FASHION

How did you find your creative niche? I was always creative as a child, but my creativity really burst forth living in London in the 1960s and working with Vern Lambert, my style guru. This time was my University of Fashion and Life, and the beginning of my deep understanding of the art of fashion, and working with retro vintage couture, ethnic fabrics and costume from all around the world. Why do you do what you do?

Simply – because I love it. What advice would you give someone starting out in fashion? Own your thoughts and your creative process. Also, intensely trust in yourself and believe in your own creative process, because it’s yours and yours alone. What frustrates you about the fashion world at the moment? The conflict between having to buy mass-market clothing because of price, but knowing that most of it is only made to last a short period of time. It’s frustrating for me, as it goes against my design principle, which is about making things that last.

And what excites you? Recycling and reinventing. The ability to work with very little and be original and creative. How do you stay motivated and interested in your work? Living where I live in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales helps me stay motivated and interested – the bush around me is always inspiring and fills me with wonder and fresh ideas. What are you looking for in this year’s Good Stuff awards? Really original and interesting styling within the designs. It’s all about how you ‘put it together’. Any final words for Good

Stuff entrants? Although these times are tough, they’re wonderful times that offer designers the unique opportunity to go into themselves and look deeply into their very own creative world. Make the most of that.