March 2, 2025 • 31 mins
Celebrating the Women of the Melbourne Fashion Festival.
Love It Longer is a carefully curated pre-loved designer reseller in North Carlton with a big online profile via social media.
Co-owners and sisters Mattia Hunter and Giulia Ferrari have over 20 years experience in the fashion industry with a wide network of contacts.
Love It Longer aims to promote slow fashion with well-known brands. Pre-loved garments are sourced and given another life. They live longer.
With the showroom located on-top of “Biscotteria cafe” What better place to be than on top of a café; you can get your lunch and Louis Vuitton all in one building.”
Australia is home to some remarkable women.
They’re raising foster families. Running cattle stations. Living inspirational lives. Yet, many of their tales of triumph are never profiled, never celebrated. So we’re changing that… every week.. through our Women Of Influence Podcast.
Women of Influence Podcast with Kate Meade for iHeart Radio
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the Women of Influence podcast. I'm your host,
Kate Meete, and it is so great to be back
in your ears. I would like to acknowledge the traditional
owners of the land in which this podcast was recorded,
and I pay my respects to their elders past and present,
and the Aboriginal elders of other communities who may be
(00:20):
listening today. This is a special five part series in
partnership with the Melbourne Fashion Festival, celebrating the extraordinary women
of the Melbourne fashion industry. Australia is home to some
remarkable women. They're raising foster families, running cattle stations, living
inspirational lives. Yet many of their tales of triumph are
(00:43):
never profiled and never celebrated. So we're changing all that
through our Women of Influence podcast. For more information about
our Women of Influence the Melbourne Fashion Festival edition, please
check out our show notes and of course the Women
of Influence socials. And as always, if you have a
woman in your life that needs to be celebrated and
(01:05):
we all need to hear her story, please connect with us.
We would love to hear from you. Thank you so
much always for your support and I hope that you
smile as much as I did recording these episodes. These
episodes were recorded via zoom in Melbourne. And you know
(01:27):
I love address.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Well. Thank you so much for joining us on the podcast.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Yeah, thank you for having us. We're very excited. You
can tell.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
I love it when we get the doubleheader.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
So I'll let you two fight it out as we
get questions coming through that which I mean when I
use that word fight it out, you know when there's
two people in businesses.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
I spoke to So there were two sisters and.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
A friend that all went into business together and they said,
our bond is too strong. Whatever we do with this business,
it is not to ever interrupt what we do in
terms of who we are and that relationship confirst And
I said, okay, so when you come down to a
big decision, how are you making that final Paul, if
you're all you know at loggerheads And they said, they
(02:24):
play paper scissors and then over it lands and then
fight it out.
Speaker 4 (02:29):
Then also we also have our mom that is involved
behind the scenes, so she kind of gets the final
say don't you think yeah.
Speaker 5 (02:41):
One hundred percent, we have the mediator which is mum,
so it never gets too ugly, and we have different
fighting styles. Yeah, I'm more aggressive, but she's actually scarier.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
Oh here you are.
Speaker 4 (02:55):
People think I'm smarier because I'm louder, but she like
she really goes for it.
Speaker 5 (03:00):
Yeah, yeah, actually that's probably true, Nova Kate. A lot
of people say, how do you where could your sister
and your mum be in a family business. But to
be honest, there's not as many fights as I actually thought. Like,
we all have different skill sets, so it kind of
like balances us out, So it's nuts.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
So I mean, I'm just kind of curious where this
all started. Where you for some reason, my gut says,
I imagine that it was like sitting around, you know,
either winging about something you know that you couldn't get
your hands on, or wanted to buy something and couldn't,
and you know, all.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
The kind of stuff that you had in your coubent
and going, Oh.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
It did start a bit like that.
Speaker 4 (03:41):
Our dad always said that we should go into business together,
even when we were a lot younger, but I think
the timing wasn't right.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
I think we both needed to go and experience.
Speaker 4 (03:51):
Our own careers, have bosses, make mistakes, experiment all those
things and then it came. I was working at Scale
and feed or in fashion. I was on the floor
selling styling, and Matiir was in fashion PR and we
both got pregnant with our second babies, and it was
done for me. I was ten years selling on the
(04:11):
floor and I got to know a lot of women
who would say to me in the change rooms, I've
got so many clothes. I don't know what to do
with them. What do I do with them?
Speaker 3 (04:21):
Julia?
Speaker 4 (04:22):
And then when I left Scale and I thought, you
know what, I'm going to do this. I'm going to
do this north Side. There are so many clothes that
women don't want and they want to sell them, but
they don't know how. So we rented a space. It
all happened. It all happened so really and organically. Mattias
still had her really her big job at marketing PR.
Speaker 5 (04:41):
I went to the Margaret Porrett, which is she's a
bit of a tailblazer. Is that the right word, trailblazer?
I'm not sure if you know, Okay, because she's been
in the industry forever. So she was like my Anna
wintor so, a bit of a mentor. And we also
Julia forgot to mention, but we were pregnant with our
second babies at the time when the business was born.
Not only did we have a passion for fashion, but
(05:03):
we were kind of also tired and we're pregnant. We
already had older kids at home, and we wanted to
create a lifestyle and business that suited us as well.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
So then when Matia came across, the business was open
for what like maybe a six months yeah okay, and
then just started yeah, mum, and I started it organically
with the clients that I had from Scanlon, but then
the business really started to grow when Matia came across,
because she's got that PR and marketing.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
It's true PR and marketing side. Anyway, Sorry, Kate, are
we talking too much now? It's great.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
You know, it sounds like the perfect storm.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
And I don't have a sister, but if I did,
I'd be wanting it to sound exactly days.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Just wait, but it is.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
It's like this wonderful tension that you have between the
two of you or three of you, because everyone's bringing
their bit. And by the sound that like why you're
saying it grew organically, it also sounds like, well, actually
there was quite a bit of planning in what we wanted,
how we wanted to roll out that the organic really
was that the growth of it, I think exactly.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
Yeah's that we knew.
Speaker 4 (06:15):
Yeah, we knew exactly what we wanted to sell because
we all have background in fashion. Matias got her background Mum.
I mean, Mum's Italian and she just being Italian, she
knows fashion. We were lucky enough as kids to go
to Italy every year with her. So she just has
a natural and eye and she's just a fashion question.
(06:36):
So she's got her eye. I've got mine and Matias
got hers. Plus we have Emily who works with us.
She's in her twenties and she's.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Got her eye.
Speaker 4 (06:46):
So we cover all bases where women were catering to
women in their sixties with Mom, me in my forties,
Materia in her thirties, and Emily in her twenties.
Speaker 5 (06:54):
But you're right in saying, Kate that yes, although it
did grow organically, there was a background to it.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
And how do you guys go letting go of pieces
yourself Because I've got the covered full of stuff right now.
Every time I want to do it, I go, But
I might need that, I know, But you get addicted, Kate,
once you start selling and realizing there's a fun fact
that I learned that you only wear ten percent.
Speaker 5 (07:23):
Of your wardrobe and the rest is valuable real estate.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
So once you get that in your head and.
Speaker 5 (07:29):
You get addicted to moving and creating space and clarity
in your life, you almost just want to purge.
Speaker 4 (07:36):
When we first open, I sold so much of my pieces,
but then I.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
Bought from the shop. That's the heart.
Speaker 4 (07:43):
That's when we've got really good clients.
Speaker 5 (07:46):
Most of it is new, we tags. We get women,
you know, driving from Southside and we open their boot
and it is full. Ye, And it's hard stuff.
Speaker 3 (07:56):
It's not it's not what you fight at. Love longer,
is not what you find find it, you know, vintage
rent racks.
