Gail Reid
Shae Fleming
What is your advice for emerging fashion designers?
Don’t let fear get in the way and don’t take opportunities for granted. As a young emerging designer I think some of the attention can be overwhelming at times and as a result it can be difficult to think with clarity and take full advantage of every opportunity. A mentor can help with this!
If you had a few hours face to face with our prime minister to discuss a salvage plan for the Australian textile industry, what would be three main points for discussion and what suggestions would you make to her?
1. The innovation of Australian designers needs to be protected. All original designs for European designers are automatically registered for three years at no cost. Australia equals $200 per design which is increasing to $250 in October this year. Independent designers can’t afford to protect their intellectual property.
2. To address the skills shortage. I think things needs to somehow reverse back into the days where artisans were born through lifelong apprenticeships to a particular skill. Specialisation in a skill is dying and as a result creativity is compromised by planned obsolescence.
3. Financially assist independent retailers, especially those that support Australian designers.
What is your number one tip for emerging Australian designers?
Don’t let geography isolate your mindset as we belong to a global market.
What’s your opinion – should emerging designers follow trends to move stock or carve their own path in terms of personal style and stay true to their look?
It all hinges on your personal motivations and context. For myself I’ve always worked on evolving my own aesthetic and have tried to honour my own feelings. But for product developers their job is to follow trends and move units, which is fine in the monetary system that we live in.
If you could work in collaboration with another designer who would it be and why?
Zaha Hadid is welcome to design a store for Gail Sorronda anytime.
Shae Fleming is head designer and director of her own label 2shae.The brand is 100 per cent Australian owned, designed and made, with all materials sourced from local companies and manufacturing carried out in Sydney. All garments are batch produced with up to three colour ways per style.
