I see you surrounded in flowers...
I met Jules three days before we did this photo shoot, she was a mutual friend with one of my friends and I was instantly drawn to hear because of her bright smile and colorful wardrobe. After meeting her at the Byron Bay Flea market and seeing her up-cycled vintage, I knew she had to be a part of my project. The more I talked to her, the more I noticed her free spirit and her wandering soul. She would walk through the streets singing Fleetwood Mac and twirling around in her vintage overalls and slouchy Harley Davidson tee. She had been all over the world but her heart resided in Morocco because of the inspiration she found in the global market: intricate textiles, vibrant tapestries, and antique coins. I sat down with her for an interview where we discussed why others should buy used and up-cycled clothing:
"Up-cycling has stemmed from wanting to be environmentally friendly and using pieces that might just end up in the landfill. There is also a cool look/feel when you know something is preloved and pre-used. I treasure old pieces knowing they had a story behind them. Fast fashion is sickening, its so sad to think about how much waste and non environmentally friendly the big conglomerates are."With the state of our planet and where its headed, the meaning is that its worthy to repurpose garments and create less waste.."
When asking Julia to explain her five year goal with her business, she revealed that she wants to keep it local and personal to keep the touch and individuality: "Its a toss up because at the rate I’m going now I want to continue to be able to make all of my pieces my self. I don't want to pass it up to others because I like knowing that this is what I want and how to create my vision. But then you get in a tricky situation where it comes down to time and money. I could be making way more but then it loses its touched and it gets sucked into losing its sense of individuality. There is a meaning and a story behind each piece. I want my customers to know that what they are purchasing is unique and tell others about their stories that are attached.
When I was planning her photo shoot, I kept thinking of her unique textiled clothing surrounded by flowers. Upon seeing her I told her this idea and she immediately gasped and grabbed my arm, exuberantly telling me about how every psychic she has been to has said this same thing: I see you surrounded in flowers. The inspiration with behind her sustainable fashion and the in-visionary flower aesthetic led us to creating photos that showed her detailed love and passion for crafting unique pieces that tell a story.