Speaker 4 (08:02):
We're very different.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
We're curated and yeah, you would die, Okay.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
I don't know if my urge is to go and
get in the car straight away. I mean I don't
the next week and also like, no, I'm not going
until I've got rid of something in my cupboard.
Speaker 5 (08:21):
That's that's how we see it in our heads, that's
what but that's what our clients do.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
They buy and sell, They buy, they sell.
Speaker 5 (08:29):
And it just keeps it moving and you feel good
about yourself, about the you know, the whole.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
Yeah, so has there been a piece that came through
that you've looked at each other and, oh, my gosh,
did this happened?
Speaker 2 (08:45):
Tell me about one of those pieces.
Speaker 4 (08:48):
I thought, black fur coat that I still look at
every time I look at it my wardrobe. I just like,
I just think, I love you so much.
Speaker 5 (09:00):
Lily and kaloof the bing dress that we actually bought
for the showroom because it was so beautiful we couldn't
part with it, and it just sits as a mannequin
and she's boned and she's like, she's so feminine and stunning.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
We bought her. And that's what we do.
Speaker 5 (09:14):
We sometimes buy items that we can't part with, going
back to your previous question, and they just live in
the showroom because they're just every now.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
And then we rent them to sign them.
Speaker 4 (09:24):
But we style talent, well talent, yeah, not everyone. We're
selective with who we work with, but you know, people
that we like their style and they from us and
they'll borrow. But one pair of shoes came in, which
is my favorite story to tell, the stories I've held
the secret. Did you sign a nondisclosion. Okay, well this
(09:46):
is your story.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
Okay, I'm leaning in.
Speaker 4 (09:49):
The lady came in and we actually got a pair
of Valentino sandals that were originally and a Winters, yeah her,
because they were too big, and she gave them to
someone and they were given to us, and I know,
and it's true.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
It's like a it's like.
Speaker 5 (10:07):
Yeah, there's a whole what's the word backstore.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
And we bought them for the shop just as a good.
Speaker 5 (10:13):
I actually it's like a good calma, like you can't
sell and a window sandles like.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
No, no, no, you cannot. They're a colector's item. And
it's pretty cool.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
It's pretty cool.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
And side note, by the way, the book that was
written about her was incredible. I'm trying to think who
the author of that was. I mean, it wasn't an approved.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
One by Anna. It was one of her workers.
Speaker 3 (10:40):
Yeah, really good, really.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
Prior to I might have made that up anyway. Sorry, no, no, no,
we just got stuck down. If there was anyone we
would all like to meet, it's obviously correct.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
I'll tell you.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
What's infectious is the two of you together and this
excitement about what you're doing so has it ever got
that hard?
Speaker 2 (11:06):
Then when you go, you know what, this is just
too hard. I don't want to do this.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
You know, look at you both. People can't see us
right now, like straight away the faces.
Speaker 4 (11:15):
But we're lucky because we also we have mom. Mum's
a big help. She's really she comes from a corporate background.
She's very intelligent, very organized. She does a lot of
the back end, a lot of the material. We're not
great with numbers. We're creative, we are, but just she's
really good. She helps, but we're more creative. You've got
(11:37):
the PR marketing. I'm a bit more creative, and mum's
got the business side.
Speaker 5 (11:41):
So I guess in answering your question, we've got a
big support network. We even get dad, Like we literally
walk to work and if you know we have a
big delivery, we'll get dad to come.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
And help you. Everyone's helping.
Speaker 5 (11:52):
I don't know if we didn't have such a big
hard network, hard would be hard. Because we entered DMS
all night. That's quite a I must admit, we do
love it. But with children, you know, and you're trying
to cook dinner and you answering DMS and your two
year old's crying.
Speaker 4 (12:08):
You know.
Speaker 5 (12:09):
At some points I said that you were Jesus like, yeah, yeah,
so we've got that support.
Speaker 4 (12:14):
But if it was a.
Speaker 5 (12:15):
One woman sure, I would imagine it would be quite
exhausting because it doesn't stop when you leave the showroom.
Speaker 4 (12:21):
You know, it's constant communication.
Speaker 5 (12:23):
Because we sell on Instagram, that's our number one platform
to sell and we love it because we love the
interaction with the client and you know, we really gauge
what they want. But you know, the communication at all
times with family, it can be quite challenging.
Speaker 1 (12:37):
Yeah, do you think you guys got in just at
the right time, like right on the cusp of this board.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
Yes.
Speaker 5 (12:45):
A lot of people have jumped on board, which is
great if we all want to be part of sustainability.
Speaker 4 (12:50):
A lot of people are trying to maybe.
Speaker 5 (12:52):
Do the same similar model to we are. I think
you're right, we did come in at the right time.
It can sometimes be flooded. But what I said to
you before, Kate, is like what we really try and
put out there is we're different because we really take
time in what would you say, our selection process selecting.
It's not we just went to Japan like we want
(13:15):
to be high end.
Speaker 4 (13:16):
And we set up the shop that it's not cramped. Yeah.
You know, with the rent to racks, they're fantastic, but
when you rent a rack, you're paying eighty dollars a month,
which can be expensive. So you want to fill that rack.
So you're putting everything on that rack, and the owner
of the shop doesn't have they can't create it stuff,
(13:36):
so it can get a little messy. We're not into that.
We want a client to come upstairs into the showroom
and feel like they're in a shop so they can
really see the product, and we're here to help style
them as Yeah, that's that's the big difference.
Speaker 3 (13:50):
I think.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
Do you ever have clients in that say, hey, I've
got this coming up, you know, can you help me
source something I don't.
Speaker 3 (13:57):
Want to loop up?
Speaker 2 (13:58):
And yeah, yeah, just as me.
Speaker 4 (14:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (14:02):
I got a message late last night in bed saying
some lady had Tina Turner concert coming.
Speaker 4 (14:07):
Oh my god, amazing, and.
Speaker 5 (14:08):
She was like I need an outfit and I was like, oh,
I shouldn't be reading this. I'm trying to go to sleep. Yeah,
so we get it. Really all the time. People have
come to know us. I don't know if you know,
but we're located on top of bis scott Adia, which
is like we're in an area that's very community village. Yeah,
(14:29):
so people like coming here because it's a bit of
a destination. They'll go downstairs and have a coffee and
then they'll walk up the stairs and then you don't
maybe buy a dress.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
So tell me, you know, in terms of the Melbourne
Fashion Festival then and because you guys, are you having.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
A runway or you're having a show or what.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
And my reason for hesitating there for a second then
just was so how does this work? So these are
pieces that you've curated and found yourself and there'll be
one off, you know, like is there going to be
a brawl at the end of this from women?
Speaker 5 (15:03):
We did it last year and it was an amazing event.
It was a sellout. It was our first ever event.
Speaker 4 (15:11):
It was great and we walked Materia and I walked
the runway, just the two of us, and I think
that's what the people that bought the ticket, that's what
they liked. It was just really interactive, really funny. We
literally had the coats ripped from out.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
The drama. The drama but that's it.
Speaker 6 (15:33):
I'm coming this one with Dan Is.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
At a bigger scale. The showroom. It's going to be.
They've been amazing to work with. Yeah, they're a cool team.
Speaker 5 (15:45):
They're so cool. The owners are great. We're so excited.
You should see the outfit. We've been having them locked
at mum's house. We haven't even brought them to the
showroom because they're that good.
Speaker 4 (15:55):
And we were We've got like five bulls including material,
and we're walking the whole showroom and we've got a
menu where clients have bought tickets that can buy on
the night, so yeah, we've got everything.
Speaker 5 (16:08):
And there's a panel discussion too. And Melissa leon Is
mc and who she's a different different.
