In a world of fast fashion, where most of us scour
sale racks for the cheapest bargain pieces of clothing we can find, we can
forget about the value of a classic and timeless piece; those pieces that sit
in our wardrobe season after season and never go out of style and never stop
looking fabulous.
We’re surrounded by white shirts that show every
detail of the bra you’re wearing and jumpers that are too thin to even keep you
warm. While fast fashion certainly has its place, nothing can beat a good
quality piece that you know will be worth every penny you invested into it. It’s
even better when the brand you buy it from is local and sources all their
materials from within Australia.
I was lucky enough to get to sit down someone who owns
a brand fitting that exact description; Renee Verdon, fashion designer and
owner of local fashion label VOUS.
For those who
might not know, how would you explain what VOUS is in your own words?
I developed the clothing brand about four years ago. The
pieces in the brand are made for women who are looking for something that’s a
little bit different. It’s not mass produced in any way, it’s original in its design,
and it’s something that is going to be able to mix through their wardrobe
through the seasons. They’re more of a statement piece or a piece that you keep
and that you’re able to change the look of it each season. So when I design
things I guess that’s the woman that I’ve got in mind.
How did you come
up with the name?
The name is French for the word ‘you’. I wanted the
label to be about the customer and what they like. It’s ‘contemporary clothing for
modern women’; the modern woman being someone who can see a piece and know how
to wear it in her wardrobe.
What inspired you
to create the brand in the first place?
Growing up, I always loved designing things and sewing
and that’s sort of a bit of a tradition in my family. I left school and did a psychology
degree, worked as a clinical psychologist for about 12 years and then sort of
decided ‘I don’t want to do just this for the rest of my life’. So then I went
back and studied fashion design in Sydney at the Sydney Institute Fashion
Design Studio, which is where a
lot of designers like Akira Isogawa, Collette Dinnigan, and
more recently Dion Lee, studied. So I was really lucky and got in there and
then decided to give it a try in a retail space and that’s what’s brought me
here today.
What are the main
fabrics you prefer to work with?
I always love natural fibres, so linen, cotton, often
blends of those two, and wool as well. I’ve been experimenting with some rayons
and viscose. I try to keep it predominantly natural fibres because I think they
wear better and they feel better on your body.
Tell us more
about your latest winter collection?
The latest collection is called Nomode and I got the
name from a combination of words meaning Norwegian fashion. All of the
collection is based on the Scandinavian landscape and the countries in that
area. The colour palette reflects that and the design reflects that also. When
I design I take aspects of my inspiration and bring it into each design. An example
would be some of the tops I’ve got at the moment, such as those with the cowl necklines, I got that idea from the fjord’s, which is a deep gully in the
landscape.
What is the
general process from when you have an idea for a piece to it physically being
in store?
It’s quite a long process and a lot of people don’t
realise what’s involved. So I start out with my inspiration and pull out structures
and shapes from that imagery I’ve collected. After that you come up with designs.
So I’ll try and come up with as many as I can and then I pair it down to about
five or six looks for the season. Once I have my final designs I then go into
pattern making. Once you’ve made your patterns you have to sample them on
people, so you check for fit and how it’s actually working on the body. You
then go back to your patterns and you make adjustments. When you’ve got your
final pattern you have to grade it into all sizes. Once it’s graded and you’ve
got your sizes then you have to cut each piece that you want and then it goes
into production for being made. That process would generally take anywhere between
four to six months. So I’m constantly working a season ahead, bigger designers
would be working about a year ahead, so currently working on next winter’s collection.
Who is your
biggest fashion inspiration/favourite style icon?
I love Ellery as a label, I think they do really
interesting stuff, very structural which I like. There’s a couple of smaller Melbourne
brands, like Búl and Kuwaii, they’re independent fashion labels that do really
interesting stuff as well.
What is your
proudest moment/biggest achievement since starting VOUS?
I think I’m proud of this space I’ve got here in the
Emporium, you know getting to this point and actually having stock is really good.
Outside of that I’ve done a couple of interesting red carpets, for example I
just did a dress for the Logies.
What has been the
toughest part of running VOUS so far?
Managing the work load is really tough because I still
do psychology as well as this. But then I guess when the pieces are in store it’s
getting people to understand how this is different to fast fashion. I think as consumers
we’re very use to pieces that you can buy at a lower price point, but that are
in and out of your wardrobe. So it’s that education I’ve found is quite tricky,
and getting people to know that I’m a brand as well.
What are your
future plans/aspirations for VOUS?
I’d love to be able to graduate from Renew Newcastle
and have a brand that is stocked in other shops. Also have a shop space, for example
like High Tea With Mrs Woo, which is an established business in Newcastle. That
would be the ultimate I think.
If you’re ever wandering around Hunter Street Mall and
find yourself walking past The Emporium, be sure to pop in and check out Renee’s
beautiful pieces.
