March 28, 2024 • 25 mins
Together with her business partner and husband Melanie Flintoft founded Sunset Lover 2021 after previously owning and scaling 7 fast fashion brands in a 30 year career.
Together they became fully aware of the many issues with the industry and the catastrophic consequences of industry practices globally so, they decided to build the best direct to consumer sustainable and compostable fashion brand that will be a beacon for the solution – Sunset Lover.
The Brand / The Ethos
With every sunset, there is an opportunity to R.I.S.E
Grounded in authenticity, our philosophy of modern design encompasses the duty we have to drive Responsible Impact for Society and the Environment.
R.I.S.E is our commitment to ensuring our business practises are grounded in ethical conduct, collective action and transparency.
At the core of our ethos is our commitment to reduce environmental impact and create a more sustainable future.
Luxury resort wear designed consciously for the modern individual.
Sustainable practises are at the heart of who we are, and what we do.
We prioritise style over trends, and design to empower our community – to celebrate and express their individuality. Our mindful and conscious approach to business is an investment into the future of our people and planet
THE BACKGROUND
At the heart of our brand, Sunset Lover is a community of forward-thinking, empowered, and curious individuals.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Melanie, thank you for joining us on the podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
You're very welcome, happy to be here.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Now we just met about five days ago, and by
the time this episode drops, it'll be about a month.
But are you a mal or a Melanie?
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Like?
Speaker 1 (00:16):
What are you?
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Answered to? Both?
Speaker 1 (00:18):
Yeah, yeah, this way I'm preferring.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Yeah, if I'm naughty, it's probably Melanie. Just most of
the time.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
Now we met over address. Dresses have been a part
of your fabric of your story. Yeah, for would you say,
your entire life or was it something that came into
your life in your twenties?
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Absolutely, my whole life. Yeah, yeah, So what was it?
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Where did it begin for you? What is it?
Speaker 2 (00:44):
I guess I grew up in the fashion industry around
my family. My parents were in wholesale and retail, so
I had a an entry in there and I just
always knew what I was going to do. So yeah,
I definitely. I started sewing on a machine was really
little and always had big ideas and goals. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Do you remember that moment when you maybe said to
Mum or dad or someone, I'm going to have my
own fashion label one day.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Absolutely. I was in year eleven at school. I went
to Taife and studied fashion way back then. Yeah, and
I was definitely determined to do something in that vein.
It sort of organically happened authentically a very long time ago.
But yeah, we rolled on through and got picked up
(01:35):
at an agent in Melbourne at one stage, and I
was manufacturing in Australia just for my own boutique and
then turned it into a collection and from there did
it into a brand, started whole selling in Australia, and
then I met my husband. Yeah, and then we decided
to I don't know.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
This sounds it's been like very matter of fact, you know,
we did this, and then we did this, and then
this happened and then it all went through. But for
mere mortals, yeah, I don't even know where you begin.
So for some creatives, so to me, you seem like
a creative that has been able to merge all the
marketing and pr side and it's this kind of this
(02:18):
perfect storm. So some creatives or dancers that I would know,
say that they can see what something is going to
look like in their minds eye. They know where a
movement is going to happen, they can see what the
lighting is going to look like. They can see the
exact stage that this is all going to come to
(02:40):
life on what does it look like for you? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (02:44):
So for Sunset Lover, really being authentic and passionate and
honest about the past and where we want to be
going is for me a big vision. I really want
to work alongside innovation in the sustainability for fashion industry
(03:09):
and see major changes come to life. And I really
want to be the post child facts very passionate team
about it too. So yeah, we really do have a
global vision of working on how to make this industry
a much healthier, better, ethical and sustainable business.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
I want to talk more about Sunset Lover and the
sustainability factor of what you're doing at the moment, but
I think we have to wind back a step because
it wasn't always the focus to be sustainable, right.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Not at all?
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Yeah, twelve years ago, tell me about the trip to Bali.
I mean, is this where it's started to tell us all?
We want to know what happened in Bali?
Speaker 2 (03:47):
So probably go back a little bit for them, because
there was when I was manufacturing in Australia and it
was like a I don't know, I'd been talking to
this guy. It was really cute. It was really seemed
like a real gentleman. And then he was texting, going
what are you doing? I said, actually, I'm happy. Do
you want to come over? And I was actually at
(04:07):
my girlfriend's house in Gillow Street in the city and
we were cutting patterns and sew. We had to get
a collection out like next day. I said, can you
bring two coffees? So he brought over, well, one for me,
one for one for him, and then I said, in
a good way, a pair of scissors. And he's like,
oh my god.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
Have you invited him over for a date? And You're like,
by the way, can you cut cut straight.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
And free coffee and clean up? So he was run
down to He's like, well, this is more fun than
I was having it home short. So he jumped straight
in and he was great. We had the funniest night.
He was like, what is this freakorrow? He's like absolutely,
And from then on we just seed it off. So
it was really good.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
And then did he turn into your husband or no him.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Yeah, that's my husband. Indeed. I love it.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
First, scissors is good, yous.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
I've never heard that. That's funny. And then yeah, so
it continued and then it got jumping from there. It
was at the pandemic at the time, and my friend
had come over and I met this girl with Lucy
and she was going to Bali and said, you want
to come with me? I want to start a brand.
