Sustainable, Ethical, Local Fashion & Textiles

Last week we had the pleasure of visiting the wonderful, new Colour Box Studio in Footscray, to take part in a forum on how to be sustainable, ethical & profitable in the Fashion, Clothing and Textile Industry.

The panelists above are Dale Cornell of New Model Beauty Queen, Vicki Sterling of Bonds Clothing, Simon McRae of Ethical Clothing Australia and myself. 

 

A big thanks to the lovely folk at Colour Box who organised & hosted the night - it was really informative & very encouraging to see so many people keenly interested in producing and showcasing wares in a sustainable manner. Lara & I were saying how much a relief it is to now have a shop we can ACTUALLY SHOP AT! Yay!

 

Fairtrade undies! Yes we bought some :)

We were so pleased to visit this wonderful new enterprise and encourage any of you Melbourne locals to head on over to their lovely little shop where you can buy all kinds of local, ethical clothing and accessories! So great - go team :)

They also have a Pozible Campaign happening at the moment, so for any of you not in Melbs, here is your chance to shop and support Colour Box - a community creative hub!

xx Teegs

Forté Apartment - more pics!

Our very talented photographer Natalie Jeffcott sent through some more photos from Forté (the eco apartment we fitted out the other week), and now that we've waded our way through yet another heat wave, we finally have enough energy to show them to you!

It was so exciting and inspiring to see the apartment come to life, with huge thanks to a bunch of talented locals who contributed their wares, time and energy. We love that these sort of projects really allow us to share the vision we have for our textiles when we design and print them. It's one thing to see a length of fabric on the print table or rolled on a tube, but another thing entirely to see our prints transformed into a curtain, blind, bedlinen or upholstered chair. We hope you find these pics as inspiring as we do!


Forté living room - furniture by Grandfather's Axe, tableware by Shelley Panton, curtains by Bradley's Curtains & Blinds, rug by Armadillo & Co


Table & chair by Grandfather's Axe, tableware by Shelley Panton


Tableware by Shelley Panton, curtains by Bradley's Curtains & Blinds


Forté master bedroom - ceramics by Abby Seymour, artwork by Miso


Forté second bedroom - chair by Tane Re-Loved, roman blind by Bradley's Curtains & Blinds, lamp by Wilkins & Kent, artworks by Ghost Patrol and Beth-Emily, rug by Armadillo & Co


Artwork by Ghost Patrol, ceramics by Abby Seymour, terrarium by Squiggly Rainbow

xx L

Forté Apartment

Friday last saw the launch of Forté, Melbourne's arguably most eco-designed & built apartment building, located on Bourke St, Victoria Harbour.

We were thrilled to be asked to design the interior of a 2 bedroom apartment for display & along with a score of gifted local artisans & businesses, we opened to a demanding public!

Many thanks to Faun of Lend Lease who organised the festival & asked us to participate.

Below are the first few images we have to show you, all by Natalie Jeffcott.

Ink & Spindle bedlinen in Grevillea, Linear and Kangaroo Paw & Miso artwork


Artworks by Beth-Emily & Ghostpatrol, ceramics by Abby Seymour, terrariums by Squiggly Rainbow, sideboard from Grandfather's Axe.


Furniture by Grandfather's Axe, cushions by Ink & Spindle, artwork by Abby Seymour.


Furniture by Grandfather's Axe, reupholstered in Kangaroo Paw, terrariums by Squiggly Rainbow, cleaning products by Planet Luxe.


Wilkins & Kent lamp in Leuca.


Thurling Guitars, Mark Thurling creates beautiful guitars using only sustainable timber and non-toxic finishes.
Artwork by Beth Emily, Abby Seymour & the artists private collection.

Forte Living Festival - this Friday & Saturday!

Late one evening, an email landed in our inbox from the creators of Forté, the world's tallest timber apartment building, with a request to partner with them. We were cautiously optimistic...

Upon further investigation, Forté turned out to have some pretty great eco-credentials: Super strong, cross-laminated timber construction; rainwater capture use to flush the toilets; no carpark but a bike store instead; a veggie garden on each balcony; solar shading; the use of non-toxic materials (carpets, paint); the list goes on!

The lovely folk at Forté offered us an empty apartment to fit out. However we liked. I'm sure you can imagine our reaction: um, yes please!

So we quickly started calling up some fabulous Melbourne based designers & businesses to help us in the furnishing of our completely empty apartment. To our delight, Grandfather's Axe, Wilkins & Kent, Armadillo & Co, Bradley's Curtains & Blinds, Tane Furniture Design, Shelley Panton, Abby Seymour, Beth-Emily, Ute, Thurling Guitars, Nancybird, Mattt & Squiggly Rainbow all have donated their time & skills to this awesome project!

