming), it’s at www.karatown.blogspot.com.

What can we expect from a happy death next year?
A Happy Death undoubtedly have a busy year ahead; with three new fabulous female artists to add to the current collection, a plan to branch out into other paper goods (including wrapping papers, journals, and notebooks), more design markets (having just been involved in our first Finders Keepers Markets, here in Sydney), our debut at First Instyle next February, and of course the launch of our online store. We can’t wait!

www.ahappydeath.com.au

FK chats to Melbourne’s card geniuses, Able and Game

Able and Game is quite well known given the short time frame you’ve been up and running. Can you tell us where the name comes from?
Coming up with a business name that you like is really hard. I think one of the reasons I decided to really push Able and Game was because I liked the name and didn’t want to let it go to waste! The two words come from Gareth and my initials with an E stuck on the end to form a word, Anna is the Able and Gareth is the Game.
What are your backgrounds and how did you get started?
I have a background in fine art and did my Bachelor degree in painting and drawing at the University of Ballarat. Gareth has a degree in computer science from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. After university I worked as a secondary teacher and had an accessory label called Anna Laura and Gareth has previously worked as a business analyst, application developer and software engineer and currently works freelance as a web application developer.

We love your quirky cards! Where does the inspiration come from?
So many different places and each card has its own a unique story. We also get some help from friends and family. My sister is good at coming up with ideas, particularly for our train station cards. Our ‘I would give up my superfast internet card – for the weekend’ came about after our DSL modem broke a few years back and we had to go back to dial up for a week while waiting for a replacement modem. I think we both came out in hives and remember it as the worst week ever.

What was the hardest part about starting your label?
Working from home on your own is hard, it can be isolating and you often end up wasting time online because you want some human interaction. Suddenly you’re wasting half an hour on facebook looking at the wedding album of someone you don’t even know. Sure you can put it under “research for wedding cards” but with no one to tell you off you can suddenly justify a whole bunch of stuff that really is a waste of time.

Tell us your top 3 things to do in Melbourne to get inspired.
Walking around the city at night when it is quiet, but not too late. Sunday nights are good because there are not too many people around. The other night I walked from Carlton down to Flinders Street and although it was a bit chilly it was a nice way to relax and take in the buildings and public art. On the weekend we do markets on both Saturday and Sunday. We have a regular stall at Rose Street Market and have some of good friends who also have stalls. It is great fun to catch up after five days of working alone by talking shop and looking at new products people have made. We often head to a pub afterwards for dinner and drinks and by Monday you feel pretty recharged to start the week ahead. Melbourne also has loads of things on during the week, which is good for people like us who work on the weekend. Gogo dancing and gallery openings, anything you can do with a drink and a friend is always going to make a good night!

What’s the next stage for Able and Game?
We are always thinking of new cards, trying to come up with that perfect card that make someone tell his friend his cheeks are hurting from laughing so much. We also have some new stationery items as well as a few giftware items. I keep dreaming of the day we can hire someone else and I can have a co-worker. I have a feeling whoever it will be will need to be able to listen to my inane gibbering about card ideas, cats and television shows.

www.ableandgame.com

FK chat to Betony from new Sydney based sleepwear label, ALAS

Can you introduce your brand new label to our readers.
After seeing a niche for beautiful sleepwear made ethically, ALAS offers comfort with a conscience without compromising good design. Our debut collection, entitled “Summer Sirocco” is inspired by memories of our last Moroccan holiday. Pomegranates for breakfast, colours woven into carpets, faded tiles smiling in symmetry. The range features a luscious palette of Mint, Watermelon and Indigo and the unique prints reflect long days by the Atlantic sea, balmy nights and traveller’s tales swept up by the sirocco winds.

ALAS sleepwear is made in India where the cotton is also grown, spun, woven and dyed. With fair trade accreditation, we can be sure that there are no children working and factory employees are treated fairly. All ALAS garments are constructed with 100% certified organic cotton which has been farmed without dangerous chemicals, pesticides and fertilisers. All packaging, swing tags and business cards are recycled and recyclable.

What are your backgrounds and what inspired you to start ALAS?
Kelly and I met on our first day of university – we studied Fashion design at QUT, Brisbane. Three years later we combined forces to  collaborate on our final collection – a colourful range of dresses, tees and screenprinted leggings- all created using eco fabrics such as bamboo, organic cotton and hemp blends. The collection then evolved into a small label called Two Beat Tremble. Two collections under our belt we decided to pause the label and go overseas. A year and a half was spent travelling, and living and working in London where we both designed for a vintage re-made label called My Only One that was stocked in Topshop. Upon our return to the home turf we happened to notice a lack of nice, organic sleepwear in Australia – and decided to fill that gap!