Speaker 4 (16:15):
She started off as a client and then she became
friends very she's local too, she's a big fashion she's
such a fashionist, so her she's got amazing taste.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
So I see and here not just passion, but really
proud too. You started from this concept and it's now
you're at the Melbourne Fashion Week doing these and I'm
still got the visual of people literally ripping.
Speaker 2 (16:44):
I know it's.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
Cool, it is really cool to do it.
Speaker 4 (16:48):
I'm very proud of it, to be honest, Like I like,
I really, this is just awesome. Look at you get it?
Are you emotional?
Speaker 3 (16:55):
It's awesome? I love fashion? Yeah you do, I love it.
I fashion Festival god years ago. I mean my husband
working at Fashion festisity.
Speaker 4 (17:06):
I met him because I was a host of Melbourne
and I had to pick up these ladies from Singapore
and show them around Melbourne and introduce them to Australian
designers working for Fashion Festival. And my husband walked out
of the doors at the airport and that's where I
met him.
Speaker 3 (17:21):
So yeah, you've got I've got a lot at that.
I've got a lot to make.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
So the Budiq is the flagship store, I mean, is
your challenge then?
Speaker 2 (17:36):
Because I've talked about this with other business owners.
Speaker 1 (17:39):
We have this beautiful you know, like like almost a
sacred place and all your heart manager is in there.
But you know, we could make more money and it's
so tempting if we opened up out in another suburb
over here or another suburban, or we should really get
this happening in Sydney and.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
Another little something there.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
Where are those discussions act if any or's like, no, no,
this is Melbourne, this is what we're doing here, This is,
you know, and to give me if I've missed something.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
And you're like, no, no, we're already opened up in.
Speaker 3 (18:10):
No, no, no, you're one hundred percent right.
Speaker 5 (18:12):
We've had a few opportunities come our way about pop
ups and so forth, but we had a lady if
we wanted to frenchise in Queensland and it's just outside now.
As mentioned to you, Kate, we've got young children too,
which we set this business up to suit our life style.
And although it's tempting and your ego wants to say, yes, yes,
let's do this, let's do that, you know, we also
(18:35):
want to be there for our family. And you know,
Julie is really good at grounding me because I have
all this she's got.
Speaker 3 (18:40):
Let's do this, let's do that, let's collaborate.
Speaker 5 (18:43):
Absolutely not know we're tired, like come on, let's do
what we're doing and do it well. Because I also
think when you get too greedy in business and you
expand it, losers like we want to be the ones
responding to DMS. We want to be the ones that
are greeting clients that have driven half an hour to
come or come into state.
Speaker 4 (19:03):
A lot a lot of Sydney clients come Brisbane.
Speaker 3 (19:06):
Perth, a lot of lawyers, they're they're big, big, We're
just like, you know, we don't need to be always better. No,
but you know, you know who knows. We're not saying
no to anything right now.
Speaker 5 (19:18):
Now. Our daughters are still two and a half, our youngest,
So until they're you know, at school, until they're in
year seven, Yeah, until they're married.
Speaker 4 (19:29):
This is going to be asking cousin.
Speaker 3 (19:32):
We're just happy living our little life. No, Carlton. We're
Carlton girls, born and bred. We've got our business here.
We you know, really to work.
Speaker 4 (19:40):
I want to get my.
Speaker 3 (19:41):
Son from school.
Speaker 4 (19:42):
My daughter's a daycare.
Speaker 5 (19:43):
Like, we're just happy this, this makes us happy and
we don't want to change it.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
Yeah, you know, and that's such a great lesson for anyone.
Speaker 1 (19:52):
We're burnt out, we're tired, we're mums, we're studying, we're.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
Doing all these things.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
And yeah, I'm hearing two of the most passionate women
ever going you know what, we're really happy and we're
kind of holding the space like.
Speaker 3 (20:06):
Yeah, yeah. Our dad always says, don't over complicate your life.
Speaker 4 (20:10):
He did, and it's true. He's right.
Speaker 3 (20:13):
Don't complicate your life, keep it keep it simple.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
Your mom and dad. It's so special that you've got
them both there. And you've mentioned mom behind the scenes.
And I'm always curious about mums because they, you know,
they implant whatever pieces of wisdom on us, whether you
want them or not.
Speaker 4 (20:32):
Our mom's tough, she's great, she's she she doesn't suffer
any fools.
Speaker 3 (20:37):
She people love to see her online.
Speaker 4 (20:41):
When she's on our Instagram, it gets played like over
and over.
Speaker 3 (20:46):
She goes viral, but she hates the camera.
Speaker 4 (20:49):
But she's she's honest and she's great, so we love
having her. She can she be left in the showroom
by herself, No, because some we're scared of what she
might stay to, like clients. But at the same time
I love it. Yeah, she's old school.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
You know, she'll say take that off.
Speaker 5 (21:11):
That doesn't hit you, and you know what, people turn around,
they take thanks so much. This is so nice, instead
of going into a retail shop where they lie to
said lives. So they make you know their daily budget.
Speaker 4 (21:22):
Yeah, if you want an honest, old school retail experience,
come to love of them.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
Because and ask for mum many of balance sizes and
things like that. So if I think of some of
our vintage fashion, and again it's only because I've just
got very excited that I happen to pick me in
a couple of my mother's dresses from back in the seventies,
and I'm I'm going, oh my gosh, this is a twelve.
(21:49):
It is not a twelve. It is like I think
I can only get my fly in some of these.
Speaker 4 (21:54):
I know sizes are hard, but we always tell clients
to if they're in the show and just try it
on because.
Speaker 3 (22:00):
Yeah, and brand is okay. Every size and brand is different.
Speaker 5 (22:04):
So even if you're a size six, a lot of
people like to wear over size at the moment and
they'll end up walking out with the size twelve gene.
Speaker 4 (22:11):
So we're not.
Speaker 5 (22:11):
Really that fuss with sizing, to be honest. I think
tens and twelves goth the voice for us.
Speaker 4 (22:18):
Even fourteen Yeah, yeah, we really want to source all sizes. Yeah,
and they sell out. They spell out size twelve, fourteen
sell out for us.
Speaker 5 (22:29):
Yeah. The sixes don't goes are harder to move thee Yeah,
and small shoes don't don't sell well.
Speaker 4 (22:35):
Also, heels don't sell well. I think after COVID. Things change.
He's got smaller sneakers, got big.
Speaker 3 (22:43):
Yeah, so that's.
Speaker 4 (22:44):
Something that we if someone a client was to want
to consign a size six Christian Luberton, we wouldn't take
it anymore because it just doesn't sell. Move.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
Yeah, yeah, I still love a heel though. I still
like I still it finishes off.
Speaker 2 (22:59):
The look like they're coming back.
Speaker 5 (23:01):
They're coming back. I do think they're coming back. They're
coming back. Look at the straight leg, Gene. It's bad.
Speaker 3 (23:06):
I believe it. We said no, Gene months ago. I'm like,
oh god, we should have said yes.
Speaker 5 (23:13):
I know.
Speaker 3 (23:13):
That's the hard part.
Speaker 4 (23:14):
You just never know what the hell is going to happen.
But saying that we're not really into micro trends, we
do believe that dressing is.
Speaker 3 (23:23):
You know, it should be timeless and good quality.
Speaker 5 (23:27):
Yeah, good quality, And that's kind of the pieces when
we're saying yes and no in our selection process. We
look at the branch, we look at the way it's made,
We look, you know, if this will stand the.
Speaker 3 (23:37):
Test of time. That's quite important to us.
Speaker 5 (23:39):
And like Julius said, yeah, we think the micro trends
you can fall into a bit of a trap.
Speaker 3 (23:43):
And that can lead to you know, over consumption.