I was like, oh, that's a extra great idea. I
(05:14):
talked to Dean, He's like, yeah, you should go, but
way they put an umple collection together. Okay, no worries,
So I go. We had a great time and we
roam the streets of Balley sniffing out any manufacturing that
we could find and had loads of meetings. It was
absolute ball. Found some fantastic manufacturers there and started a
collection and that was Funder His Keepers way back twenty
(05:36):
years ago, and it really took off. We couldn't believe.
It was really exciting. And from there it grew and
we ended up employing more designers, starting new brands where
we still sort of opportunity in the market, married, had
children along the way, and yeah, and then.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
So that was that was so there was Finess Keepers.
I mean, I've got one of the more than one
those dresses in my cupboard. I never threw them out,
you know, they were beautiful, but that wasn't the only brand.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
No, So then a couple of years later we started
Cameo Collective and then what was next after that Keepsake,
which was a sort of feminine dress brand. And then
we had the fifth label, which was really casual.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
I think I still have a great set of the
fifth to skirt and kind of top it was.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Yeah, so we had shoes, we had a sort of stuff.
So we tried all sorts of things and.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
Long time you had this suite brands. I spoke to
a different woman with each brand.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Yeah, so we did and it was really successful. We
were we had an office in China, We had an
office in downtown La had a retail store there too.
We had a team or store in China. We had
an office in Melbourne with PR marketing sales, and a
head office in Adelaide on North Terrace. Yeah, we had
a great creative team. They were amazing, passionate. It was all.
(07:05):
It was all a lot of fun and it was
long term. And then COVID hit and we had eighty
five percent of our revenue cut in two weeks from
all of our wholesale customers. We were seventy percent wholesale,
so it really, it was just like and we were
event where nobody wanted it. We'd already produced it all
and it was on its way, so we were in
a pickle. And yeah, I just couldn't believe what was
(07:27):
going on. It was and we weren't alone. Everyone was
going through it, but our our overheads just didn't couldn't
survive without the turnovers. So sadly we went into administration
at the end of that year.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
And then do you know, without better a better term,
that you were kind of dead in the water nearly
straight away or.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
We was the no one really knew what was going
to happen. But when the customers were really being I
mean it was an opportunity for them to clean out
stock and whatever. I guess, but they had they didn't
know either. No one really knew how long it was
going to go on, for it for like forever, it
was going to be forever. It was just, you know,
it was just not normal. It was really out of
the box, and we just didn't know what to do.
So we did everything possible and our team were, you know,
(08:12):
they were you know, doing whatever they could, and everyone
was trying to pull together, and we lasted till the
end of that year. But there was you know, there
was the riots in America. There was so there was
another couple of lockdowns and it was just in less
just kept happening and over and over again, production hold ups,
(08:33):
there was all sorts of stuff. So in the end
we had to go into administration and that was horrific.
But you know, Dean and I are a team and
we really stick together. And times like that and yeah,
I mean everything stopped. We were like, oh my god,
what we're going to do? It was yeah, pretty pretty bad.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
It happens. Yeah, you know, like you're living the life right.
You would have been chatting around.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
We had had our best sales we've ever had in January.
We were like celebrating with everyone. It was fantastic and
we were so excited and then nah, nothing, No one.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
Could have seen what this was. You know, what's it
like then when you're at home and it's un Dan
and you're just looking at each other, like everything that
we have sweated over built, you know, got to this point.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
We just couldn't believe it, and we fought hard for it,
but you know it still exists. Some accountants and Adelaide
brought it. Yeah, yeah, so we don't have anything to
do with it.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
And then is that hard to is that hard seeing
the brands live on? Or is there something trying.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
To think about it?
Speaker 1 (09:39):
Yeah? Yeah, I wish that would be too upsetting or
it's kind of like, oh.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Well, it's out of my hands, so there's no Yeah,
I wish you know, I hope it continues and I
hope it does really well.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
But at the same time, I look at that business
now we I mean in the time where we had,
like I'm so used to going to work every day
for last twenty years and putting my whole life into
that business, and then all of a sudden, you're like,
what are we going to do? Yeah, I've got all
this spare time. What do we do? So we actually
just really dived into lots of sustainable podcasts and so
(10:09):
we love a podcast and then listening to the industry
and the change and everything, because when you're in your bubble,
you're kind of like you're not really thinking that way
and you're in it and you're managing what you have.
But we have the opportunity. You know, people say to you,
what would you do differently if you had a second chance, Well,
this was it. Yeah, So we really did a deep
dive into where we'd been and where we want to
(10:31):
go going forward, and would we even consider going back
into an industry that, you know, that was all polyester
and plastic bags, that company, and looking back, I can't
love it because it authentically isn't who we are now.
We started that this really long time ago, way before
anyone was talking about sustainability truly on a global scale.
So it's now, knowing what I know now, you can't
(10:53):
unsee the problem. And once we started to dive deeper
into sustainability and what that looks like in the fashion
industry and understanding that we're like one of the major
polluters on the planet and ethically and all the deep, deep,
deep things, we really wanted to go deeper. And so
(11:13):
Sunset lover Sunset Lover rise responsible impact on society and environment.
So there are pillars in the business of what we
stand for. So we really went deep. We employed a
consultant to hold our hands and really give us an education.
We started to do tests with new trog which is
a fertilizer company, and checking how long the fabrics take
(11:36):
to break down in activated soil, and one of the
fabrics had a ten percent of lastane in the cotton,
and it was an organic cotton, but they had the lastane.
