Melbourne fashion designer Teale Talbot will launch her debut range – which promises to be sexy, confident and a little bit tough – this month.
Talbot, aged in her mid- 20s, has worked in retail and distribution both in Australia and New York, but is largely unknown to the Australian fashion world. Her label, Friend of Mine, includes basic pieces with unexpected details like cut-out shapes, asymmetrical draping and sequin detailing.
Wholesale agency founder and Talbot’s business partner, Letitia McLean, said jersey, cotton and silk materials have been used in the range. The line includes some basics, dresses, boots and tops and is sized from six to 12.
“A lot of designers lose track with who is handing over the money at the counter. That woman needs to be your muse. And right now customers want to put their own spin on their clothes by self-styling or mixing with vintage,” McLean said.
The debut range has been manufactured in Indonesia, which McLean said suited the boutique quantities required when starting out.
“This first range was snapped up by boutiques, however we did decline some orders because we understand that upmarket boutiques like to have a point of difference.”
The 17 pieces (plus colour options) in the debut range will retail from $55 to $660 for the leather jacket.
Colours include neon pink, bold orange and electric blue alongside monochromatic white and black.
Leather jackets will reach stores later this month, while the rest of the line will hit stores in August. McLean said the range embraced “contradiction and subtleties”.
“The look is one that is undeniably fashionable, yet in a thrown-together style that is far from contrived. A tough exterior is achieved with studs, leather, feminised biker boots and feature zips. This raw appeal is juxtaposed with softened pieces such as floaty dresses and tiered sculptured tops,” McLean said.
Talbot is working on a winter range for 2010, which will include knitwear to be manufactured in Australia. Exporting is on the cards, initially to New York and Japan.