To celebrate to Official Launch, Forté are throwing a rad party - we'd love you to come join us in the celebration!


Market! Outdoor cinema! Tours through the apartments! Expert Speakers!

We're sure looking forward to this Friday's launch - 12-7pm! Hope to see you there xx

Open Studio tomorrow!

Printing demo at 11:30am! Come one, come all..

New (ish) prints in the shop!

New colourways in the shop!

It's funny how sometimes we'll print a bunch of new colourways but it takes us ages to actually photograph them and put them in our online store! Fortunately we managed to squeeze a little photo shoot in last week so finally we can introduce them to you!

First up, Kangaroo Paw in Mustard and Snow, available both as a medium weight on Hemp/Yak and an upholstery weight on our gorgeous 100% Raw Hemp....


Kangaroo Paw in Mustard & Snow on Hemp/Yak


Kangaroo Paw in Mustard & Snow on Raw 100% Hemp (upholstery weight)

Next up, Lace fans in a pearlescent Soft Gold, on a gorgeous, lightweight linen that's suitable for apparel...


Lace Fans in Soft Gold

There's our Linear design printed in the lovely neutral colourway of Snow on unbleached organic cotton/hemp...


Linear in Snow

And last but not least, Kangaroo Paw in Black & Greylead on oatmeal 100% linen (suitable for just about everything, including upholstery).


Kangaroo Paw in Black & Greylead

Hope you like!

xx

Open Studio - next Saturday 16th Feb!

Would you believe it, it's time for our first Open Studio for the year already! Where did January go??

This Open Studio is going to be a little more exciting than usual in that our lovely studio buddy Abby Seymour is going to have her wares for sale also. Not only will her gorgeous current range be available but she will also be selling some of her beautiful ex-season stock at pretty generous discounts.

Hope you can make it down to the studio next Saturday 16th Feb - 11am to 1pm, with a printing demo at about 11:30!

xx Lara & Teegs.

on internships & industry...

Lara posted this yesterday on her personal blog and since it's so relevant to I&S we're cross posting over here. Interested in your thoughts!

One of our past interns Lauren, printing a two colour repeat design

I'm taking a little break from my usual programming to talk about something a little controversial at the moment - internships. Sparking into a bit of a hot topic in the media and twittersphere in the last few days, Fair Work Australia are cracking down on internships that might be deemed illegal if they're not conducted as part of an 'authorised educational training course'.

Of course the topic is pretty close to my heart because at Ink & Spindle we engage interns on a fairly regular basis. Some of our interns are requesting a position as a compulsory part of their degree, others are coming to us entirely of their own volition. They might be a full-time parent looking to return to work, or a student who has studied something entirely different and now are curious about changing career paths... to us it doesn't matter what their background is so long as they're keen.


A very blurry Robyn, printing a single colour repeat design of dutch houses!

I think that yes there are instances in certain industries where internships are exploitative - big companies offering long term positions when they could afford to pay someone but choose to substitute a paid position with a free intern. These situations are unethical and set a bad precedent in their industry. But there are other situations such as ours where we simply can't afford to pay an extra person. We aren't dependent on interns - our business functions fine without them - but if there are individuals keen for the experience we'll gladly take them on board. We might not have a lot of spare cash but we do have a wealth of knowledge to impart. There are a lot of menial tasks to be done around the studio but we try hard to ensure that the positions are mutually beneficial.

I can't help but feel that the issue of unpaid internships is largely a 'first world problem' and seems to occur largely in 'desirable' industries, e.g. textiles, music, fashion, design. There seems to be an abundance of willing workers and not enough jobs for all of them. To me that's not just an issue of exploitation but equally an issue with our education system. Here we are providing an gamut of exciting higher educational opportunities, giving people the illusion that they can work in whatever field they desire, but without any accountability from our educators with regards to finding work in the chosen field after study.


Intern work - stencils on the lightbox

Textiles is a classic example. Perhaps it's my ignorance but sadly I just don't see where all the jobs are for the students who are studying textile design. Yet our universities keep producing new graduates; students who are passionate about design and are lead to believe there'll be work at the other end. And when there's not, it's no surprise they're willing to do unpaid work to give themselves an edge.

In my opinion the best way to find work in our field is to make your own job. That's what we did. So when our interns come through we focus less on 'textile design' and more on 'small business' - how our business runs, how we make it work, the ups and downs and challenges. These are valuable insights for anyone, not just a student of textile design. Interestingly most of the successful creative individuals I've met are those who first studied something else entirely different. I think that's awesome.

xx Lara.