So when we put this in, it was like a
centimeter or two of fabric and you put it in
the soil, and six weeks later we took it out.
The fabric was all gone and we were left with about,
(11:59):
I don't know, fifteen strings of elastic. It looked like
violin strings, I guess, but super fine. It was exactly
as stretchy as it was in the beginning. And it
was like, that's ten percent of just a small piece.
I can't even bear to think about polyester or recycle
plastics or bottles turned into fabric, Like it's just a no,
we can't have it because it leaves a footprint later
(12:20):
in the waste cycle. And yeah, so that was a big,
big part of the journey.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
And so you think it's a matter of for you,
once you know better, do better or is it that
the pandemic come along and you needed to literally I
want to stay in the fashion in industry, but it's
got to be different moving forward.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Yeah, So in the past business, we definitely had advocates
in the company, like championing sustainability, but it was very
deflating for them because there was the changes we wanted
to make either came at huge cost or the fabrics
were just out of our price point and the meterage
that you need to have you need to scale before
(13:02):
you can use them because there's huge minimums on some
of these fabrics. One he is So it was always
a stopper, which was deflating for those champions, and that
that for us was really frustrating and difficult. So going
into this new business, we understood it was going to
be more expensive than you know, you're starting from zero,
don't even have a customer yet, Like, you've really got
to start small and grow into it. So we've done
(13:24):
the very best that we can with you know, with
the scale that we're at. And Yeah, I think, Yeah,
what was where we're going? I could talk all day.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
That's exactly what I was noticing about you though. There's
a passion you light up, you care about every detail,
and you know, I had the pleasure of going to
your home, which is where the office is and where
where these are all start up.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
Again, I do love it.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
Yeah, that takes some balls to go. I'm going to
do this again.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
Yeah, I know, and I'm really pad about it now,
you know, more than ever, I feel like I've got purpose.
So and our team has purpose, and it's yeah, we're
driven by something really special. And they've all come from
similar backgrounds, they've had experience like this before. And to
be able to be proud of something that you're doing
and really really own it is very exciting.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
I think you have to tell us all about the
I'm going to muck up the name so I will
call it the Botanical garden Stress. Oh yeah, tell me
about that one piece, because when you tell this story,
this is when we find out about not only the brand,
but the story behind it.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
Yeah. So we knew THO sustainability was like our authenticity
and like that's what we're really driving for to make change.
But we felt also that that should be normal. We
shouldn't be alone in that journey, and eventually we like
to think that that's going to be everybody in the industry,
which should Sadly, I don't know if it will be,
but we even do our best. But so that wasn't enough.
(14:58):
We felt, like, you know, really wanted something extra special
for our customers to make them feel intellectual, intelligent with
what they're purchasing. And so I was at the the
library State Library, and the director they asked if I
wanted to have a look at what they had on
display and with their illustrations and storytelling of history that
(15:22):
was on display there, and I said I'd love to.
And I was looking at this stuff that he was
showing me, and I was like, this is this could
be a print. This is beautiful, Like I love it.
There was a fish and a butterfly out at a river,
but it was really really detailed and really really beautiful.
So I walked away and said, today and I think
we should partner with North Terrace and bring it to
life on clothing. I can really imagine some beautiful prints.
(15:43):
It gives us, you know, it gives our customers something
really deep to talk about that, you know, if they
get a compliment on their beautiful print, like how great,
you can talk to it and feel great about it
and it's really special and it's got longter longevity and
your wardrobe. It's not trend and fashion and in and out.
And he loved it too, So we made it, had
a meeting and then we realized that there was Ip
(16:03):
attached to the if the Museum of the Potanical Gardens
own the IP, then we can use it. And it's yeah,
it was actually really good, and so then we met
with the Potanical Gardens, went into the archives and I
saw this amazing poster from nineteen ninety five on just
in the library wall. Was really old, bit tatty, and
I was like, what's that. I don't know, some old thing,
(16:26):
So we got looking into it when we asked if
we could use it, and they had the IP on it.
So we took it to art Lab, had it restored,
and then we have an inn house artist, Bianca Smith,
who's amazing and she's in her own right a celebrated artist,
so she brought it and then the head designer and
we worked out we were going to put it on
with one of our particular pieces is kaftan and another
(16:48):
one is a silk set pant elastic pant we love those,
and then trying to bring its life and it looks amazing.
But yeah, that's a really special piece. And there's an
I don't know, there's all sorts of amazing things that
we're finding and creating.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
I look at that piece and I just see a
lot of pride in not just Adelaide, but in South Australia.
It's it's something that a woman can wear out but
also demonstrate that here, here is South Australia in one
it without being like, no.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
We are proud of it's the palm House is the glasshouse.
Most people who have been married in front of it,
or had a date or just in love with it,
and they've quit proud of it. It's a beautiful building.
And yeah, it's right on your dress and it's amazing.
I get excited when we get you know, international people
buying it and wearing South Australia out there.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
Absolutely absolutely, And that's that's something, isn't it. And that's
that's what the future looks like for you too.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
Oh yeah absolutely, I'd love to partner with more museums
and yeah yeah archives collections. Yeah special.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
So the sustainability element, you're in a startup phase at
the moment you've done the startup thing before you know
you've done it. So I've been there too, at the
beginning of starting out of business and it's hard and
you don't get paid forever and you still have to
pay the rent and the wages and the you know,
(18:18):
it's it takes so much. I keep coming back to
that moment where you decide, yeah, I'm going to do
this again.