The Emporium, 185 Hunter Street Newcastle, 2300
In a world of fast fashion, where most of us scour
sale racks for the cheapest bargain pieces of clothing we can find, we can
forget about the value of a classic and timeless piece; those pieces that sit
in our wardrobe season after season and never go out of style and never stop
looking fabulous.
We’re surrounded by white shirts that show every
detail of the bra you’re wearing and jumpers that are too thin to even keep you
warm. While fast fashion certainly has its place, nothing can beat a good
quality piece that you know will be worth every penny you invested into it. It’s
even better when the brand you buy it from is local and sources all their
materials from within Australia.
I was lucky enough to get to sit down someone who owns
a brand fitting that exact description; Renee Verdon, fashion designer and
owner of local fashion label VOUS.
For those who
might not know, how would you explain what VOUS is in your own words?
I developed the clothing brand about four years ago. The
pieces in the brand are made for women who are looking for something that’s a
little bit different. It’s not mass produced in any way, it’s original in its design,
and it’s something that is going to be able to mix through their wardrobe
through the seasons. They’re more of a statement piece or a piece that you keep
and that you’re able to change the look of it each season. So when I design
things I guess that’s the woman that I’ve got in mind.
How did you come
up with the name?
The name is French for the word ‘you’. I wanted the
label to be about the customer and what they like. It’s ‘contemporary clothing for
modern women’; the modern woman being someone who can see a piece and know how
to wear it in her wardrobe.
What inspired you
to create the brand in the first place?
Growing up, I always loved designing things and sewing
and that’s sort of a bit of a tradition in my family. I left school and did a psychology
degree, worked as a clinical psychologist for about 12 years and then sort of
decided ‘I don’t want to do just this for the rest of my life’. So then I went
back and studied fashion design in Sydney at the Sydney Institute Fashion
Design Studio, which is where a
lot of designers like Akira Isogawa, Collette Dinnigan, and
more recently Dion Lee, studied. So I was really lucky and got in there and
then decided to give it a try in a retail space and that’s what’s brought me
here today.
What are the main
fabrics you prefer to work with?
I always love natural fibres, so linen, cotton, often
blends of those two, and wool as well. I’ve been experimenting with some rayons
and viscose. I try to keep it predominantly natural fibres because I think they
wear better and they feel better on your body.
Tell us more
about your latest winter collection?
The latest collection is called Nomode and I got the
name from a combination of words meaning Norwegian fashion. All of the
collection is based on the Scandinavian landscape and the countries in that
area. The colour palette reflects that and the design reflects that also. When
I design I take aspects of my inspiration and bring it into each design. An example
would be some of the tops I’ve got at the moment, such as those with the cowl necklines, I got that idea from the fjord’s, which is a deep gully in the
landscape.
What is the
general process from when you have an idea for a piece to it physically being
in store?
It’s quite a long process and a lot of people don’t
realise what’s involved. So I start out with my inspiration and pull out structures
and shapes from that imagery I’ve collected. After that you come up with designs.
So I’ll try and come up with as many as I can and then I pair it down to about
five or six looks for the season. Once I have my final designs I then go into
pattern making. Once you’ve made your patterns you have to sample them on
people, so you check for fit and how it’s actually working on the body. You
then go back to your patterns and you make adjustments. When you’ve got your
final pattern you have to grade it into all sizes. Once it’s graded and you’ve
got your sizes then you have to cut each piece that you want and then it goes
into production for being made. That process would generally take anywhere between
four to six months. So I’m constantly working a season ahead, bigger designers
would be working about a year ahead, so currently working on next winter’s collection.
Who is your
biggest fashion inspiration/favourite style icon?
I love Ellery as a label, I think they do really
interesting stuff, very structural which I like. There’s a couple of smaller Melbourne
brands, like Búl and Kuwaii, they’re independent fashion labels that do really
interesting stuff as well.
What is your
proudest moment/biggest achievement since starting VOUS?
I think I’m proud of this space I’ve got here in the
Emporium, you know getting to this point and actually having stock is really good.
Outside of that I’ve done a couple of interesting red carpets, for example I
just did a dress for the Logies.
What has been the
toughest part of running VOUS so far?
Managing the work load is really tough because I still
do psychology as well as this. But then I guess when the pieces are in store it’s
getting people to understand how this is different to fast fashion. I think as consumers
we’re very use to pieces that you can buy at a lower price point, but that are
in and out of your wardrobe. So it’s that education I’ve found is quite tricky,
and getting people to know that I’m a brand as well.
What are your
future plans/aspirations for VOUS?
I’d love to be able to graduate from Renew Newcastle
and have a brand that is stocked in other shops. Also have a shop space, for example
like High Tea With Mrs Woo, which is an established business in Newcastle. That
would be the ultimate I think.
If you’re ever wandering around Hunter Street Mall and
find yourself walking past The Emporium, be sure to pop in and check out Renee’s
beautiful pieces.
The Emporium, 185 Hunter Street Newcastle, 2300
.
6/21/16
.
fashion
Wow, these all look incredible and comfy as well as stylish!
ReplyDeletea life of a charlotte
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