indie fashion

Red Capelet by Grazed Youth AUD $99 from the indie art & design store

Designer Dana Lenko has been injecting colourful cheekiness into Melbourne fashion for over a decade. The Lenko boutique, which moved from Melbourne Central into the lovely Cathedral Arcade a year ago, stocks local, interstate and international designers as well as the Lenko label.

Campbell Arcade, in the Degraves Street Subway, is a must when on the hunt for something special in Melbourne City. It is located below all the lovely alleyway stores & cafes in Degraves Street, and connects the fashion strip to Flinders Street Station.

Not long ago, I spent a long weekend in Melbourne with my mum & sister. While I didn't make it to all all the shopping strips I would have liked (as I had to be 'diplomatic'), I did get to visit many of my favourite boutiques in the city - and take some pics to share with you!

The Africa handmade deep-scoop-back one piece swimsuit (AUD $250) by We Are Handsome

Through their innovative new label, Spoke + Spool, Sydney designers Alia Parker and Laura Pike have threaded together their love of both fashion & cycling. They've released a fantastic range of creative clothing for guys and girls with all garments designed & made by Laura. The label was launched at the recent "Where To From Here" exhibition at Fraser Studios (Chippendale) which celebrated bike culture in Sydney and showcased the work of a number of progressive designers, artists and makers around town.

The Spoke + Spool collection is remade from existing vintage clothes which are made from beautiful fabrics such as silk and wool. The clothing is transformed with an emphasis on functionality - achieved specifically through reflector tape, screenprinted bicycle map linings, and compasses for navigation. I really love the little bolero pictured above. When the coat tails are buttoned up, the woven reflector tape patches look like a pair of ladybird wings!

Aren't these photos beautiful? The photo shoot was at local Sydney Park (the grassy hills seemed very familiar!), and the talent behind the lens was Sudney photographer Laura Friezer. This pretty bike fashion is a far cry from lycra bodysuits!

I think this is my favourite from the range. The "onesy" has been totally transformed from the original garment, with legs that were once sleeves, and frills which used to be a belt... The diamond-shaped reflector detail makes a cute pattern which matches the stylish, airy feel of the outfit.

Spoke + Spool represents a duality of style & function for the inner city commuter propelled by pedal power. The label endeavours to be as resourceful and ecologically sound as the transport method it's made for. With designs springing from superior second hand and vintage clothing & fabrics, each garment is both unusual in style and totally unique. The vintage woolen vest pictured above is reversible, so it's ideal for both on and off the bike.

The Spoke + Spool range is stocked exclusively at The Vintage Clothing Shop, Shop 7/80 Castlereagh St, St James Arcade, Sydney. To find out more about this collection of "Freewheeling Clothes for Bikelovers", visit www.spokenspool.com. With compass vintage wristbands to guide them, these girls know where they're going!

Unbrushed Tunic Dress Short (left, USD $52) and Black Circle Dress A-Line (right, USD $62 sizes XS-XL, USD $64 plus sizes 1X, 2X & 3X) by Lyptis

A cute dress which is cosy, cosy, cosy! Quite a find... Melbourne designer Franziska Ringel named her label "Lyptis" after "euca-lyptus" because "they smell so nice and are always green". Originally from Germany, she used to do drawing, photography and worked as a sound technician at punk/hardcore concerts in Berlin. Last year, she started sewing, and loves being able to make something that she and her customers can wear and use everyday.

Winter Blossoms Top (left, USD $45) and Grey Circle Dress (right, USD $64 sizes XS-XL, USD $66 plus sizes 1X, 2X & 3X) by Lyptis

The garments pictured here are made from warm, soft fabrics such as double knits and unbrushed fleece. Many Lyptis designs are also available in plus sizes, so nobody need miss out. Franziska is happy to accept custom orders too! I think my favourite is the Grey Circle Dress. Which would you choose?

You can view many more Lyptis designs at www.lyptis.etsy.com and keep up-to-date through the Lyptis "The Rant" blog.