Speaker 2 (18:26):
I know, and it's both of us a family.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
So you're so strong and you're so passionate and you're
so positive. But have you had those nights though, where
you've just been like in the corner there she is?
Speaker 2 (18:39):
Yeah, all the time. I guess that's where don know
great for each other because we do bring each other up,
always positive. There's always a way out. There always has been,
as you know, we can do this, and it's been tough.
There's been promises and letdowns and there's been you know,
we've we've done you know, financing the thing is you know, intense,
but we know what it looks like, you know the journey,
(19:00):
we know how long it takes. Yeah, I feel really
passionate and purposeful. So there's a lot in it. But yeah,
it's not easy.
Speaker 1 (19:10):
No, No, I wouldn't recommend it. This is the thing, right,
So it's so easy for us to open up the
Instagram and see you out and about or see the
dresses and go, oh, well look successful, it's it's already there.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
Yeah, it's hard work. It's hard work, it's resilience, put
major positivity and you know there.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
Out who your friends were throughout this process?
Speaker 2 (19:38):
Oh yeah, yeah look overall yeah, definitely, But overall I've
found two people who are majorly wrapping around us, like
it was incredible people, you know, Adelaide, it's just been amazing.
They have been really supportive. It's been incredible people, very
(20:00):
generous and thoughtful and kind. Yeah, and generally and proud.
And I think as an entrepreneur having your own business,
anyone in that space, it's probably their worst night. I mean,
what happened to us. They would worry about it. The
people always worry about that because it is, it's huge,
and to have it happen is like wow. They can
emotionally connect to that. And yeah, but yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:24):
If you were to close your eyes and take a
moment and say what I want in twelve months time
for the business? What does that look like to you
in twelve Just give me the twelve months. I don't
need to fly to your plan yet.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
A sustainable, a sustainably recognized business that has enough scale
to do the important things that we have on our list,
that which requires scale so and to be profitable that
would be yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:57):
And to a woman that's choosing a dress as opposed
to one of your dresses and looking at maybe they
look at price point, or they look at you know, quality,
or they look at the design. What sets you apart
from every other dress?
Speaker 2 (21:15):
Oh yeah, I think we're I think, and I know
you're not, Prince. By the way, we're sustainability. Hopefully our
customer comes to us expecting the tick of approval and
to know that we've done all the work on the
sustainability side so they can feel, you know, guilt free
on that end of wasteland, that they'll be fully circular.
(21:35):
So then I guess it's yeah, it's the storytelling Prince
that they can have in their wardrobe forever. We kind
of see it like an archive full of prints. We'd
love to have it like the Museum of Prints. Oh yeah,
So they're beautiful, they're wearable art, and I love them.
Speaker 1 (21:49):
I had the honor of wearing one of your pieces
and the amount of people they wanted to touch the fabric.
They there were flowers on it, which you can tell
me somewhere about those flowers, but they wanted to zone in.
I haven't experienced something like this. Maybe everyone else was
in sequence and blast amazing, I mean like pink and flower,
(22:12):
but they wanted to touch the fabric. They wanted to
zone in on the It was like the flowers on
the dress had almost been hand painted on and like
water colored.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
Perfectly beautiful, aren't they. So they're all they're all from
the potanical gardens. Actually they're all South Australian coastal flowers.
So scientific illustrators were working in the potanical garden. So
their job was to create an archive of living things
(22:44):
and so they're perfectly illustrated like a picture, but it's
an illustration. They're absolutely beautiful, and so we take them
from the pages and then Bianca creates is incredible lifelike.
I don't know. They gorge us something.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
And this is why you had to be on the podcast,
because it's one thing to go, I'm going to open
up a business and this is what we're going to do.
When we're going to do that, but when someone can
sit you down. Basically, what you're saying to me is
when you're purchasing one of our dresses or one of
our items, you're not just purchasing something to put on
your back. You're purchasing a piece that you will have forever,
(23:24):
that is good for the environment, has a history and
a story, and you light up, you light up, and
that I mean we talk about how do we support
other women? You find the women that are so passionate
and you support them and this is it.
Speaker 2 (23:40):
Yeah, well you're you're amazing at that giving us a platform.
Love that. But yeah, it's actually, Yeah, I feel proud
when people get complimented on their outfits. It feels good,
doesn't it.
Speaker 1 (23:52):
Oh, I felt like a million dollars.
Speaker 2 (23:54):
I have to say, that's what we are, that's what
we want.
Speaker 1 (23:56):
Yeah, but proud to be wearing it. So thank you.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
Yes, it's a little bit different, isn't it in a
room full of sequence wearing something that's I don't know,
our high strup.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
That's how you feel. Oh now okay, So part of
this podcast is about the learning. You know, what can
we learn? What can we learn from your story? What
do you think what would be the one thing that
you would change either from the beginning the beginning or
from restarting again that we need to know.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
I mean, it was awful going through what we went through,
but I'd love where I've ended up so much more so.
It's really interesting, isn't it Like, I don't know how
to describe that. It's weird.
Speaker 1 (24:44):
Is it around resilience? Oh, there's definitely resilience.
Speaker 2 (24:48):
I don't know. It's about I don't believe in what
you're doing and don't listen to the noise. Yeah, everyone
wants to give you their opinion. Didn't ask for it.
