INTERVIEW with Paradise Point Fashion Lab || Fashion Designer
Above: Candice Dianna in Paradise Point Fashion Lab
SD: Hi Annette, for my readers who don’t know you yet, can you please introduce yourself?
AL: I’m a grandmother, who has always had a love for creating and making things, whether it be crocheting, knitting, sewing, leather work, etc. I just love it all.
I was in the military during my 20s and had to leave due to injuries and depression. It was at that point that I turned back to my creative loves in order to help deal with my depression.
Following a number of boutique sewing classes in couture and other skill sets, I then completed an advance diploma in fashion, and all of that study and learn, in addition to my sewing skills has enabled me to now design and fit clothing to individuals.
Part of my desire to do fitting clothing is that I like many women I find it very hard to buy off the rake. The fashion industry is just not focused on creating fashion for bodies that change as we all go through life and our body shape moves with. In addition to women, I really enjoy doing men’s clothing, which has really improved my husband wardrobe.
The final two great passion I have are utilising recycling clothing and products wear ever I can, and to help charities where possible. As an example, the fashion range I did last year involved a suit had from my husband’s recycled business shirts, then with all the off cuts some ladies and I made 65 Blessing baby dolls that were donated to the Brisbane children’s hospital for kids going through long term treatments.
SD: What was the biggest inspiration behind your latest collection?
AL: My last creation involved me taking house curtains, which were donated to the local craft group, where I donated my time to teach others sewing. As soon as the curtains hit the table, I could see a possible men’s street wear collection within them. As nobody else had a need for the curtains they were all mine to play with. During my design phase I want to the Alexandra McQueen show in Melbourne and got me inspiration to design the final show piece in my collection which involve a friend who is fluid going down the catwalk wearing an Alexandra McQueen inspired Elizabethan style dress, which was made from the curtains. As it was the rest of the clothing range want down on female models who were also suitably impressed and happy to be modelling the range. So, I guess I should be calling it a unisex collection.
SD: What helps you get in the zone when you’re designing?
AL: Taking my dogs out in the morning in the beautiful sunshine. It always puts me in the right frame of mind. From there a little music always helps.
SD: When did you first realise you wanted to pursue a career as a designer?
AL: For many years I have been adjusting and making clothing to help people, from the local community groups through to the grandchild and friends. I always received lots of compliments and praise, so I thought “I should do more with this”.
SD: What was your biggest fear when going out and starting your own line?
AL: I have a lack of confidence and belief in myself. My greatest battle was with myself and my own self-confidence in both my design concepts and my capabilities. Once I got over this hurdle and started to receive praise and encouragement from all quarters of the industry my confidence really started to improve. Now I have models requesting to wear my clothing and is a real moral builder for me.
SD: How do you want women to feel when wearing your clothes?
AL: I want them to have confidence and know that what they are wearing is making them look great. By doing a fitting and making the garments to fit people and their bodies you can’t help but look good. The same also goes for the men, and they get the same growth in confidence when they know that their clothing fit them in all the right places.
SD: There’s so much pressure for designers to come out with their greatest collection season after season. What advice would you give to young designers just starting out and hoping to make it in the industry?
AL: There are probably two points:
Firstly, always ask questions, and never stop learning. It’s more than just the formal education you receive in the training institutions, it’s learning different techniques from different cultures, countries, generations and industries.
Secondly, be true to yourself and have a point of difference from everybody else. Quick fashion can be produced so quickly and cheap these days that unless you can really offer something different, you’re always going to be fighting an uphill battle.
Above: Image Supplied by Paradise Point Fashion Lab
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