Speaker 5 (23:46):
Plus fashion, so we try and kind of everyone should
have their own style. I just read this thing that
came up on Instagram about the women in Japan, which
you know, Julia and I are mom and dad went
to not long ago, and the Japanese women celebrate individual
style or they're not into trends and micro trends.
Speaker 3 (24:02):
They just wear what they think they look great in,
and you know.
Speaker 5 (24:05):
What, they look really good, actually look the best out
of everyone.
Speaker 1 (24:09):
And I think that's it, isn't it. I think I
kind of wonder if that's with me and my girlfriends.
It was always like, oh I was always just a
little bit too dressed up. I could never quite get
it right or whatever. But I'd go to wear the
bootleg jeans or whatever that was going on in the
nineties and looked just.
Speaker 6 (24:26):
Terrible and none of it ever, So I doubt that.
Trust me, I have to get some photos that.
Speaker 2 (24:36):
The boobtube did not work well. Plus okay, it.
Speaker 3 (24:39):
Was the time.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
Yeah, yeah, And I don't know if it's because like,
even coming into my forties now, I kind of go.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
So, what they're closing my back?
Speaker 5 (24:53):
You know?
Speaker 1 (24:54):
If I don't. And do you know who told me that?
It was a hairdresser? She said, I don't know why
we worry so much about we're wearing. If you wear
it one day and at the end of the day,
I'm like, I'm not sure if I really like that,
you know what you take it off? You know, like
already tell it?
Speaker 5 (25:10):
Yeah, all that.
Speaker 3 (25:14):
You're right, we should be more individual with our dressing.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
So are we better to buy the one piece and
then work out four or five different ways to wear that?
You know, tell me what would be your thinking around,
you know, so to invest in something like this, So
for maybe the everyday woman who's maybe not the lawyer
and things like that. But she's like, I just want
(25:39):
that piece in the wardrobe that I'm going to have
forever and pass on or whatever it might be.
Speaker 2 (25:46):
I want that one day. I want a Chanel dress,
or I want to know something.
Speaker 4 (25:50):
I think that to be one hundred percent sustainable is
not easy, okay or realistic. So I would probably invest,
you loved in that really expensive item. You know, I
would have a look for if I wanted a coat,
We've got some amazing coats.
Speaker 3 (26:08):
Or black coat. We've got some d on Lee leather.
Speaker 5 (26:12):
Jackets are fantastic, even like a Goldie jeans, which are
really expensive full price, like you can really like Julia
was saying, it's it's not realistic to be sustainable.
Speaker 3 (26:21):
I don't think.
Speaker 5 (26:22):
We don't think, you know, buying pre loved and then
pairing it back with you know, I don't know, cause T.
Speaker 4 (26:28):
Shirt, that's fine.
Speaker 3 (26:29):
And we're all about that.
Speaker 4 (26:31):
You know, my favorite shirt is a unicloth you know,
and I've shopped around they're my favorite. But I would
wear my Uniclo T shirt with my five oh one
Levi's and my brand new d On Lee jacket that
I bought from Love and Longer and I feel cool,
So yeah, I would probably. I mean, it depends everyone's different.
Speaker 5 (26:49):
But I would say, need a great jacket, you need
a great niche, like you need to invest in a
great knit like. I don't think you can go what's
the word, like, you can't go cheap cheap? Is that
the right way to say? Yeah, you go to Unichlo
for a fast fix on a card again, but you
know it made peel and you better off by the
cashmere wool blend.
Speaker 3 (27:09):
Maybe yeah, we've got one here right now. I'm looking
at it the Acne.
Speaker 4 (27:13):
Studios for how much is that?
Speaker 3 (27:14):
Like, I think it's one fifties, you know what I mean?
So a few goods, A beautiful jacket, a nice pair
of jeans. You're dumb and like in really good. Yeah,
we don't take. We don't take, so it can look
like rags after a while. So we don't do that.
Speaker 1 (27:30):
I'm used to this honesty too, by the way, and
it does it kind of sounds like pull your wardrobe
out and then really have a good think about what
you need not to SIGs in or like that black cloat.
It's going to do you you know o, you know,
like if you buy the quality? Yeah, what do you
love most about being in business together?
Speaker 3 (27:52):
Just being able to come here every day? We just
have such a laugh.
Speaker 2 (27:55):
Have you actually tried to pull each other's here out?
Speaker 3 (27:57):
Because I'm just.
Speaker 4 (28:00):
The thing is with sisters is we over abuse each
other and then it's like after work, what are we're doing?
Speaker 3 (28:04):
They do want to go to the kid with the
park with the kids? He assure me, there, do you
know what I mean? Like we do that.
Speaker 5 (28:08):
I don't think you can do that with like that
business partners that aren't family, like when you go that
low and then you turn around and you say, hey,
you want to go to the park. I don't think that
would fly. Only blood peopould kind of let that. But sometimes, listen,
we're not going to lie.
Speaker 4 (28:24):
We'll be in the showroom and we'll be having like
an argument about a piece of clothing that we should
go in and edit or whatever, and someone will walk in.
Speaker 3 (28:32):
And they love it.
Speaker 4 (28:33):
They love it. They say, oh my god, I feel
like I'm at my auntie's house and my cousins are
here fighting with each other.
Speaker 3 (28:39):
The clients love it.
Speaker 4 (28:40):
Yeah, they like real and they like because I think
they watch us on Instagram and see us interact, interact,
they feel like they know us, so they feel part
of it. Yeah, like they would. When we're pregnant. We
weren't sleeping, How are you going? How's he going at sleep?
Speaker 3 (28:56):
Sw going on the stata?
Speaker 2 (28:58):
It was like, are we over sharing?
Speaker 5 (29:05):
We all try not to be to done up, you
know what I mean? Also, that's how you know, back
to being different. We do capsules every day, and if
we cared about what we look like, we wouldn't get
it done. You know what I meant To that point,
I've got dry shampoo in my hair, but you know,
I'll put a red lip on and let's get this done.
(29:27):
I was going to say, this is a podcast so
they can't see you, but you've both got a red
lip on today.
Speaker 2 (29:32):
My sister taught me.
Speaker 3 (29:36):
Even at home, I have it on, but I've got issues.
Speaker 1 (29:39):
So do you know I say about a red lipstick,
I always say if I'm feeling a bit flat, Maybe
not be the right word, but I need a little
bit of armor. You know, it's a red lipstick, and
I mean business that day. It's like giving me the list.
Speaker 4 (29:53):
And do you know what happened to me is that
I wear it so often that when I don't, you're
a bay.
Speaker 3 (30:04):
Like my daughter knows.
Speaker 4 (30:06):
My twelve year old knows when when mums something's wrong
because my.
Speaker 1 (30:09):
List kids, Yeah, when I'm in the nursing home, kids
get it out. Hey, this is such a shame that
we couldn't have spent longer together because we haven't really
talked about anything and everything.
Speaker 3 (30:31):
You have come back, you'll have to come and meet us, and.
Speaker 2 (30:34):
No, no, no, I'm coming.
Speaker 1 (30:36):
I've got there's events coming up, and you know, I
just think, if anything, the chat has really been about
you know, like even though you guys are online and
things like that, but we do. We need to get
offline and we need to be looking around for pieces
that not everyone in the room will have. Like we've
all had that moment where you've walked in and went,
(30:58):
you know, you know, yeah, wait a minute, now he
looks better.
Speaker 3 (31:03):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly, you know. And it's a nice
retail experience.
Speaker 4 (31:07):
It's old school, you know, it's it's it's not pretentious,
it's not scary. You come up the stairs and you
just feel like you're in someone's apartment.
Speaker 3 (31:16):
Yeah, it's really nice. It's two beautiful rooms.