Speaker 1 (25:01):
Yeah, yeah, having that, but I get that and I
appreciate that. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
Well could it be a little bit crazy?
Speaker 1 (25:09):
Absolutely, I'm here for the crazy. I'm here for the crazy.
What did Steve Jobs say? You know it was the
crazy ones that changed the world. Yeah, you're here changing fashion. Yeah,
first in Adelaide, then Australia.
Speaker 2 (25:21):
International was the next step.
Speaker 1 (25:23):
Just like that. Well, thank you so much for joining
us on the podcast.
Speaker 2 (25:27):
I thank you for having me. I really enjoyed it.
It's a lot of fun.
Melanie, thank you for joining us on the podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
You're very welcome, happy to be here.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Now we just met about five days ago, and by
the time this episode drops, it'll be about a month.
But are you a mal or a Melanie?
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Like?
Speaker 1 (00:16):
What are you?
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Answered to? Both?
Speaker 1 (00:18):
Yeah, yeah, this way I'm preferring.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Yeah, if I'm naughty, it's probably Melanie. Just most of
the time.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
Now we met over address. Dresses have been a part
of your fabric of your story. Yeah, for would you say,
your entire life or was it something that came into
your life in your twenties?
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Absolutely, my whole life. Yeah, yeah, So what was it?
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Where did it begin for you? What is it?
Speaker 2 (00:44):
I guess I grew up in the fashion industry around
my family. My parents were in wholesale and retail, so
I had a an entry in there and I just
always knew what I was going to do. So yeah,
I definitely. I started sewing on a machine was really
little and always had big ideas and goals. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Do you remember that moment when you maybe said to
Mum or dad or someone, I'm going to have my
own fashion label one day.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Absolutely. I was in year eleven at school. I went
to Taife and studied fashion way back then. Yeah, and
I was definitely determined to do something in that vein.
It sort of organically happened authentically a very long time ago.
But yeah, we rolled on through and got picked up
(01:35):
at an agent in Melbourne at one stage, and I
was manufacturing in Australia just for my own boutique and
then turned it into a collection and from there did
it into a brand, started whole selling in Australia, and
then I met my husband. Yeah, and then we decided
to I don't know.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
This sounds it's been like very matter of fact, you know,
we did this, and then we did this, and then
this happened and then it all went through. But for
mere mortals, yeah, I don't even know where you begin.
So for some creatives, so to me, you seem like
a creative that has been able to merge all the
marketing and pr side and it's this kind of this
(02:18):
perfect storm. So some creatives or dancers that I would know,
say that they can see what something is going to
look like in their minds eye. They know where a
movement is going to happen, they can see what the
lighting is going to look like. They can see the
exact stage that this is all going to come to
(02:40):
life on what does it look like for you? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (02:44):
So for Sunset Lover, really being authentic and passionate and
honest about the past and where we want to be
going is for me a big vision. I really want
to work alongside innovation in the sustainability for fashion industry
(03:09):
and see major changes come to life. And I really
want to be the post child facts very passionate team
about it too. So yeah, we really do have a
global vision of working on how to make this industry
a much healthier, better, ethical and sustainable business.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
I want to talk more about Sunset Lover and the
sustainability factor of what you're doing at the moment, but
I think we have to wind back a step because
it wasn't always the focus to be sustainable, right.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Not at all?
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Yeah, twelve years ago, tell me about the trip to Bali.
I mean, is this where it's started to tell us all?
We want to know what happened in Bali?
Speaker 2 (03:47):
So probably go back a little bit for them, because
there was when I was manufacturing in Australia and it
was like a I don't know, I'd been talking to
this guy. It was really cute. It was really seemed
like a real gentleman. And then he was texting, going
what are you doing? I said, actually, I'm happy. Do
you want to come over? And I was actually at
(04:07):
my girlfriend's house in Gillow Street in the city and
we were cutting patterns and sew. We had to get
a collection out like next day. I said, can you
bring two coffees? So he brought over, well, one for me,
one for one for him, and then I said, in
a good way, a pair of scissors. And he's like,
oh my god.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
Have you invited him over for a date? And You're like,
by the way, can you cut cut straight.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
And free coffee and clean up? So he was run
down to He's like, well, this is more fun than
I was having it home short. So he jumped straight
in and he was great. We had the funniest night.
He was like, what is this freakorrow? He's like absolutely,
And from then on we just seed it off. So
it was really good.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
And then did he turn into your husband or no him.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Yeah, that's my husband. Indeed. I love it.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
First, scissors is good, yous.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
I've never heard that. That's funny. And then yeah, so
it continued and then it got jumping from there. It
was at the pandemic at the time, and my friend
had come over and I met this girl with Lucy
and she was going to Bali and said, you want
to come with me? I want to start a brand.
I was like, oh, that's a extra great idea. I
(05:14):
talked to Dean, He's like, yeah, you should go, but
way they put an umple collection together. Okay, no worries,
So I go. We had a great time and we
roam the streets of Balley sniffing out any manufacturing that
we could find and had loads of meetings. It was
absolute ball. Found some fantastic manufacturers there and started a
collection and that was Funder His Keepers way back twenty
(05:36):
years ago, and it really took off. We couldn't believe.
It was really exciting. And from there it grew and
we ended up employing more designers, starting new brands where
we still sort of opportunity in the market, married, had
children along the way, and yeah, and then.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
So that was that was so there was Finess Keepers.
