I design. What does this even mean anyway? Well as glamourous as "I am a designer" sounds I can assure you it isn’t as glam as it might sound...
As a founder of The SQ Studio an Australian responsible fashion and home wares label in Tasmania and mother to a 4.5 year boy called Eli my life is anything but.
I am designer, I am sales staff, I am marketing, I am creative director, I am boss lady, I am cleaner, I am warehouse girl, I am order packer, problem solver, lady who pays everyone, sometimes I am sure bitch lady, general dogs body, mamma and partner to a very patient man that for some reason or another puts up with my constant over commitment which he is left to pick up the pieces. Yep the buck stops with me!
Still sound like being a designer is glam? But after all said and done I LOVE what I do and the sheer passion I have for responsible fashion and design is my driving force, to create meaningful employment for my staff, create financial stability for my family (one day), saving endangered species and being part of the new “slow fashion” movement makes all this worth it! Well most days anyway.
Sometimes I think people visit my studio and just see beautiful things (yes they are beautiful) but never really stop to think what any small maker, designer or business actually goes through to make those “beautiful things” just for you.
I can assure you we all work double the hours most people do, with less or no pay most weeks, have sleepless nights wondering how we are paying the staff this week, worried about an order we missed , concerned as sales are down and generally we suck it up, front up and make it happen for we have chosen PASSION over a regular weekly pay cheque, we have chosen to change the world in our own small way, we have chosen to take the path less travelled…but thank god we did for your life is better for it!
On that note I am sharing our behind the scenes action from our recent winter shoot, just so you can see what goes into a fashion and home wares shoot...and the crew!
From left, Creative Director- Tamika Bannister, Photographer Chris Crerar, behind the scenes image by Sean Keating, Organic and The Distance, model Freya Griffin- Location Dunorlan Tasmania
From left, Creative Director- Tamika Bannister, model Freya Griffin wears SQ Studio silk and merino tights, merino and bamboo mesh top, holding colour feather printed linen cushion, photographer Chris Crerar, behind the scenes image by Sean Keating, Organic and The Distance- Location Dunorlan Tasmania
From left, model Freya Griffin, photographer Chris Crerar, creative director- Tamika Bannister, behind the scenes image by Sean Keating, Organic and The Distance- Location Dunorlan Tasmania
From left, model Freya Griffin wears SQ Studio silk and merino tights, merino and bamboo mesh top, holding colour feather printed linen cushion, dog Charlie, behind the scenes photographer Sean Keating - Location Dunorlan Tasmania
From left, model Freya Griffin draped in waffle weave merino throw, behind the scenes photographer Sean Keating- Location Dunorlan Tasmania
From left, creative director Tamika Bannister, model Freya Griffin wearing SQ Studio merino black Dani dress, behind the scenes photographer Sean Keating- Location Dunorlan Tasmania
From left, full crew, Alex Snap, horse handler Grace Lee, photographer Chris Crerar, creative director Tamika Bannister, horse Milky (born blind) model Freya Griffin wearing recycled unisex wool cape in orange, behind the scenes photographer Sean Keating- Location Dunorlan Tasmania
From left, model Freya Griffin wearing SQ Studio merino black Dani dress, behind the scenes photographer Sean Keating- Location Dunorlan Tasmania