ABOUT US
Follow your passion, and success will follow you
The Ethos of The SQ Tasmania
To create beautiful, ethical wares, featuring original, environmentally inspired designs captured from the natural beauty around us. Produced in an environmentally sustainable manner that evokes thought for the future and the preservation of the wilderness and the fragile species that live within it.
To ultimately create meaningful employment in Tasmania in both retail and manufacturing!
Tamika Bannister
Founder/DirectorI am the founder, director, designer, maker, and captain of this amazing ship since 2009.
The SQ Studio was founded in 2009 with nothing more than vision, passion, and drive to be part of the global sustainable living movement, although back in 2009 I have to say we were well ahead of the trend and only the past few years have we really seen the potential of being at the forefront of conscious consumerism. especially since COVID19, so there is a silver lining!
With over a decade of experience in sales and marketing a move to the "creative side" has refreshed my soul and made me a passionate convert to the global slow fashion movement and as time has gone on my love for the wilderness, supporting small makers and ethical production has become part of who I am and what I stand for it drives me daily to do better although the road hasn't been an easy one.
#tamikamadeitallhappenOUR STORY
On a winter’s night years ago, I sat at the attic window of a secluded sandstone shack in the heart of Freycinet Tasmania. I was mesmerised by a huge yellow moon so full and bright that I couldn't sleep. Heavy surf pounded the shoreline close by and rattled the old windows...birds chirped cheerily in the nearby bush-land as they settled and roosted for the night. In the dark of the night, with the light of the moon as a backdrop, the world seemed to be outlined with black ink marker.
In those moments I realised that something had to change in my life, it was a fleeting certainty, but a moment in time that changed everything. I just knew that there was no going back and that my purpose was to make a change in my life, one that would have a positive effect on others and most importantly be part of a positive change in the world, one that embraced change rather than ignoring the problem as being too big to fix!
This was the setting for the birth of The Spotted Quoll Studio. The next morning, I woke early to see a sea mist burning away in the gentle sunshine of a Tasmanian Winter’s Day. The first thing I grabbed was a clean white piece of paper and a pen and started jotting down all the ideas that had swirled around in my head most of the night, inspiration pouring out and onto the page.
Hours disappeared before I emerged to realise that in one weekend (and over a few good bottles of fine Tassie Pinot) I had put together an entire business plan: to create environmentally inspired designs for the home & body, based on the natural, native flora and fauna surrounding me. I wanted to not only bring awareness of our natural wonders to the table, but a real plan to educate people about our endangered species and to contribute financially to saving them...and I do admit the selfish side of me really wanted to be inspired and to work towards accomplishing change every single day.
“Wild at heart, ethical by nature”; that is the motto of The Spotted Quoll Studio, and it’s one they are proud to uphold since their inception in 2009, where they design and produce a range of size inclusive ethical fashion, homewares and jewellery using sustainable resources from Australia and beyond.
MEET OUR LAUNCESTON RETAIL TEAM
Andy
Customer Experience
Andy has been a long term, right from the very beginning SQ customer, we love her to bits. Now, although trained as a social worker she spends her time between being a mumma bear and avid nature lover with the SQ studio in Launceston. Andy is the optiomy of nature queen and lives a sustainable lifestyle, all the things we love at The SQ Studio.
#andyservedyou
Alice
Customer Experience/Factory
Alice is one of the youngest team members, don't let this put you off. Alice has a keen sense of style and can dress up a storm, I think she gets this from her mumma bear (Yup her mum is Sally our in house fashion designer) and just like her mum she has so much creative flair if only we could bottle it! Find Alice either at SQ Launceston or helping out around our factory, so Alice has all the SQ gos!!! Plus Alice has a huge big welcoming smile.
#aliceservedyouMEET OUR FACTORY TEAM
Sally Lowe
Fashion Designer
Production Manager
Sally come to us with a wealth of knowledge, most recently migrated from the local Tafe where she was teaching Fashion Design. Now she is an integral part of the SQ Team and has directed and implemented our new factory set up in Launceston, Tasmania.
Her wealth of industry acknowledged spans many decades and she is currently whipping us into line with her enthusiasm and dedication to local manufacturing.
#sallymadeyourclothesTracy
Cutter/Factory
Graphic Designer
Tracey is our SQ factory cutter, she gets to use the big guns! Tracey likes puzzles, lucky for her as her jb is pretty much one big daily puzzle, getting our patterns to fit so we reduce waste. Oh and she gets to use the cutting tool which can be fun unless you accidently cut something you're not meant to....Ooooops When Tracy isn't working at SQ HQ she is a keen hobby farmer, I think she may be preparing for Noah's Ark! LOL
#tracycutyourclothesShannon Edmunds
Machinist
Garment Cutter
Not only does Shannon have a diploma in Applied Fashion Design but she plays more sport than you can poke a stick and works as relief teacher not to mention a mum to her beautiful daughter Faith and new son Elijah!
Shannon may not be seen day to day at the store but my goodness me she is an integral part of the SQ team.
#shannonmadeyourclothesBerry Laio
Machinist
Berry has 3 years Fashion Design and Technology at TAS TAFE trained under Sally and comes to us with a wealth of knowledge after working around the world in the industry.
Berry makes your clothes part-time while she juggles motherhood and we are so glad to have her on board at our factory.
#berrymadeyourclothesDanielle Blay
Machinist
Fashion Designer
Danielle not only is one of our best machinist but she recently completed Cert. IV in Applied Fashion Design and Merchandising and was the winner of our design competition with Tafe Tas.
Danielle’s Meadow dress was a clear winner and certainly “A Breath of Fresh Air” as her collection suggested, so we are delighted to add this exciting new exclusive cut to our core range. The Meadow will be featured in vary fabrics throughout the seasons.
#daniellemadeyourclothesAnge Letchford
Jewellery Designer
Miss Ange started with The SQ Studio back when it all began, (we would pack orders in my lounge room and she would make jewellery at home in between school pick ups), she also worked in our Launceston store many, many moons ago.
She left to pursue her career in Personal Training, (which she still does), but she has found her way back to the SQ Studio factory where she works closely with Sally, making and designing our range of Eco Bead Jewellery. So glad she is home.
#angemadeyourjewellery