I mean, I've got one of the more than one
those dresses in my cupboard. I never threw them out,
you know, they were beautiful, but that wasn't the only brand.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
No, So then a couple of years later we started
Cameo Collective and then what was next after that Keepsake,
which was a sort of feminine dress brand. And then
we had the fifth label, which was really casual.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
I think I still have a great set of the
fifth to skirt and kind of top it was.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Yeah, so we had shoes, we had a sort of stuff.
So we tried all sorts of things and.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
Long time you had this suite brands. I spoke to
a different woman with each brand.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Yeah, so we did and it was really successful. We
were we had an office in China, We had an
office in downtown La had a retail store there too.
We had a team or store in China. We had
an office in Melbourne with PR marketing sales, and a
head office in Adelaide on North Terrace. Yeah, we had
a great creative team. They were amazing, passionate. It was all.
(07:05):
It was all a lot of fun and it was
long term. And then COVID hit and we had eighty
five percent of our revenue cut in two weeks from
all of our wholesale customers. We were seventy percent wholesale,
so it really, it was just like and we were
event where nobody wanted it. We'd already produced it all
and it was on its way, so we were in
a pickle. And yeah, I just couldn't believe what was
(07:27):
going on. It was and we weren't alone. Everyone was
going through it, but our our overheads just didn't couldn't
survive without the turnovers. So sadly we went into administration
at the end of that year.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
And then do you know, without better a better term,
that you were kind of dead in the water nearly
straight away or.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
We was the no one really knew what was going
to happen. But when the customers were really being I
mean it was an opportunity for them to clean out
stock and whatever. I guess, but they had they didn't
know either. No one really knew how long it was
going to go on, for it for like forever, it
was going to be forever. It was just, you know,
it was just not normal. It was really out of
the box, and we just didn't know what to do.
So we did everything possible and our team were, you know,
(08:12):
they were you know, doing whatever they could, and everyone
was trying to pull together, and we lasted till the
end of that year. But there was you know, there
was the riots in America. There was so there was
another couple of lockdowns and it was just in less
just kept happening and over and over again, production hold ups,
(08:33):
there was all sorts of stuff. So in the end
we had to go into administration and that was horrific.
But you know, Dean and I are a team and
we really stick together. And times like that and yeah,
I mean everything stopped. We were like, oh my god,
what we're going to do? It was yeah, pretty pretty bad.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
It happens. Yeah, you know, like you're living the life right.
You would have been chatting around.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
We had had our best sales we've ever had in January.
We were like celebrating with everyone. It was fantastic and
we were so excited and then nah, nothing, No one.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
Could have seen what this was. You know, what's it
like then when you're at home and it's un Dan
and you're just looking at each other, like everything that
we have sweated over built, you know, got to this point.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
We just couldn't believe it, and we fought hard for it,
but you know it still exists. Some accountants and Adelaide
brought it. Yeah, yeah, so we don't have anything to
do with it.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
And then is that hard to is that hard seeing
the brands live on? Or is there something trying.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
To think about it?
Speaker 1 (09:39):
Yeah? Yeah, I wish that would be too upsetting or
it's kind of like, oh.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Well, it's out of my hands, so there's no Yeah,
I wish you know, I hope it continues and I
hope it does really well.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
But at the same time, I look at that business
now we I mean in the time where we had,
like I'm so used to going to work every day
for last twenty years and putting my whole life into
that business, and then all of a sudden, you're like,
what are we going to do? Yeah, I've got all
this spare time. What do we do? So we actually
just really dived into lots of sustainable podcasts and so
(10:09):
we love a podcast and then listening to the industry
and the change and everything, because when you're in your bubble,
you're kind of like you're not really thinking that way
and you're in it and you're managing what you have.
But we have the opportunity. You know, people say to you,
what would you do differently if you had a second chance, Well,
this was it. Yeah, So we really did a deep
dive into where we'd been and where we want to
(10:31):
go going forward, and would we even consider going back
into an industry that, you know, that was all polyester
and plastic bags, that company, and looking back, I can't
love it because it authentically isn't who we are now.
We started that this really long time ago, way before
anyone was talking about sustainability truly on a global scale.
So it's now, knowing what I know now, you can't
(10:53):
unsee the problem. And once we started to dive deeper
into sustainability and what that looks like in the fashion
industry and understanding that we're like one of the major
polluters on the planet and ethically and all the deep, deep,
deep things, we really wanted to go deeper. And so
(11:13):
Sunset lover Sunset Lover rise responsible impact on society and environment.
So there are pillars in the business of what we
stand for. So we really went deep. We employed a
consultant to hold our hands and really give us an education.
We started to do tests with new trog which is
a fertilizer company, and checking how long the fabrics take
(11:36):
to break down in activated soil, and one of the
fabrics had a ten percent of lastane in the cotton,
and it was an organic cotton, but they had the lastane.
So when we put this in, it was like a
centimeter or two of fabric and you put it in
the soil, and six weeks later we took it out.
The fabric was all gone and we were left with about,
(11:59):
I don't know, fifteen strings of elastic. It looked like
violin strings, I guess, but super fine. It was exactly
as stretchy as it was in the beginning. And it
was like, that's ten percent of just a small piece.