So we have some big news to share..

I'm going to take a moment out of our regular I&S programming to tell you guys something important & relevant.

My recent journey to Mexico was utterly life-changing. It effected me on a very personal level - one I'm not sure I can adequately explain, or even if I should attempt to put it in to words, but I'll try & also do my best to keep it brief.

                                                         Just a section of Arbol del Tule

The backstory:

In my final week in Oaxaca, whilst seeing The Devil's Dosh at the International Film Festival, my Residency roomie Lizzee & I met Matt, Atley & Ferg who were (and still are) riding dual sport motorbikes from Canada to the bottom of South America. A pretty freaking awesome journey to undertake, if you ask me.

The story:
Over muchos mezcal (the local, delicious but very strong spirit that Oaxaca is known for) Lizzee & I invited the 3 lads to join us on our planned excursion for the following day: a trip to the Arbol del Tule (the largest trunk-ed tree in the world) a village called Mitla & a swim in the Hierve el Agua mineral springs, apparently nearby. They accepted, then suggested that they actually take us. I thought riding on a stranger's motorbike through the crazy roads of Mexico sounded ridiculously death-inducing, so I flatly & adamantly refused. 

After some lengthy convincing arguments from the boys, and Lizzee saying she was keen to go, I eventually folded. The following morning we headed out of town on the promise that they would all ride like grandma's. (Obligingly, they did & I should probably interject to say I felt perfectly safe the whole time. Thanks Matt!)

                                             Two thirds of the gang, getting ready to ride.

We visited the ancient tree (vast, beautiful, humbling), stopped in the market of Mitla for lunch (fresh, delicious) & headed out of town following some dodgy looking signs with 'Hierve el Agua' and an arrow painted on them.

                                    Post lunch, in the village square of Mitla. Photo by Lizzee.

Turns out the springs were pretty isolated, waaaay up & over a mountain. So up we went. Matt & I lost sight of the other two bikes often on the switchback-y dirt road. At one point - and this is the important bit - as we neared the top of the mountain I had a super intense, impossible-to-adequately-explain moment.

A moment of feeling completely, utterly, purely alive. 

Joyous. 

Free. 

My skin was electric.
My hair was standing on end.
My heart was bursting.
That moment took my breath away.
It seemed that we were literally on top of the world, in the heart of Mexico.
There was nothing around, just wild jungle mountains disappearing off to Guatemala and the Yucatan.
We could've been the only people on the planet.
I could barely believe that I was right there, right then, in that.exact.moment.
I wanted to laugh or weep or scream... to do SOMETHING.
It was entirely overwhelming and beautiful.

                                          Epic mountain view, can't be captured by camera

We got to the mineral springs, which are on the edge of the mountain. I went in the water immediately. It was very cold and delicious.

                                           In the Hierve el Agua. Magical. Photo by Lizzee

Everyone else was happily chatting away, but I was very quiet. I think I was in a little bit of shock. Trying to process what had just happened inside my brain.

The result:

I didn't quite realise it at the time, but looking back, it's easy to see that was the pivotal moment I realised I had to go. To leave Melbourne.

So friends & readers, there you have it. I am taking a sabbatical. 

To do what, you ask? Well, something pretty amazing actually. 2013 is going to be the year in which I sail as crew with my amazing, inspirational parents on their incredible, hand-crafted, 15th century replica caravel, Notorious. Otherwise known as 'the pirate ship'...

                                         My soon-to-be new home, Notorious. Yep, she's real.

This has always been on the cards for me, but up until that moment it was something I was going to do at a vague point in the future. On that sunny day, on a mountain top in far-away Mexico, I realised that now was the time and to be honest, it rather took me by surprise.

This whole thing has been a lot to come to terms with, as it actually means I really have to leave - to leave Lara, leave my incredible partner, leave the business (my baby), leave my friends, leave everything I have built here... but to be with my family, to journey, to go live the heck out of life! 

Ink & Spindle will continue on her path. Dear, wonderful, amazing, beloved, understanding Lara will be taking all the reigns in my months of absence, so it will be business as usual. She is a pretty special person, that one.

So you're probably wondering when! for how long! where to!!... but I'm afraid those details are yet to be confirmed, other than we hope to be somewhere near Byron for the birth of my brother's first child (squee!) in May. So I'll be around for the next few months as we sort out what exactly is happening.

There you have it!

I am very, very glad to have met those three men from Melbourne and glad to have had the opportunity to spend a day in their shoes. I think about how I almost refused to go & it really just highlights for me that if we make decisions in life based on fear, how many amazing experiences must we close the door on?