Speaker 4 (31:18):
We look over wrap down village.
Speaker 3 (31:21):
And we'll get you a coffee. Get a coffee. We're lucky,
you'll get a cake. I need.
Speaker 1 (31:28):
I'm going to need to meet mum as well. I
think that's what's going to happen. So hey, thank you
both for joining us on the podcast.
Speaker 4 (31:35):
So Rasia, thank you for having us
Welcome to the Women of Influence podcast. I'm your host,
Kate Meete, and it is so great to be back
in your ears. I would like to acknowledge the traditional
owners of the land in which this podcast was recorded,
and I pay my respects to their elders past and present,
and the Aboriginal elders of other communities who may be
(00:20):
listening today. This is a special five part series in
partnership with the Melbourne Fashion Festival, celebrating the extraordinary women
of the Melbourne fashion industry. Australia is home to some
remarkable women. They're raising foster families, running cattle stations, living
inspirational lives. Yet many of their tales of triumph are
(00:43):
never profiled and never celebrated. So we're changing all that
through our Women of Influence podcast. For more information about
our Women of Influence the Melbourne Fashion Festival edition, please
check out our show notes and of course the Women
of Influence socials. And as always, if you have a
woman in your life that needs to be celebrated and
(01:05):
we all need to hear her story, please connect with us.
We would love to hear from you. Thank you so
much always for your support and I hope that you
smile as much as I did recording these episodes. These
episodes were recorded via zoom in Melbourne. And you know
(01:27):
I love address.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Well. Thank you so much for joining us on the podcast.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Yeah, thank you for having us. We're very excited. You
can tell.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
I love it when we get the doubleheader.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
So I'll let you two fight it out as we
get questions coming through that which I mean when I
use that word fight it out, you know when there's
two people in businesses.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
I spoke to So there were two sisters and.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
A friend that all went into business together and they said,
our bond is too strong. Whatever we do with this business,
it is not to ever interrupt what we do in
terms of who we are and that relationship confirst And
I said, okay, so when you come down to a
big decision, how are you making that final Paul, if
you're all you know at loggerheads And they said, they
(02:24):
play paper scissors and then over it lands and then
fight it out.
Speaker 4 (02:29):
Then also we also have our mom that is involved
behind the scenes, so she kind of gets the final
say don't you think yeah.
Speaker 5 (02:41):
One hundred percent, we have the mediator which is mum,
so it never gets too ugly, and we have different
fighting styles. Yeah, I'm more aggressive, but she's actually scarier.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
Oh here you are.
Speaker 4 (02:55):
People think I'm smarier because I'm louder, but she like
she really goes for it.
Speaker 5 (03:00):
Yeah, yeah, actually that's probably true, Nova Kate. A lot
of people say, how do you where could your sister
and your mum be in a family business. But to
be honest, there's not as many fights as I actually thought. Like,
we all have different skill sets, so it kind of
like balances us out, So it's nuts.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
So I mean, I'm just kind of curious where this
all started. Where you for some reason, my gut says,
I imagine that it was like sitting around, you know,
either winging about something you know that you couldn't get
your hands on, or wanted to buy something and couldn't,
and you know, all.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
The kind of stuff that you had in your coubent
and going, Oh.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
It did start a bit like that.
Speaker 4 (03:41):
Our dad always said that we should go into business together,
even when we were a lot younger, but I think
the timing wasn't right.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
I think we both needed to go and experience.
Speaker 4 (03:51):
Our own careers, have bosses, make mistakes, experiment all those
things and then it came. I was working at Scale
and feed or in fashion. I was on the floor
selling styling, and Matiir was in fashion PR and we
both got pregnant with our second babies, and it was
done for me. I was ten years selling on the
(04:11):
floor and I got to know a lot of women
who would say to me in the change rooms, I've
got so many clothes. I don't know what to do
with them. What do I do with them?
Speaker 3 (04:21):
Julia?
Speaker 4 (04:22):
And then when I left Scale and I thought, you
know what, I'm going to do this. I'm going to
do this north Side. There are so many clothes that
women don't want and they want to sell them, but
they don't know how. So we rented a space. It
all happened. It all happened so really and organically. Mattias
still had her really her big job at marketing PR.
Speaker 5 (04:41):
I went to the Margaret Porrett, which is she's a
bit of a tailblazer. Is that the right word, trailblazer?
I'm not sure if you know, Okay, because she's been
in the industry forever. So she was like my Anna
wintor so, a bit of a mentor. And we also
Julia forgot to mention, but we were pregnant with our
second babies at the time when the business was born.
Not only did we have a passion for fashion, but
(05:03):
we were kind of also tired and we're pregnant. We
already had older kids at home, and we wanted to
create a lifestyle and business that suited us as well.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
So then when Matia came across, the business was open
for what like maybe a six months yeah okay, and
then just started yeah, mum, and I started it organically
with the clients that I had from Scanlon, but then
the business really started to grow when Matia came across,
because she's got that PR and marketing.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
It's true PR and marketing side. Anyway, Sorry, Kate, are
we talking too much now? It's great.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
You know, it sounds like the perfect storm.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
And I don't have a sister, but if I did,
I'd be wanting it to sound exactly days.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Just wait, but it is.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
It's like this wonderful tension that you have between the
two of you or three of you, because everyone's bringing
their bit. And by the sound that like why you're
saying it grew organically, it also sounds like, well, actually
there was quite a bit of planning in what we wanted,
how we wanted to roll out that the organic really
was that the growth of it, I think exactly.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
Yeah's that we knew.
Speaker 4 (06:15):
Yeah, we knew exactly what we wanted to sell because
we all have background in fashion. Matias got her background Mum.
I mean, Mum's Italian and she just being Italian, she
knows fashion. We were lucky enough as kids to go
to Italy every year with her. So she just has
a natural and eye and she's just a fashion question.
(06:36):
So she's got her eye. I've got mine and Matias
got hers. Plus we have Emily who works with us.
She's in her twenties and she's.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Got her eye.
Speaker 4 (06:46):
So we cover all bases where women were catering to
women in their sixties with Mom, me in my forties,
Materia in her thirties, and Emily in her twenties.
Speaker 5 (06:54):
But you're right in saying, Kate that yes, although it
did grow organically, there was a background to it.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
And how do you guys go letting go of pieces
yourself Because I've got the covered full of stuff right now.
Every time I want to do it, I go, But
I might need that, I know, But you get addicted, Kate,
once you start selling and realizing there's a fun fact
that I learned that you only wear ten percent.
Speaker 5 (07:23):
Of your wardrobe and the rest is valuable real estate.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
So once you get that in your head and.
Speaker 5 (07:29):
You get addicted to moving and creating space and clarity
in your life, you almost just want to purge.
Speaker 4 (07:36):
When we first open, I sold so much of my pieces,
but then I.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
Bought from the shop. That's the heart.
Speaker 4 (07:43):
That's when we've got really good clients.
Speaker 5 (07:46):
Most of it is new, we tags. We get women,
you know, driving from Southside and we open their boot
and it is full. Ye, And it's hard stuff.
Speaker 3 (07:56):
It's not it's not what you fight at. Love longer,
is not what you find find it, you know, vintage
rent racks.
Speaker 4 (08:02):
We're very different.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
We're curated and yeah, you would die, Okay.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
I don't know if my urge is to go and
get in the car straight away. I mean I don't
the next week and also like, no, I'm not going
until I've got rid of something in my cupboard.
Speaker 5 (08:21):
That's that's how we see it in our heads, that's
what but that's what our clients do.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
They buy and sell, They buy, they sell.