I can't even bear to think about polyester or recycle
plastics or bottles turned into fabric, Like it's just a no,
we can't have it because it leaves a footprint later
(12:20):
in the waste cycle. And yeah, so that was a big,
big part of the journey.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
And so you think it's a matter of for you,
once you know better, do better or is it that
the pandemic come along and you needed to literally I
want to stay in the fashion in industry, but it's
got to be different moving forward.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Yeah, So in the past business, we definitely had advocates
in the company, like championing sustainability, but it was very
deflating for them because there was the changes we wanted
to make either came at huge cost or the fabrics
were just out of our price point and the meterage
that you need to have you need to scale before
(13:02):
you can use them because there's huge minimums on some
of these fabrics. One he is So it was always
a stopper, which was deflating for those champions, and that
that for us was really frustrating and difficult. So going
into this new business, we understood it was going to
be more expensive than you know, you're starting from zero,
don't even have a customer yet, Like, you've really got
to start small and grow into it. So we've done
(13:24):
the very best that we can with you know, with
the scale that we're at. And Yeah, I think, Yeah,
what was where we're going? I could talk all day.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
That's exactly what I was noticing about you though. There's
a passion you light up, you care about every detail,
and you know, I had the pleasure of going to
your home, which is where the office is and where
where these are all start up.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
Again, I do love it.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
Yeah, that takes some balls to go. I'm going to
do this again.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
Yeah, I know, and I'm really pad about it now,
you know, more than ever, I feel like I've got purpose.
So and our team has purpose, and it's yeah, we're
driven by something really special. And they've all come from
similar backgrounds, they've had experience like this before. And to
be able to be proud of something that you're doing
and really really own it is very exciting.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
I think you have to tell us all about the
I'm going to muck up the name so I will
call it the Botanical garden Stress. Oh yeah, tell me
about that one piece, because when you tell this story,
this is when we find out about not only the brand,
but the story behind it.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
Yeah. So we knew THO sustainability was like our authenticity
and like that's what we're really driving for to make change.
But we felt also that that should be normal. We
shouldn't be alone in that journey, and eventually we like
to think that that's going to be everybody in the industry,
which should Sadly, I don't know if it will be,
but we even do our best. But so that wasn't enough.
(14:58):
We felt, like, you know, really wanted something extra special
for our customers to make them feel intellectual, intelligent with
what they're purchasing. And so I was at the the
library State Library, and the director they asked if I
wanted to have a look at what they had on
display and with their illustrations and storytelling of history that
(15:22):
was on display there, and I said I'd love to.
And I was looking at this stuff that he was
showing me, and I was like, this is this could
be a print. This is beautiful, Like I love it.
There was a fish and a butterfly out at a river,
but it was really really detailed and really really beautiful.
So I walked away and said, today and I think
we should partner with North Terrace and bring it to
life on clothing. I can really imagine some beautiful prints.
(15:43):
It gives us, you know, it gives our customers something
really deep to talk about that, you know, if they
get a compliment on their beautiful print, like how great,
you can talk to it and feel great about it
and it's really special and it's got longter longevity and
your wardrobe. It's not trend and fashion and in and out.
And he loved it too, So we made it, had
a meeting and then we realized that there was Ip
(16:03):
attached to the if the Museum of the Potanical Gardens
own the IP, then we can use it. And it's yeah,
it was actually really good, and so then we met
with the Potanical Gardens, went into the archives and I
saw this amazing poster from nineteen ninety five on just
in the library wall. Was really old, bit tatty, and
I was like, what's that. I don't know, some old thing,
(16:26):
So we got looking into it when we asked if
we could use it, and they had the IP on it.
So we took it to art Lab, had it restored,
and then we have an inn house artist, Bianca Smith,
who's amazing and she's in her own right a celebrated artist,
so she brought it and then the head designer and
we worked out we were going to put it on
with one of our particular pieces is kaftan and another
(16:48):
one is a silk set pant elastic pant we love those,
and then trying to bring its life and it looks amazing.
But yeah, that's a really special piece. And there's an
I don't know, there's all sorts of amazing things that
we're finding and creating.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
I look at that piece and I just see a
lot of pride in not just Adelaide, but in South Australia.
It's it's something that a woman can wear out but
also demonstrate that here, here is South Australia in one
it without being like, no.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
We are proud of it's the palm House is the glasshouse.
Most people who have been married in front of it,
or had a date or just in love with it,
and they've quit proud of it. It's a beautiful building.
And yeah, it's right on your dress and it's amazing.
I get excited when we get you know, international people
buying it and wearing South Australia out there.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
Absolutely absolutely, And that's that's something, isn't it. And that's
that's what the future looks like for you too.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
Oh yeah absolutely, I'd love to partner with more museums
and yeah yeah archives collections. Yeah special.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
So the sustainability element, you're in a startup phase at
the moment you've done the startup thing before you know
you've done it. So I've been there too, at the
beginning of starting out of business and it's hard and
you don't get paid forever and you still have to
pay the rent and the wages and the you know,
(18:18):
it's it takes so much. I keep coming back to
that moment where you decide, yeah, I'm going to do
this again.
Speaker 2 (18:26):
I know, and it's both of us a family.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
So you're so strong and you're so passionate and you're
so positive. But have you had those nights though, where
you've just been like in the corner there she is?
Speaker 2 (18:39):
Yeah, all the time. I guess that's where don know
great for each other because we do bring each other up,
always positive. There's always a way out. There always has been,
as you know, we can do this, and it's been tough.
There's been promises and letdowns and there's been you know,
we've we've done you know, financing the thing is you know, intense,
but we know what it looks like, you know the journey,
(19:00):
we know how long it takes. Yeah, I feel really
passionate and purposeful. So there's a lot in it. But yeah,
it's not easy.