Upcycled fun green top - 'prarie' (left, was USD $55, now USD $41) and ethical cotton knit striped winter dress / jumper - 'tommy' (right, USD $80) from Heidi and Seek

I really love Heidi and Seek's motto, "Saving the world, one cute garment at a time". It speaks volumes about the passion Melbourne maker Hayley Lau stitches into her designs. The Heidi & Seek range is comprised of one-of-a-kind handmade garments which have been upcycled and reconstructed using quality second-hand items. They are wonderful combinations of colours, fabrics, styles and details. Hayley gives each piece a "unique sense of fun and colour".

"DIY" and "we are not sheep" badges (USD $7 each) from Heidi and Seek

Heidi & Seek aims to counter the disposable nature of today's fashion industry, which relies on exploited workers to bear the cost of the low prices offered to customers. She strives for fairness and eco-friendliness in every aspect of business. The Ethics page on her web site describes her views, and the problems with common production practices within the fashion industry.

In upcycling pre-loved garments, Hayley really mixes things up - creating combinations that might not have otherwise come about. In that sense, her philosophy also contributes to the design appeal of her garments, which are often surprising, and always super cute. I love the large collars on the tops featured here, and especially the sweet gathered short-sleeve + slender long-sleeve combo. For these pieces, comfy clothes have been dressed up by the detailing!

Ethical brown blue oversized collar winter sweater jumper - 'gabbie' (left, USD $75) and upcycled red brown bow pocket winter shirt - 'paper doll' (right, USD $55) from Heidi and Seek

I just had to include pics of her fabric-covered button badges too! How gorgeous are they? Especially the pink "we are not sheep". Love it.

Heidi and Seek can be found at:
the web site - www.heidiandseek.com
the blog - Heidi and Seek and Ethical Fashion
Heidi and Seek's Etsy Store heidiandseek.etsy.com

This lovely label is also stocked at the following retail stores:
VIC: Lulu (Balaclava), Rude Health (St Kilda) and Pink String (Woodend)
ONLINE: Leeloo

Poketo Skirt (left, AUD $95) and Tux Dress in Black (right, AUD $195) from Secret Squirrel Clothing

Hi there Indie kids, so lovely to meet you all. As I pondered over what I should share with you in my debut post, the thought occurred to me that it might be nice to share a bit of myself with you all. A getting-to-know you sort of deal. So here we go: I adore dresses, especially the wintry kind that, when teamed with some thick black tights, patent black heels and a cute beret, equal perfection. So when I stumbled across Sydney label Secret Squirrel's winter '09 collection, I couldn't resist sharing it with you all.

From humble beginnings under a canvas umbrella in Sydney's Glebe Markets, Secret Squirrel's playful yet elegant creations can now be found in a handful of retail and online boutiques in Australia and New Zealand. It is the beautiful love-child of designers Bri Cheeseman and Andrew Prince, who produce two seasonal collections a year.

Velvet Smoking Jacket (left, AUD $189) and Christina Dress - Lace (right, AUD $209) from Secret Squirrel Clothing

Their latest collection, Darker Than Blue (AW09) sees their classic cuts teamed with antique lace, opulent silk and just a hint of velvet. The winter collection also sees the duo team up with another cult Sydney design duo, We Buy Your Kids, to create some super cute and quirky t-shirts.

When asked about their creations, Bri says that Secret Squirrel aims to make clothes that will stand the test of time; collections that are simple and elegant without necessarily looking like it. "We are young and modern, and a little innocent, but there is a splash of gorgeous and grown up about us, too."

Christina Silk Dress (left, AUD $198) and Smock Dress (right, AUD $209) from Secret Squirrel Clothing.

My personal favourites from the collection are the Christina dress in red silk (above left) and the navy silk smock dress (above right). To see more of Secret Squirrel's luscious collection, or to purchase one of these beauties for yourself, visit www.secretsquirrelclothing.com.au.

Smock Dress (left, AUD $209) and Button Skirt (right, AUD $115) from Secret Squirrel Clothing.

