Behind the making of our Bamboo Halter Top and Dress.

HOW OUR NEWEST HALTER TOP AND DRESS CAME TO LIFE.

STEP ONE: SKETCHING & DESIGN

Our initial design process always begins with sketching and playing with shapes we feel are missing from our wardrobes; those pieces of clothing that we all want, but can't quite seem to find from another brand. 

We love to taking our time and care with design detailing and garment specifics - marrying aesthetically pleasing features with practicality at the forefront of design and execution.

While sketching (and through every part of the design process), we keep our brand values close. This helps to make sure that all pieces that are put into production align with our brand values. 

They need to be;

Authentic.
True to our brand aesthetic.

Versatile. 
Able to be worn on many occasions and outings. Easily dressed up or down.

Curious.
Pushes boundaries of what already exists. One step ahead. Asks the questions, always looking to be better.

Mindful.
Made with the most environmentally honouring fabrics and finishes. Recycled, organic or dead-stock. Inclusive size offering.

Empowering.
Makes you feel like the most supported, powerful and confident version of yourself.

STEP TWO: TECH PACKS

Next, we put together the tech pack (technical packet). This is a specification sheet for our manufacturers, a blue print with everything they need to turn our sketched concept into a real product.

STEP THREE: FABRIC CHOICE

As you could've guessed, bamboo spandex is one of the many products made from harvesting the bamboo tree. The bamboo fabric is made from the pulp of the fast growing plant and mixed in with other fibres such as spandex to increase its versatility.

The environmental impact of working with this fabric varies a lot, depending on the chemical intervention applied to the fibre at a cellular level. There are many positives to working with bamboo, but we do understand that it is quite chemically intensive to produce. It is a step up from working with polyesters and conventional cotton, but spandex is a bit of a devil to mix it with, although necessary in most cases to achieve the stretchy capabilities we chose it for in the first place.

In the future as we grow, we would love to access innovative alternatives with lower environmental impact such as Roica in place of spandex, BUT these new alternatives are far more expensive and harder to access and minimum order quantities start at 5,000 yards.

Some super positive reasons we chose to use this bamboo fabric and fibre for our halter top and dress include but are not limited to;

• Soft and silky
• Fantastic drape
• Comfortable and lightweight
• Breathable
• Hypo-allergenic
• Biodegradable (unless treated with chemical dyes)
• UV protective
• Thermo-regulating
• Anti-bacterial 
• Sweat / moisture wicking
• Strong and durable fibre
• Anti-static
• Great stretch and return

STEP FOUR: SAMPLING AND FITTING OUR DESIGNS

This is when things get really exciting - sampling! We pay USD $80 and approx USD $60 for postage per sample that we make. We try to minimise this sampling process as much as possible as it quickly becomes a very expensive and time consuming process. Samples need to be made in the sample room by the most highly skilled machinists whom are also pattern makers and have a huge deal of technical knowledge and experience. 

SAMPLE / DESIGN ONE.

This is an image of our initial dress and top sample.

We really really loved these but they felt like they needed extra strength and support. We decided to completely line the dress with a built in slip made from bamboo spandex and we completely lined the halter top in double layer fabric for extra support.

They didn't yet feel 100% and we would never back a product or bring one into your lives that we didn't feel sure of.

SAMPLE / DESIGN TWO.

We increased the tie length for both the top and the dress and added a little design feature to the bow.

We increased the little area of gathering at the front neck, the back neck and added some to the sides at the bust for some extra fabric and support.

STEP FIVE: PATTERNS AND MANUFACTURING

Once we finalise the sample, we move into creative patterns for manufacturing. Here are some images of the paper patterns that are laid out on the fabric before they're cut out. A different set of patterns must be made for each size we produce. We currently offer sizes XS-XL; a total of 5 sizes.

Here are some images of the pieces being cut and sewn. There are many machines and processes applied to and used for each garment along the production line.

STEP FIVE AND A HALF!

Somewhere in here, in between lockdowns and tight budgets we try and pull off a little photoshoot.

This is Erin wearing our halter top, crossed over at the front and styled for when it's cooler

STEP SIX: PRESSED, LABELLED AND PACKED

Here they are, all packed in BPAT plastic poly bags ready to be sent to us here in Australia before they take a month off to holiday with their families.

STEP SEVEN: FINAL PRODUCT ARRIVES!

Next stop, our bodies!

CARE AND AFTERLIFE

Being a responsible brand doesn't end with us, it continues with you.

The way that you wash and care for your garments can increase the life span dramatically and therefore mitigate the need to buy more.

As shown on our care labels, we suggest the following care to be taken;

Natural detergents are usually free of harsh chemicals and can help reduce the wear and tear on fibres, reduce colour fading, and keep clothes looking newer for longer.

Thanks for investing your time in us and our responsible clothing.

Be kind to one another, and love your mother.