I recently spoke with Iris and Mara of Melbourne-based label Thursday Sunday about their inspirations, approach to design and their new collection for summer 2012-2013. The brand is one of my favourites, their ethos in line with all that I love.
Tell me about your inspiration, references and
catalysts for creating.
Our design philosophy has always been quite simple
“design firstly what is important to us”.
We are socially conscious with a focus on classic and minimalistic lines
and modern ideals of womenswear.
We have always been very appreciative of
incorporating only natural fibers in our collection because it simply feels
better on the skin and is made to last.
Our pieces can be described as the classic staple that can easily be
incorporated into your current wardrobe.
Although we share the same ideals, we bring so many different ideas together. Being mentored by a dressmaker and also
coming from completely different backgrounds really puts our design aesthetic
into perspective. We are so lucky
to have a great little team which is a combination of creative, technical and
business minded.
As simple as it is, we are inspired by each
other. Our collection can stem
from mood boards, sketches, yarn and fabric swatches and from there we are able
to openly discuss (most of the time over many cups of tea and coffee!) ideas
and the direction we would like to go.
We are also very hands on, and spend a lot of time toiling and sampling
in house.
SS13 Inspiration:
Thursday
Sunday’s Spring Summer 2012/2013 Collection draws inspiration from reflection.
In
designing this collection we really got a chance to look back at how far we
have come in the time we have launched our label and have really reinforced our
philosophy of minimalism designs and natural fibers.
We
initially stumbled across a Flora and Fauna Patterned Cotton that we were
immediately drawn to. The fern patterned palette in turquoise,
shades of blue, mint and pale pink was appealing as it was fresh yet soft –
something that was a stark contrast to our crisp and structural
designs. Combining this with a white provided a more modern appeal
in our classic pieces. This is the first time we have incorporated
print into our designs and symbolizes are milestone for us.
White
and Shades of White were prominently used in our collection. The
muted tone of White is timeless and represents purity, happiness and balance –
something which is very important to us.
In
combination with Natural Fibers of Cotton, Linen, Hemp/Yak Hair in shades of
Teal, Grey Marle, Sand and Burnt Orange we have created a collection which reinforces
are classical sensibilities and provides a stepping stone for us to look into
the future.
Which films, books, magazines and albums are your
favourites?
Film: My Neighbour Totoro
Magazines: Russh and The Gentlewomen
Books: Prada – Michael Rock, Sung Joong Kim,
Miuccia Prada and Patrizio Bertelli
The Happiest Refuge – Anh Do
Tell me about the space you work in.
We recently moved from
working from home to a studio in South Melbourne. This was a huge milestone for us! Looking back from where we started, we have become very appreciative
and humbled by what we have learnt and achieved. It’s funny because when we
first started, working from our own space was only a dream!
Our studio, albeit
small, is the perfect working space for us. It is situated at the front of the first floor of an Old
Victorian Terrace house. We have
three huge windows that overlook the street and provide beautiful natural
light. It now has become our home
away from home as we eat, drink, laugh, sketch, sample, cut, knit and sew here. We recently also shot our SS13 Look
book in our studio.
What do you love about Melbourne (a park, a bar, a
restaurant, a cafe)...
Great Coffee and Food!
… and most definitely not the weather (mind you it can work in our favour as
Mara loves Summer and Iris loves winter!)
You don’t even need to be in the City to find great cafes. Our
favourites:
1) The Little Ox: 452 New Street Brighton. A small café in a quiet residential area with friendly
staff, great coffee and a great breaky menu. It is always busy, but worth the wait!
2) Servery and Spoon: 137 Waverley Road, Malvern East. Alittle hard to find on a main strip in
Malvern East but this quirky Café (and food store) has great coffee and an all
day breaky menu. Definitely recommend the Mixed Bag Breaky!
What do you like to wear?
Mara & I have known each other since Grade
Four (16 years) and although we are known for our similar personalities our
dress sense is very different.
Mara wears a lot of trousers and Iris wears dresses (Thursday Sunday of
course!) Either way, we both dress
very simply as we grew up with the less is more approach. We pretty much live in practical shoes
– boots and brogues.
Despite this we both love wearing knits all year
around! We wear our hand knitted
pieces to death and we just love how they add a little something to your outfit
without being too loud.
Tell us about your beauty regime and healthy
habits.
Mara: I’m not really a makeup girl but I use a lot of
Aesop Products and Dior Mascara.
I ate pretty healthily (most of the time!) and am very fortunate to have a mum
who is an amazing cook who is obsessed with fresh ingredients and cooking at
home. My favourite food would be
Bruscetta with red onion and Kalamata olives. I love going for walks to exercise and clear my mind, not
really a gym person.
Iris: I guess I’m the opposite, I wear make up most days
but not much. I love Young Blood
Primer, Nude by Nature BB Cream for a little coverage and NARS
Illuminator. For skin I use
Skinstitut cleanser and moisturizer and at night a little Rosehip oil. I go to the gym most days in the
morning to start the day. I love Spin and Pump class otherwise I get really
bored just walking on the treadmill.
Since we moved to the studio in South Melbourne, we are so lucky because
everything we need is walking distance.
When we are at the studio we make a habit of walking everywhere and only
jumping in the car when we go home.
It’s great because we are so close to cafes, supermarkets and not to
mention the Market!
What makes Thursday Sunday unique?
We create simple timeless pieces that are not
driven by trends. Our
approach is minimalist lines that are made of beautiful fabrics that speak for
themselves rather then complicated/ busy designs.
We utilize only Natural Fibres and Design and
Manufacture in Australia. We are very hands on so ensure our designs reflect
our aesthetic. We have a strong
sense of localism with our pattern maker and manufacturer all in Melbourne. We
have built great relationships with our current team, which is so important as
we can work closely together to share ideas and expertise.
Hand Knitted Pieces are also incorporated into
each collection. Our knitwear is hand knitted by our Mentor (and Mara’s mum)
Gabriella. There is so much
versatility in knitwear alone, which cannot be achieved using fabric or a
machine. Our knitwear is hand
knitted in limited runs (1 of 20).