Speaker 5 (08:29):
And it just keeps it moving and you feel good
about yourself, about the you know, the whole.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
Yeah, so has there been a piece that came through
that you've looked at each other and, oh, my gosh,
did this happened?
Speaker 2 (08:45):
Tell me about one of those pieces.
Speaker 4 (08:48):
I thought, black fur coat that I still look at
every time I look at it my wardrobe. I just like,
I just think, I love you so much.
Speaker 5 (09:00):
Lily and kaloof the bing dress that we actually bought
for the showroom because it was so beautiful we couldn't
part with it, and it just sits as a mannequin
and she's boned and she's like, she's so feminine and stunning.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
We bought her. And that's what we do.
Speaker 5 (09:14):
We sometimes buy items that we can't part with, going
back to your previous question, and they just live in
the showroom because they're just every now.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
And then we rent them to sign them.
Speaker 4 (09:24):
But we style talent, well talent, yeah, not everyone. We're
selective with who we work with, but you know, people
that we like their style and they from us and
they'll borrow. But one pair of shoes came in, which
is my favorite story to tell, the stories I've held
the secret. Did you sign a nondisclosion. Okay, well this
(09:46):
is your story.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
Okay, I'm leaning in.
Speaker 4 (09:49):
The lady came in and we actually got a pair
of Valentino sandals that were originally and a Winters, yeah her,
because they were too big, and she gave them to
someone and they were given to us, and I know,
and it's true.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
It's like a it's like.
Speaker 5 (10:07):
Yeah, there's a whole what's the word backstore.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
And we bought them for the shop just as a good.
Speaker 5 (10:13):
I actually it's like a good calma, like you can't
sell and a window sandles like.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
No, no, no, you cannot. They're a colector's item. And
it's pretty cool.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
It's pretty cool.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
And side note, by the way, the book that was
written about her was incredible. I'm trying to think who
the author of that was. I mean, it wasn't an approved.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
One by Anna. It was one of her workers.
Speaker 3 (10:40):
Yeah, really good, really.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
Prior to I might have made that up anyway. Sorry, no, no, no,
we just got stuck down. If there was anyone we
would all like to meet, it's obviously correct.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
I'll tell you.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
What's infectious is the two of you together and this
excitement about what you're doing so has it ever got
that hard?
Speaker 2 (11:06):
Then when you go, you know what, this is just
too hard. I don't want to do this.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
You know, look at you both. People can't see us
right now, like straight away the faces.
Speaker 4 (11:15):
But we're lucky because we also we have mom. Mum's
a big help. She's really she comes from a corporate background.
She's very intelligent, very organized. She does a lot of
the back end, a lot of the material. We're not
great with numbers. We're creative, we are, but just she's
really good. She helps, but we're more creative. You've got
(11:37):
the PR marketing. I'm a bit more creative, and mum's
got the business side.
Speaker 5 (11:41):
So I guess in answering your question, we've got a
big support network. We even get dad, Like we literally
walk to work and if you know we have a
big delivery, we'll get dad to come.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
And help you. Everyone's helping.
Speaker 5 (11:52):
I don't know if we didn't have such a big
hard network, hard would be hard. Because we entered DMS
all night. That's quite a I must admit, we do
love it. But with children, you know, and you're trying
to cook dinner and you answering DMS and your two
year old's crying.
Speaker 4 (12:08):
You know.
Speaker 5 (12:09):
At some points I said that you were Jesus like, yeah, yeah,
so we've got that support.
Speaker 4 (12:14):
But if it was a.
Speaker 5 (12:15):
One woman sure, I would imagine it would be quite
exhausting because it doesn't stop when you leave the showroom.
Speaker 4 (12:21):
You know, it's constant communication.
Speaker 5 (12:23):
Because we sell on Instagram, that's our number one platform
to sell and we love it because we love the
interaction with the client and you know, we really gauge
what they want. But you know, the communication at all
times with family, it can be quite challenging.
Speaker 1 (12:37):
Yeah, do you think you guys got in just at
the right time, like right on the cusp of this board.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
Yes.
Speaker 5 (12:45):
A lot of people have jumped on board, which is
great if we all want to be part of sustainability.
Speaker 4 (12:50):
A lot of people are trying to maybe.
Speaker 5 (12:52):
Do the same similar model to we are. I think
you're right, we did come in at the right time.
It can sometimes be flooded. But what I said to
you before, Kate, is like what we really try and
put out there is we're different because we really take
time in what would you say, our selection process selecting.
It's not we just went to Japan like we want
(13:15):
to be high end.
Speaker 4 (13:16):
And we set up the shop that it's not cramped. Yeah.
You know, with the rent to racks, they're fantastic, but
when you rent a rack, you're paying eighty dollars a month,
which can be expensive. So you want to fill that rack.
So you're putting everything on that rack, and the owner
of the shop doesn't have they can't create it stuff,
(13:36):
so it can get a little messy. We're not into that.
We want a client to come upstairs into the showroom
and feel like they're in a shop so they can
really see the product, and we're here to help style
them as Yeah, that's that's the big difference.
Speaker 3 (13:50):
I think.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
Do you ever have clients in that say, hey, I've
got this coming up, you know, can you help me
source something I don't.
Speaker 3 (13:57):
Want to loop up?
Speaker 2 (13:58):
And yeah, yeah, just as me.
Speaker 4 (14:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (14:02):
I got a message late last night in bed saying
some lady had Tina Turner concert coming.
Speaker 4 (14:07):
Oh my god, amazing, and.
Speaker 5 (14:08):
She was like I need an outfit and I was like, oh,
I shouldn't be reading this. I'm trying to go to sleep. Yeah,
so we get it. Really all the time. People have
come to know us. I don't know if you know,
but we're located on top of bis scott Adia, which
is like we're in an area that's very community village. Yeah,
(14:29):
so people like coming here because it's a bit of
a destination. They'll go downstairs and have a coffee and
then they'll walk up the stairs and then you don't
maybe buy a dress.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
So tell me, you know, in terms of the Melbourne
Fashion Festival then and because you guys, are you having.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
A runway or you're having a show or what.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
And my reason for hesitating there for a second then
just was so how does this work? So these are
pieces that you've curated and found yourself and there'll be
one off, you know, like is there going to be
a brawl at the end of this from women?
Speaker 5 (15:03):
We did it last year and it was an amazing event.
It was a sellout. It was our first ever event.
Speaker 4 (15:11):
It was great and we walked Materia and I walked
the runway, just the two of us, and I think
that's what the people that bought the ticket, that's what
they liked. It was just really interactive, really funny. We
literally had the coats ripped from out.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
The drama. The drama but that's it.
Speaker 6 (15:33):
I'm coming this one with Dan Is.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
At a bigger scale. The showroom. It's going to be.
They've been amazing to work with. Yeah, they're a cool team.
Speaker 5 (15:45):
They're so cool. The owners are great. We're so excited.
You should see the outfit. We've been having them locked
at mum's house. We haven't even brought them to the
showroom because they're that good.
Speaker 4 (15:55):
And we were We've got like five bulls including material,
and we're walking the whole showroom and we've got a
menu where clients have bought tickets that can buy on
the night, so yeah, we've got everything.
Speaker 5 (16:08):
And there's a panel discussion too. And Melissa leon Is
mc and who she's a different different.
Speaker 4 (16:15):
She started off as a client and then she became
friends very she's local too, she's a big fashion she's
such a fashionist, so her she's got amazing taste.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
So I see and here not just passion, but really
proud too. You started from this concept and it's now
you're at the Melbourne Fashion Week doing these and I'm
still got the visual of people literally ripping.
Speaker 2 (16:44):
I know it's.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
Cool, it is really cool to do it.
Speaker 4 (16:48):
I'm very proud of it, to be honest, Like I like,
I really, this is just awesome. Look at you get it?