Even better news: right now in The Grand Social's online store, Secret Squirrel items from the sweet summer collection Kaleidescope are on sale. Pretty and cheap! What more could you ask for. :)

Kimono Dress (left, AUD $220) and Tux Top (right, AUD $145) from Secret Squirrel Clothing.

You'll find Secret Squirrel's Darker Than Blue collection hiding at the following Australian stockists:

NSW: Pigeon Ground Records and Clothing (Camperdown), Somedays (Surry Hills), Abicus, Made 590 (Newtown), Glamourpuss (Erskinville), Lee & Me (Wollongong)
VIC: Some Buddy Loves You (Fitzroy), Little Salon (Fitzroy), Dorothy & Evelyn (St Kilda), Pussycat Black (Brunswick), Lu Lu Design Store (Balaclava), Hummingbird 60 (Northcote), Wolf Whistle
WA: Subway DC (Perth, Freemantle, Claremont), Atlas Devine (Leederville)
ONLINE: www.birdmotel.com.au, www.thegrandsocial.com.au/secret-squirrel

Posted by Jacquie

ISSUE TWO of the very lovely Peppermint Magazine is out now... and it has grown! Boasting a larger format and 90 pages (100% post-consumer recycled, naturally!), the mag is bursting with the freshest green fashion on the planet. One look at the dreamy cover & you'll most likely recognise the beautiful girly-girl style of Melbourne graphic designer & illustrator Bec Winnel. (We'll also be posting a follow up artist interview with Bec very soon!)

The day I received Peppermint in the mail, I pored over it for hours on end - my favourite pages being the "Welcome Back" photo editorial. Dizzying late afternoon light, saturated colours, ...and balloons!!

Welcome Back features once-loved fabrics being given a new lease of life. Photographer Christine Day Lorico has captured the free spirit of eco-friendly fashion as Pheobe Rutaquio models unique, often one-of-a-kind garments made from reclaimed, vintage & upcycled fabrics. Pictured above are the Blue Fire Dress by Heidi & Seek (left, US $79), and the Purdy Dress by East of Grey (right, AUD $470).

Each issue, Peppermint Magazine runs an Art Eco Competition, and the theme for this issue was "what goes around comes around"... The theme can be interpreted using any creative medium - design, painting, illustration, sculpture etc. and three finalists are selected by guest judges. This issue's winner is Alyson Pearson from Byron Bay (NSW) with her illustration "Land of Letterville" (above right). On the left is a super crafty entry by Bethany Watt from Newmarket (QLD). She used freestyle pattern making (!!), single machine stitch and recycled fabrics to create her summer dress entry. She has even included Lenny Kravitz lyrics (What Goes Around) on the sash.

By the way, the theme for Issue 3 is "Water: every drop counts" so creatives can get thinking now!

Peppermint Magazine offers feature articles on avante-guarde activist and Discovery Planet Green's model correspondent Summer Rayne Oakes (pictured above), fair trade in the fashion industry, green graphic design (pictured below right), and haunting series of photos and accompanying interview with visual journalist Juriaan Booij about the sinking of Tuvalu. There's also "Breaking the Pattern" - our indie art & design interview with Umbrella Prints! Read the full interview here.

Something the crafters among us are sure to love is new Peppermint Magazine feature "little miss sew & sew". This issue will teach you to make a blouse out of an old shirt - just like the one below!

Peppermint Magazine is available for AUD $9.95 from Borders, MagNation, selected newsagents across Australia and online at Leeloo. (I spied copies in the newsagents in Newtown & Erskineville in Sydney!) If you are already a big fan of Peppermint (like me), why not subscribe now, and receive 4 issues (starting from Issue 3) delivered to your door with free postage! Subscriptions are AUD $40 for Australians, $60 for New Zealanders, and $80 for folk from the rest of the world.

We are also excited to have two copies to GIVE AWAY! To win, simply leave a comment on this post and I'll draw two winners at random on 1.5.2009. Good luck!