That's probably enough from me for now, so where ever you are in the world, buen viaje. 

xx Teegs

Some Print Media Love!

A nice way to start the year - thanks Country Home Ideas!

Happy 2013, dear readers

xx T

Rik & Stan

Our buddy Gary over at Tane Furniture Design has done it again! Check out the latest gorgeous vintage pieces he has brought back to life with our prints! We are particularly excited about this job because not only did he order meterage in custom colourways, but he also finished these pieces mere weeks after receiving the textiles. It's so nice seeing the end result so soon after pulling the fabric off the printing table.

Let us introduce, 'Slick Rik', the ladies man:


'Slick Rik' reupholstered in custom Birch in Olive colourway by Tane


'Slick Rik' - detail


'Slick Rik' - arms and legs being brought back to life


'Slick Rik' reupholstered in custom Birch in Olive colourway by Tane

And also introducing 'Big Stan and Little Stan':


'Big & Little Stan', reupholstered in custom Wrens in Charcoal by Tane


'Big & Little Stan' - arms and legs being sanded back


'Big & Little Stan' - gluing Big Stan back together


'Big & Little Stan' - detail

Thank you so much again Gary for making our textiles look so gorgeous!!

xx Lara & Teegs.

Open Studio Saturday December 15th!

Photo by Rebekah Lyn Photography

Would you believe it? It's our last Open Studio for 2012! Where has this year gone?? Join us for morning tea, a printing demo and a shop full of textiles and wares as we farewell a busy, enlightening, progressive and inspiring 2012.

Hope to see you there!

Lara & Teegs xx

Nepal fair trade fundraising AUCTION!

Leuca Duvet cover - up for Auction right now. Help raise funds for a fair trade enterprise in Nepal!

Some of you might know this already, but whilst Teegs is off doing her residency in Mexico (she's back next week!) I am preparing for a trip of my own - to Nepal!

In December/January I am heading off on a study tour of the main fair trade enterprises in Nepal. Over 20 days, our group of 15 will be visiting, learning, volunteering and getting inspired. The trip is run by Steph Woollard, founder of Seven Women -  a not for profit enterprise that employs marginalised and disadvantaged women to make handcrafted items that are sold in Australia. Read more about my trip (and see some gorgeous photos of the women at work) over at my blog!

But, I NEED YOUR HELP! One of our tasks before we go is to raise some money for one of the enterprises we will be visiting. We each get to decide which enterprise to donate our raised money to once we get there, which is pretty exciting. I'm sure this will be a tough decision since they will all be very worthy causes!

SO, in collaboration with the VERY lovely and generous Olivia of Moochie Lou, we have made one very gorgeous, ethical, organic duvet cover to auction off for this very good cause!


Leuca Duvet cover - up for Auction right now. Help raise funds for a fair trade enterprise in Nepal!


Leuca Duvet cover - up for Auction right now. Help raise funds for a fair trade enterprise in Nepal!


Leuca Duvet cover - up for Auction right now. Help raise funds for a fair trade enterprise in Nepal!

Here's the nitty gritty:

Up for auction - 1 x queen sized duvet cover with two matching 45cm cushions, total value $465. The flat sheet and pillow cases are not included but can be supplied for an additional cost (they're 100% organic cotton!).

Bidding - the reserve price is $200, bids can be made in the comments section of this post ONLY. Bids via phone/email/facebook can't be accepted.

Bidding closes - Bidding closes at 5pm AEST, Monday 3rd December! Bids timestamped after 5pm will not be accepted, sorry!

Payment - you will receive details on how to pay if you are the winner. We prefer Direct Deposit, but if you choose to pay by Credit Card or Paypal there'll be a little bit of an extra fee on top. Postage is free if you're in Australia, but you'll need to contribute to postage if you're from overseas.

And that's it! Happy bidding, and THANK YOU!

xx Lara.

Mel & Bernie, Fitz & Roy

Our talented furniture making friend has done it again - check out these gorgeous vintage Danish dining chairs, lovingly refurbished by Gary from Tane Furniture Design.

We love the way Gary has a bit of fun with his photoshoots and the naming of his pieces... Fitz & Roy - hah!


Mel & Bernie, Fitz & Roy - Vintage Danish dining chairs in Wrens and Trams & Bicycles


Vintage Danish dining chairs refurbished by Tane Furniture Design


Vintage Danish dining chairs refurbished by Tane Furniture Design


Vintage Danish dining chairs refurbished by Tane Furniture Design

xx Lara