Are you emotional?
Speaker 3 (16:55):
It's awesome? I love fashion? Yeah you do, I love it.
I fashion Festival god years ago. I mean my husband
working at Fashion festisity.
Speaker 4 (17:06):
I met him because I was a host of Melbourne
and I had to pick up these ladies from Singapore
and show them around Melbourne and introduce them to Australian
designers working for Fashion Festival. And my husband walked out
of the doors at the airport and that's where I
met him.
Speaker 3 (17:21):
So yeah, you've got I've got a lot at that.
I've got a lot to make.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
So the Budiq is the flagship store, I mean, is
your challenge then?
Speaker 2 (17:36):
Because I've talked about this with other business owners.
Speaker 1 (17:39):
We have this beautiful you know, like like almost a
sacred place and all your heart manager is in there.
But you know, we could make more money and it's
so tempting if we opened up out in another suburb
over here or another suburban, or we should really get
this happening in Sydney and.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
Another little something there.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
Where are those discussions act if any or's like, no, no,
this is Melbourne, this is what we're doing here, This is,
you know, and to give me if I've missed something.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
And you're like, no, no, we're already opened up in.
Speaker 3 (18:10):
No, no, no, you're one hundred percent right.
Speaker 5 (18:12):
We've had a few opportunities come our way about pop
ups and so forth, but we had a lady if
we wanted to frenchise in Queensland and it's just outside now.
As mentioned to you, Kate, we've got young children too,
which we set this business up to suit our life style.
And although it's tempting and your ego wants to say, yes, yes,
let's do this, let's do that, you know, we also
(18:35):
want to be there for our family. And you know,
Julie is really good at grounding me because I have
all this she's got.
Speaker 3 (18:40):
Let's do this, let's do that, let's collaborate.
Speaker 5 (18:43):
Absolutely not know we're tired, like come on, let's do
what we're doing and do it well. Because I also
think when you get too greedy in business and you
expand it, losers like we want to be the ones
responding to DMS. We want to be the ones that
are greeting clients that have driven half an hour to
come or come into state.
Speaker 4 (19:03):
A lot a lot of Sydney clients come Brisbane.
Speaker 3 (19:06):
Perth, a lot of lawyers, they're they're big, big, We're
just like, you know, we don't need to be always better. No,
but you know, you know who knows. We're not saying
no to anything right now.
Speaker 5 (19:18):
Now. Our daughters are still two and a half, our youngest,
So until they're you know, at school, until they're in
year seven, Yeah, until they're married.
Speaker 4 (19:29):
This is going to be asking cousin.
Speaker 3 (19:32):
We're just happy living our little life. No, Carlton. We're
Carlton girls, born and bred. We've got our business here.
We you know, really to work.
Speaker 4 (19:40):
I want to get my.
Speaker 3 (19:41):
Son from school.
Speaker 4 (19:42):
My daughter's a daycare.
Speaker 5 (19:43):
Like, we're just happy this, this makes us happy and
we don't want to change it.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
Yeah, you know, and that's such a great lesson for anyone.
Speaker 1 (19:52):
We're burnt out, we're tired, we're mums, we're studying, we're.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
Doing all these things.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
And yeah, I'm hearing two of the most passionate women
ever going you know what, we're really happy and we're
kind of holding the space like.
Speaker 3 (20:06):
Yeah, yeah. Our dad always says, don't over complicate your life.
Speaker 4 (20:10):
He did, and it's true. He's right.
Speaker 3 (20:13):
Don't complicate your life, keep it keep it simple.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
Your mom and dad. It's so special that you've got
them both there. And you've mentioned mom behind the scenes.
And I'm always curious about mums because they, you know,
they implant whatever pieces of wisdom on us, whether you
want them or not.
Speaker 4 (20:32):
Our mom's tough, she's great, she's she she doesn't suffer
any fools.
Speaker 3 (20:37):
She people love to see her online.
Speaker 4 (20:41):
When she's on our Instagram, it gets played like over
and over.
Speaker 3 (20:46):
She goes viral, but she hates the camera.
Speaker 4 (20:49):
But she's she's honest and she's great, so we love
having her. She can she be left in the showroom
by herself, No, because some we're scared of what she
might stay to, like clients. But at the same time
I love it. Yeah, she's old school.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
You know, she'll say take that off.
Speaker 5 (21:11):
That doesn't hit you, and you know what, people turn around,
they take thanks so much. This is so nice, instead
of going into a retail shop where they lie to
said lives. So they make you know their daily budget.
Speaker 4 (21:22):
Yeah, if you want an honest, old school retail experience,
come to love of them.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
Because and ask for mum many of balance sizes and
things like that. So if I think of some of
our vintage fashion, and again it's only because I've just
got very excited that I happen to pick me in
a couple of my mother's dresses from back in the seventies,
and I'm I'm going, oh my gosh, this is a twelve.
(21:49):
It is not a twelve. It is like I think
I can only get my fly in some of these.
Speaker 4 (21:54):
I know sizes are hard, but we always tell clients
to if they're in the show and just try it
on because.
Speaker 3 (22:00):
Yeah, and brand is okay. Every size and brand is different.
Speaker 5 (22:04):
So even if you're a size six, a lot of
people like to wear over size at the moment and
they'll end up walking out with the size twelve gene.
Speaker 4 (22:11):
So we're not.
Speaker 5 (22:11):
Really that fuss with sizing, to be honest. I think
tens and twelves goth the voice for us.
Speaker 4 (22:18):
Even fourteen Yeah, yeah, we really want to source all sizes. Yeah,
and they sell out. They spell out size twelve, fourteen
sell out for us.
Speaker 5 (22:29):
Yeah. The sixes don't goes are harder to move thee Yeah,
and small shoes don't don't sell well.
Speaker 4 (22:35):
Also, heels don't sell well. I think after COVID. Things change.
He's got smaller sneakers, got big.
Speaker 3 (22:43):
Yeah, so that's.
Speaker 4 (22:44):
Something that we if someone a client was to want
to consign a size six Christian Luberton, we wouldn't take
it anymore because it just doesn't sell. Move.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
Yeah, yeah, I still love a heel though. I still
like I still it finishes off.
Speaker 2 (22:59):
The look like they're coming back.
Speaker 5 (23:01):
They're coming back. I do think they're coming back. They're
coming back. Look at the straight leg, Gene. It's bad.
Speaker 3 (23:06):
I believe it. We said no, Gene months ago. I'm like,
oh god, we should have said yes.
Speaker 5 (23:13):
I know.
Speaker 3 (23:13):
That's the hard part.
Speaker 4 (23:14):
You just never know what the hell is going to happen.
But saying that we're not really into micro trends, we
do believe that dressing is.
Speaker 3 (23:23):
You know, it should be timeless and good quality.
Speaker 5 (23:27):
Yeah, good quality, And that's kind of the pieces when
we're saying yes and no in our selection process. We
look at the branch, we look at the way it's made,
We look, you know, if this will stand the.
Speaker 3 (23:37):
Test of time. That's quite important to us.
Speaker 5 (23:39):
And like Julius said, yeah, we think the micro trends
you can fall into a bit of a trap.
Speaker 3 (23:43):
And that can lead to you know, over consumption.
Speaker 5 (23:46):
Plus fashion, so we try and kind of everyone should
have their own style. I just read this thing that
came up on Instagram about the women in Japan, which
you know, Julia and I are mom and dad went
to not long ago, and the Japanese women celebrate individual
style or they're not into trends and micro trends.
Speaker 3 (24:02):
They just wear what they think they look great in,
and you know.
Speaker 5 (24:05):
What, they look really good, actually look the best out
of everyone.