Speaker 1 (19:10):
No, No, I wouldn't recommend it. This is the thing, right,
So it's so easy for us to open up the
Instagram and see you out and about or see the
dresses and go, oh, well look successful, it's it's already there.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
Yeah, it's hard work. It's hard work, it's resilience, put
major positivity and you know there.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
Out who your friends were throughout this process?
Speaker 2 (19:38):
Oh yeah, yeah look overall yeah, definitely, But overall I've
found two people who are majorly wrapping around us, like
it was incredible people, you know, Adelaide, it's just been amazing.
They have been really supportive. It's been incredible people, very
(20:00):
generous and thoughtful and kind. Yeah, and generally and proud.
And I think as an entrepreneur having your own business,
anyone in that space, it's probably their worst night. I mean,
what happened to us. They would worry about it. The
people always worry about that because it is, it's huge,
and to have it happen is like wow. They can
emotionally connect to that. And yeah, but yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:24):
If you were to close your eyes and take a
moment and say what I want in twelve months time
for the business? What does that look like to you
in twelve Just give me the twelve months. I don't
need to fly to your plan yet.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
A sustainable, a sustainably recognized business that has enough scale
to do the important things that we have on our list,
that which requires scale so and to be profitable that
would be yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:57):
And to a woman that's choosing a dress as opposed
to one of your dresses and looking at maybe they
look at price point, or they look at you know, quality,
or they look at the design. What sets you apart
from every other dress?
Speaker 2 (21:15):
Oh yeah, I think we're I think, and I know
you're not, Prince. By the way, we're sustainability. Hopefully our
customer comes to us expecting the tick of approval and
to know that we've done all the work on the
sustainability side so they can feel, you know, guilt free
on that end of wasteland, that they'll be fully circular.
(21:35):
So then I guess it's yeah, it's the storytelling Prince
that they can have in their wardrobe forever. We kind
of see it like an archive full of prints. We'd
love to have it like the Museum of Prints. Oh yeah,
So they're beautiful, they're wearable art, and I love them.
Speaker 1 (21:49):
I had the honor of wearing one of your pieces
and the amount of people they wanted to touch the fabric.
They there were flowers on it, which you can tell
me somewhere about those flowers, but they wanted to zone in.
I haven't experienced something like this. Maybe everyone else was
in sequence and blast amazing, I mean like pink and flower,
(22:12):
but they wanted to touch the fabric. They wanted to
zone in on the It was like the flowers on
the dress had almost been hand painted on and like
water colored.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
Perfectly beautiful, aren't they. So they're all they're all from
the potanical gardens. Actually they're all South Australian coastal flowers.
So scientific illustrators were working in the potanical garden. So
their job was to create an archive of living things
(22:44):
and so they're perfectly illustrated like a picture, but it's
an illustration. They're absolutely beautiful, and so we take them
from the pages and then Bianca creates is incredible lifelike.
I don't know. They gorge us something.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
And this is why you had to be on the podcast,
because it's one thing to go, I'm going to open
up a business and this is what we're going to do.
When we're going to do that, but when someone can
sit you down. Basically, what you're saying to me is
when you're purchasing one of our dresses or one of
our items, you're not just purchasing something to put on
your back. You're purchasing a piece that you will have forever,
(23:24):
that is good for the environment, has a history and
a story, and you light up, you light up, and
that I mean we talk about how do we support
other women? You find the women that are so passionate
and you support them and this is it.
Speaker 2 (23:40):
Yeah, well you're you're amazing at that giving us a platform.
Love that. But yeah, it's actually, Yeah, I feel proud
when people get complimented on their outfits. It feels good,
doesn't it.
Speaker 1 (23:52):
Oh, I felt like a million dollars.
Speaker 2 (23:54):
I have to say, that's what we are, that's what
we want.
Speaker 1 (23:56):
Yeah, but proud to be wearing it. So thank you.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
Yes, it's a little bit different, isn't it in a
room full of sequence wearing something that's I don't know,
our high strup.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
That's how you feel. Oh now okay, So part of
this podcast is about the learning. You know, what can
we learn? What can we learn from your story? What
do you think what would be the one thing that
you would change either from the beginning the beginning or
from restarting again that we need to know.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
I mean, it was awful going through what we went through,
but I'd love where I've ended up so much more so.
It's really interesting, isn't it Like, I don't know how
to describe that. It's weird.
Speaker 1 (24:44):
Is it around resilience? Oh, there's definitely resilience.
Speaker 2 (24:48):
I don't know. It's about I don't believe in what
you're doing and don't listen to the noise. Yeah, everyone
wants to give you their opinion. Didn't ask for it.
Speaker 1 (25:01):
Yeah, yeah, having that, but I get that and I
appreciate that. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
Well could it be a little bit crazy?
Speaker 1 (25:09):
Absolutely, I'm here for the crazy. I'm here for the crazy.
What did Steve Jobs say? You know it was the
crazy ones that changed the world. Yeah, you're here changing fashion. Yeah,
first in Adelaide, then Australia.
Speaker 2 (25:21):
International was the next step.
Speaker 1 (25:23):
Just like that. Well, thank you so much for joining
us on the podcast.
Speaker 2 (25:27):
I thank you for having me. I really enjoyed it.
It's a lot of fun.
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