From Nelson to New York in a fashion label
With a needle, thread, and a dose of creativity, a Nelson woman is doing it her way in the Big Apple.
Since moving to New York in December with a J1 Graduate Visa, Julia Palm has managed to juggle a full time job and sew her own brand, JPalm.
Palm said her interest in fashion started during her time at Garin College and stretched into after school activities at Nelson’s former youth and art space, The Artery in New Street.
‘‘I was involved in the punk scene, and this totally helped form my relationship to textiles. I loved hand sewing patches and screen printing my own t-shirts at The Hub/Artery in Nelson.’’
At 17 she left Nelson to study fashion at Auckland University of Technology before moving to study a Bachelor of Design at Otago Polytechnic.
She said the study helped her learn how to critically analyse and research her work while developing design, sewing and pattern making skills.
‘‘Most of all studying taught me the importance of time management. Fashion school is definitely a fast paced and intense environment, and you have to be prepared to make it your life for three plus years.’’
Her family history and ‘‘textile techniques inspired by my youth in punk culture’’ that once fuelled her inspiration has given way to influence from the unlikeliest of things, rubbish. ‘‘I am inspired by the amount of trash in New York City. It is so grubby but there are some seriously beautiful moments happening. I take ... so many photos of trash heaps on street corners.’’
The daughter of a Nelson fashionista, her mum Jane Palm owns Palm Boutique on Bridge Street which stocks JPalm.
She said they talked about fashion ‘‘pretty much every day’’.
Her ‘‘go-to person for opinions about fashion’’, Palm said she was ‘‘so knowledgeable and hard working’’ it was hard not to be influenced by her.
Recently bagging herself a role at Brooklyn Tailors as their production, logistics and planning coordinator, she said it was stressful but multifaceted.
Learning lots about what it took to make a collection, she used her spare time to put that into practise with her label.
‘‘I have just finished a large batch of custom orders after my mini collection sold out. I am looking to hopefully whip up some new looks and do a photo shoot and video shoot in a few months. There are so many options on the table at the moment.’’
Her advice to budding fashion designers was to ‘‘work hard and make your passion your life, also, mistakes are good sometimes’’.