Meet one of Geelong's most exciting fashion labels, Bird Skin
Winning designer of the year in 2016 at the Australian Fashion Awards and coming runner-up in the international Hand & Lock embroidery competition in London as one of two Australians shortlisted fo the prize, Bird Skin are making waves in the industry.
Proud Geelong locals, we had a chat to the masterminds behind the detailed embroidery, vibrant designs and culturally inspired pieces, Luke and Ali.
Do you remember when you first started noticing fashion and the concept of style?
It's hard to pinpoint an exact moment in time, but we had an interest in fashion from a very early age, and with that came an appreciation of colors, textiles and the various techniques used to create traditional embroidery.
How did Bird Skin come to exist?
Bird Skin was really just a fun way of seeing how far we could take our love for women's wear.
What are some distinctive features of Bird Skin that will always be apparent?
Our work is quite diverse in that we have some crazy show-stopping numbers, and some more wearable pieces. You'll see a lot of sequins and hand-embroidery throughout our work, as well as little cultural touches from here and there.
You're set to be featured in the Beehive Fashion Market, are you able to give a rundown of that for our readers?
The Beehive Fashion Market is a celebration of the late Amy Winehouse as a true individual and fashion icon. The market will be held in Melbourne's Jewish Museum and features an eclectic array of fashion and jewellery by designers and retailers. The whole market has been passionately curated by two of the most stylish girls in Melbourne, the How Two Live sisters, Jess and Stef Dadon.
Come and support us and other talents on Sunday, March 11 from 10am - 5pm, at the Jewish Museum, 26 Alma road, St Kilda. More info here.
How are you feeling coming into that event?
We're very excited to be present at VAMFF for the first time. We've been stalking the Instagrams of some of the other stall holders and we're keen to see their work up close. These events are always a wonderful opportunity to network and meet other creatives, and of course, it's not often we get to gauge the public's response to our work, so that will be interesting.
Each one of your pieces are extremely intricate, how lengthy is the process of getting these items created?
As you can probably guess, it varies wildly. Our most taxing creation was a long jacket covered top-to-toe in thread-embroidered mirrors, which took us half a year of work on and off.
With their intricacy they are extremely original, where do you find inspiration for your pieces?
Many of our pieces are culturally inspired, but we always try to bring our own sense of eccentricity to the table. We love combining textiles in original ways,like an antique woven 'banjara' textile with sequins.
With so many designers and ease of researching inspiration, is it hard to remain unique and individual in the industry?
With the internet and social media, it's so easy to become overwhelmed by the wealth of creative concepts floating around. These days, the industry seems to expect more work in less time, which leaves designers uninspired and run down. Being new kids on the block, we don't feel that kind of pressure to extend ourselves beyond our means, or spread our creativity too thin. We let the ideas find us organically, and for the time being this has served us well.
What are some of the challenges as a new designer on the scene?
One of the first things you realise when trying to establish a label is that talent is essential but ultimately comes second to hard work and dedication. You could make the most stunning and original piece, but if no one sees it, it won't serve anyone but yourself. The people who make it are usually those who work smart and hard.
Do you think being from Geelong has impacted your approach to being a designer or what you create?
Geelong is a beautiful city and we feel very lucky to live here. It's central to everything, and we feel as much a part of Melbourne as we do the Great Ocean Road and beyond. The relative peacefulness of our city keeps us energized enough to keep growing and creating.
All images supplied by Bird Skin.
