We’re linen ladies at Finders Keepers HQ so when we came across Bask Capsule last season in Sydney, it truly was love at first sight. We couldn’t wait to hear what Rebekah had been up to since her debut stall, so we took five to ask her five! She’s been busy and this is one slow fashion label to find, love and keep! Get to know Bask Capsule and discover more in person at the upcoming Sydney Finders Keepers in May!

Bask Capsule debuted at Finders Keepers Sydney SS18 with a gorgeous collection of handmade linen garments for basking in the sunshine! Can you tell us a bit about your experience plus what market goers can expect this season?
Our debut at Finders Keepers was the most wonderful opportunity to connect with our existing and new customers in real life. The market gave us a platform to showcase the fit and feel of our wears as well as put a face to the label: real people who hand make your Bask Capsule treasures and are genuinely stoked when you find something you love.

As we move into the cooler months, the evolving Bask Capsule wardrobe will introduce some heavier weighted pieces alongside transeasonal staples designed for layering. While linens are beautiful as breezy summer wear, they are equally suited to our mild Australian winters. Think a courser wide leg pant, gauzy linen scarf alongside some organic cotton staples.

Our pieces have tactility to them; different weighted linen, diverse weaves and a sturdiness that can’t quite be communicated on an online platform.

There is a logic to thoughtful consumption that follows a general philosophy of kindness: from those growing your fibres, to weaving your fabrics, designing your garments, on the cutting room floor to finally sewing each piece.

Why is slow fashion and sustainability so important to Bask Capsule?
As Bask Capsule began to take shape following a sustainable, slow fashion route was non-negotiable. There is a logic to thoughtful consumption that follows a general philosophy of kindness: from those growing your fibres, to weaving your fabrics, designing your garments, on the cutting room floor to finally sewing each piece. And these production side values don’t even begin to touch on the environmental considerations.

In a funny way, Bask Capsule was born out of my own dislike for shopping and fashion trends. It formed from a personal want for simple, durable pieces to wear again, and again, and again. I wanted to create and wear things that felt nice on my skin, that were made from quality materials in an ethical way. It didn’t take long to work out this was part of a much bigger story around how you as an individual can impact the world around you. I am encouraged by this groundswell of individuals adopting the slow fashion philosophy and creating an alternative for people who don’t want to follow trends and who want to consume consciously and mindfully.

How do you nurture your creativity? Who or what inspires you?
As a one-woman show it has taken a long time to balance the creative side of Bask Capsule with the practical. I had a wonderful mentor who emphasised the need to delegate time for working ON the business (the creative, fun stuff) rather than IN the business (financials, strategy, etc.).

All Bask Capsule pieces are guided by practicality, both in terms of their intended use and context. I have my own creative pursuits outside Bask Capsule in ceramics, beekeeping, fermenting and photography (read: Jack of all trades). I also adore chatting to other makers and creators about what would enrich their creative experience. Most pieces in The Capsule are derived from a very specific request. For example, our soon to be released Cheesecloth Skivvy was initially designed for my sister who needed a lightweight, high coverage sun shirt for farming on her plot in Byron.

What do you love about being a maker in Sydney?
It wasn’t until I became a ‘maker in Sydney’ that I began to fully appreciate how many other wonderful ‘makers in Sydney’ there are. The last couple of years with Bask Capsule have opened up an incredible world of talented and generous people doing amazing things.

We have just begun small production runs in Dulwich Hill with the most lovely, responsive cutters and sewers. We have formed a network of other brilliant creative folk that are a constant source of advice and inspiration. We have a beautiful ongoing relationship with local retail spaces that steady us from the online world.

I have always lived in Sydney and I have a wonderful dynamic with the city itself. I love its richness in creativity and diversity of the day-to-day that so many people have carved out here. This experience of Sydney feeds in to the pieces in The Capsule while allowing more unencumbered enjoyment for what the city has to offer.

What are you most looking forward to getting out of the upcoming Finders Keepers Sydney market? Is there a local designer or maker you admire?
I love meeting people and watching them interact with my pieces. I want to know what people like and what they want. I get so much joy from creating things that people feel comfortable and beautiful in.

We don’t follow traditional seasonal collections, rather opting to release a piece every 8 weeks so I’m very excited to introduce the latest pieces in this evolving, minimal wardrobe.

And of course I can’t wait to see what everyone else has to bring to the Market! Finders Keepers is a great place to discover new designers and other like-minded makers. I’ve met so many wonderful individuals along the way including Tom from Spirit Natural Clothing, Gretal Corrie, Annie Hamilton and Laura from Mennt and it’s a treat to see how they evolve. I love seeing local Australian brands do well and am very proud of how steadily the local sustainable design community is growing.

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