What do you love about having your own label and what have learnt along the way?
Having our own label is a very rewarding experience. We are constantly learning new things. It is definitely a bonus being in a partnership with Kelly – we can bounce ideas off each other and have a bit of fun amidst all the hard work. I think one of the most important things we have learnt is to never be afraid to ask questions. We are constantly on the phone to friends, mentors and people in the industry… asking for tips and advice!

Why did you choose to gain fair trade accreditation for your label, and how important is this to you?
It is of very high importance to us as designers to know where our materials are coming from, and who our garments are made by. We believe in transparency in the supply chain. It is difficult for small labels to achieve this but we will always strive to treat everyone with respect. We hope that our actions will make an imprint on our customers, who will in turn become more conscientious consumers.

Where do you get inspiration for ALAS?
Songs lyrics sung loudly on road trips, the creatures that live under the ocean… and in the mountains and forests and everywhere, the milky way (celestial, not chocolate), our funny friends, old and faded National Geographic, the curious shapes of fruits and vegetables, weird colour combinations. This list could go on forever, actually!

Where would you like to see your label grow to, and what new plans do you have for the label?
We would like to expand the label in the near future to include men’s, kids and babies pyjamas, and possibly a ‘luxe’ line with fancy fabrics such as silk and merino blends. We would also like ALAS to be stocked internationally, so people all over the world can sleep with smiles on their faces!

alasthelabel.com

FK talks to Katharine from Sydney based label Alfalfa

Can you tell us about your accessories label, Alfalfa?
I mainly make lockets, brooches, and embroidered pictures, using lots of upcycled scraps of fabric and doilies.  My newest venture is embroidering pictures onto doilies, which I started making about a year ago.  I’m excited to see where these go creatively, as they keep on sparking new ideas for me – it’s just a matter of finding enough time in the day to sew everything that I want to make!

What inspired you to start your own label?
I actually started my label a few years back and initially made little plastic covered fabric purses.  These were easy for me to make and helped me justify my main addiction, buying fabric! (in particular various cute Japanese prints that reminded my of illustrations from books from my childhood). I guess I’ve always made things though and Alfalfa and selling stuff was a natural extension of this for me.

Where do you draw inspiration from, and what keeps you motivated?
I always have to be doing two things at once, so my motivation is a need to be busy.  I’ve always got a few projects on the go – baby quilts for friends, stuff for Alfalfa, and clothes for myself.  I need variety in what I make and that keeps me interested. Inspiration for me comes from beautiful fabrics, lovingly hand-sewn doilies, and cool finds in op-shops.

Where are your top ten favourite op shops and shops!
(In no order)
Blue Mountains Cancer Help, Katoomba – old school op shop with old school prices
Vinnies, Katoomba – for haberdashery and old cardis
Anglicare, Summer Hill – where you can buy big bags of doilies
Made590, Newtown – all that is cute and cool
Cat Defence Network, Katoomba – a tiny rambling op shop
Salvation Army, Penrith – lots of great bargains
Gorman, Paddington – I’m a little obsessed with Gorman clothes
Mrs Peel, Leura – cool vintage and new stuff
The Bower, Marrickville – up-cycled furniture and cool second hand finds
Macarthurs Arcade, Katoomba – full of nostalgic vintage finds

What do you love about living in Sydney?
During the week I live in Camperdown – which is walking distance to Newtown and my work, and also close to the city.  With so many great cafes and restaurants in the neighbourhood it’s really fun to get out, meet up with friends and try lots of yummy food.

Most weekends I spend up in the Blue Mountains (about 1.5 hours from Sydney) where my partner and I have a little house.  A friend of ours rents it off us (and kindly looks after our cat) and we come up and visit. It’s a really good arrangement and I feel like I have the best of both worlds.  As I’m usually up in the mountains in the weekends, I don’t get to explore Sydney as much as I’d like though.  When I do get the chance to be in Sydney on the weekends, I hop in the car and head out to my favourite shops.  Kind of like I’m in a mad hurry to see it all.

What hopes do you have for Alfalfa in the future?
My hope for Alfalfa is to expand and do it on a more permanent basis, as right now I’m also working full-time as a childcare teacher. I take a lot of inspiration from other people who’ve been able to turn their passions in to an income. Creatively, I really want to keep developing my ideas, experiment with mixing old and new, and keep making things that I’m proud of.

http://www.alfalfacrafts.com/

We talk to Alice Veivers from her Brisbane based fashion label, Alice Nightingale

Can you introduce your lovely label, and the idea behind it?
Alice Nightingale is a hand-made fashion label giving women the chance to wear something unique every day.
The idea is to provide a high quality, individual alternative to bulk-made clothing by making very small quantities of each design. This way, you know you’re not going to run into your doppelganger whilst frolicking about town! There’s also quite an emphasis on vintage trends and classic shapes within each collection. After all, who doesn’t love feeling just a little ladylike every now and then!