Speaker 1 (24:09):
And I think that's it, isn't it. I think I
kind of wonder if that's with me and my girlfriends.
It was always like, oh I was always just a
little bit too dressed up. I could never quite get
it right or whatever. But I'd go to wear the
bootleg jeans or whatever that was going on in the
nineties and looked just.
Speaker 6 (24:26):
Terrible and none of it ever, So I doubt that.
Trust me, I have to get some photos that.
Speaker 2 (24:36):
The boobtube did not work well. Plus okay, it.
Speaker 3 (24:39):
Was the time.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
Yeah, yeah, And I don't know if it's because like,
even coming into my forties now, I kind of go.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
So, what they're closing my back?
Speaker 5 (24:53):
You know?
Speaker 1 (24:54):
If I don't. And do you know who told me that?
It was a hairdresser? She said, I don't know why
we worry so much about we're wearing. If you wear
it one day and at the end of the day,
I'm like, I'm not sure if I really like that,
you know what you take it off? You know, like
already tell it?
Speaker 5 (25:10):
Yeah, all that.
Speaker 3 (25:14):
You're right, we should be more individual with our dressing.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
So are we better to buy the one piece and
then work out four or five different ways to wear that?
You know, tell me what would be your thinking around,
you know, so to invest in something like this, So
for maybe the everyday woman who's maybe not the lawyer
and things like that. But she's like, I just want
(25:39):
that piece in the wardrobe that I'm going to have
forever and pass on or whatever it might be.
Speaker 2 (25:46):
I want that one day. I want a Chanel dress,
or I want to know something.
Speaker 4 (25:50):
I think that to be one hundred percent sustainable is
not easy, okay or realistic. So I would probably invest,
you loved in that really expensive item. You know, I
would have a look for if I wanted a coat,
We've got some amazing coats.
Speaker 3 (26:08):
Or black coat. We've got some d on Lee leather.
Speaker 5 (26:12):
Jackets are fantastic, even like a Goldie jeans, which are
really expensive full price, like you can really like Julia
was saying, it's it's not realistic to be sustainable.
Speaker 3 (26:21):
I don't think.
Speaker 5 (26:22):
We don't think, you know, buying pre loved and then
pairing it back with you know, I don't know, cause T.
Speaker 4 (26:28):
Shirt, that's fine.
Speaker 3 (26:29):
And we're all about that.
Speaker 4 (26:31):
You know, my favorite shirt is a unicloth you know,
and I've shopped around they're my favorite. But I would
wear my Uniclo T shirt with my five oh one
Levi's and my brand new d On Lee jacket that
I bought from Love and Longer and I feel cool,
So yeah, I would probably. I mean, it depends everyone's different.
Speaker 5 (26:49):
But I would say, need a great jacket, you need
a great niche, like you need to invest in a
great knit like. I don't think you can go what's
the word, like, you can't go cheap cheap? Is that
the right way to say? Yeah, you go to Unichlo
for a fast fix on a card again, but you
know it made peel and you better off by the
cashmere wool blend.
Speaker 3 (27:09):
Maybe yeah, we've got one here right now. I'm looking
at it the Acne.
Speaker 4 (27:13):
Studios for how much is that?
Speaker 3 (27:14):
Like, I think it's one fifties, you know what I mean?
So a few goods, A beautiful jacket, a nice pair
of jeans. You're dumb and like in really good. Yeah,
we don't take. We don't take, so it can look
like rags after a while. So we don't do that.
Speaker 1 (27:30):
I'm used to this honesty too, by the way, and
it does it kind of sounds like pull your wardrobe
out and then really have a good think about what
you need not to SIGs in or like that black cloat.
It's going to do you you know o, you know,
like if you buy the quality? Yeah, what do you
love most about being in business together?
Speaker 3 (27:52):
Just being able to come here every day? We just
have such a laugh.
Speaker 2 (27:55):
Have you actually tried to pull each other's here out?
Speaker 3 (27:57):
Because I'm just.
Speaker 4 (28:00):
The thing is with sisters is we over abuse each
other and then it's like after work, what are we're doing?
Speaker 3 (28:04):
They do want to go to the kid with the
park with the kids? He assure me, there, do you
know what I mean? Like we do that.
Speaker 5 (28:08):
I don't think you can do that with like that
business partners that aren't family, like when you go that
low and then you turn around and you say, hey,
you want to go to the park. I don't think that
would fly. Only blood peopould kind of let that. But sometimes, listen,
we're not going to lie.
Speaker 4 (28:24):
We'll be in the showroom and we'll be having like
an argument about a piece of clothing that we should
go in and edit or whatever, and someone will walk in.
Speaker 3 (28:32):
And they love it.
Speaker 4 (28:33):
They love it. They say, oh my god, I feel
like I'm at my auntie's house and my cousins are
here fighting with each other.
Speaker 3 (28:39):
The clients love it.
Speaker 4 (28:40):
Yeah, they like real and they like because I think
they watch us on Instagram and see us interact, interact,
they feel like they know us, so they feel part
of it. Yeah, like they would. When we're pregnant. We
weren't sleeping, How are you going? How's he going at sleep?
Speaker 3 (28:56):
Sw going on the stata?
Speaker 2 (28:58):
It was like, are we over sharing?
Speaker 5 (29:05):
We all try not to be to done up, you
know what I mean? Also, that's how you know, back
to being different. We do capsules every day, and if
we cared about what we look like, we wouldn't get
it done. You know what I meant To that point,
I've got dry shampoo in my hair, but you know,
I'll put a red lip on and let's get this done.
(29:27):
I was going to say, this is a podcast so
they can't see you, but you've both got a red
lip on today.
Speaker 2 (29:32):
My sister taught me.
Speaker 3 (29:36):
Even at home, I have it on, but I've got issues.
Speaker 1 (29:39):
So do you know I say about a red lipstick,
I always say if I'm feeling a bit flat, Maybe
not be the right word, but I need a little
bit of armor. You know, it's a red lipstick, and
I mean business that day. It's like giving me the list.
Speaker 4 (29:53):
And do you know what happened to me is that
I wear it so often that when I don't, you're
a bay.
Speaker 3 (30:04):
Like my daughter knows.
Speaker 4 (30:06):
My twelve year old knows when when mums something's wrong
because my.
Speaker 1 (30:09):
List kids, Yeah, when I'm in the nursing home, kids
get it out. Hey, this is such a shame that
we couldn't have spent longer together because we haven't really
talked about anything and everything.
Speaker 3 (30:31):
You have come back, you'll have to come and meet us, and.
Speaker 2 (30:34):
No, no, no, I'm coming.
Speaker 1 (30:36):
I've got there's events coming up, and you know, I
just think, if anything, the chat has really been about
you know, like even though you guys are online and
things like that, but we do. We need to get
offline and we need to be looking around for pieces
that not everyone in the room will have. Like we've
all had that moment where you've walked in and went,
(30:58):
you know, you know, yeah, wait a minute, now he
looks better.
Speaker 3 (31:03):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly, you know. And it's a nice
retail experience.
Speaker 4 (31:07):
It's old school, you know, it's it's it's not pretentious,
it's not scary. You come up the stairs and you
just feel like you're in someone's apartment.
Speaker 3 (31:16):
Yeah, it's really nice. It's two beautiful rooms.
Speaker 4 (31:18):
We look over wrap down village.
Speaker 3 (31:21):
And we'll get you a coffee. Get a coffee. We're lucky,
you'll get a cake. I need.
Speaker 1 (31:28):
I'm going to need to meet mum as well. I
think that's what's going to happen. So hey, thank you
both for joining us on the podcast.
Speaker 4 (31:35):
So Rasia, thank you for having us
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