What is your background and when did you launch your clothing label?
I launched the label in late 2009 after completing my Diploma of Fashion Design and Technology from the Australian Institute of Creative Design. The women in my family are pretty handy with the sewing machine, so this hand-made approach to fashion has always been a part of my life. They also helped guide me to an obsession with vintage patterns, which led to my current love of pattern making.

What do you love about what you do & what have you learnt so far along the way?
One of the highlights of running such a ‘hands on’ label is the instant production process. There’s no waiting around for two years for every collection. Each garment can be designed, made into a pattern, cut, sewn and added to the range so quickly! It’s also lovely to interact directly with the public as a designer and hear why hand made products are making a comeback. The whole experience is wonderfully creative and rather rewarding, it’s definitely taught me to push forward and prove that hand-made is best.

Where do you draw inspiration for your label?
The whole concept draws from a love of vintage designers and the wonderful trends of the thirties through to sixties. Each season however, I tend to centre around a main subject or era. The Spring 2011 collection is very soft and ladylike, with a mix of lightweight cottons and soft chiffons. I tend to find that “Alice Nightingale” can be anything from a fairytale character to an English lady but one thing is for sure; she’s always feminine and constantly unique!

Where are some of your favourite places to visit in Brisbane?
Winn lane in Fortitude Valley is really picking up the pace in Brisbane at the moment. There’s a wonderful community of local creative’s with everything from vintage clothing to designer jewellery on offer. Oh and a lovely lunch at Flamingo Cafe to go with it!

What can we expect from Alice Nightingale at the upcoming FK Brisbane markets?
There’ll be plenty of one-off’s to accompany the spring range of flowing dresses, skirts and blouses. As always, I’ll have hand-made bags, purses and jewellery to match all of my designs. Plus, Finders Keepers will be the place to find a preview or two of the main summer range before it launches in mid November!

www.wix.com/alicenightingale

FK chats to the lovely ladies behind kids shoe label, All about Heidi.

HEIDIwalks is your seamless shoe range for little feet. Can you tell us a little about it and how it all began?
HEIDIwalks is a soft leather shoe for babies and toddlers inspired by genuine shoe craftsmanship. The shoes are made from one piece of leather so there are no uncomfortable seams for children’s feet. They allow for growing and moving, as well as offering protection on any little adventure.

As for the idea… it was watching Jette’s daughter Mila, trying to crawl. Jette remembered a simple leather shoe she used to wear when she was little and that is when the idea for ‘all about HEIDI’ evolved. The final designs emerged after some prototypes and lots of test wearing from Mila.

Tell us about your background and how its lead to where you are today?
We both grew up in Germany and moved to Australia about ten years ago where we met. We grew up in very creative environments – Manuka in an art commune and Jette with open-minded parents who sent her to a Steiner school. Those years definitely influenced us and gave us an appreciation for raw and natural materials and designs.

Jette worked in the photographic industry both in Hamburg and Sydney. She learned to process film and develop photographs the traditional way in the darkrooms of a professional photolab as well as touching up images. And with her ‘Steiner minded’ background she was always a pretty hands on person when it came to changing or creating something beautiful to wear.

Manuka went on to study fashion design in Berlin and then did her Masters in costume design for film and tv in Sydney at AFTRS. She worked in the fashion and film industry but her real talent and love lye’s in transforming clothes as well as furniture and to give them a new life.

As soon as Jette explained the shoe she remembered and the way it wrapped around the foot in an almost origami and flower petal like way, Manuka was hooked and we sat together combining our talents and knowledge to create our very first pair of shoes.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?
We love everything natural and organic. We both love going to Sydney’s flea markets and going through old and interesting things and with a little work, turning them into new and beautiful things.

What do you find most rewarding and most challenging about working with shoes?
It’s great to get the positive feedback from mums and to see kids on the street wearing our shoes and loving them. The challenging part was creating baby shoes that actually stayed on, were comfortable and helped babies feet develop in a natural way. It was also fascinating to find out how different baby feet are, how length and width vary so much for every child. This led us to create the HEIDIwalks with a knot at the front, designed in a way that can be loosened or tightened depending on the baby’s feet.

What advice would you give others starting up their own label?
Be passionate, patient, invest lots of time and a little bit of money and don’t get discouraged if things don’t move as quickly as you would like them to.

What are you currently working on, and what are some plans for the future?
At the moment we are updating our website and creating an online shop. We are also in the process of creating a winter collection out of sheepskin.

http://allaboutheidi.com.au/