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/Director

I 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.

#tamikamadeitallhappen

OUR 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


Mel

Customer Experience

Mel has a deep love for Tasmania, which brought her to us. She owns 60 acres, where she runs a hobby farm when she's not swimming around the SQ Studio. (A woman after my own heart!).

#melservedyou


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


Jess

Customer Experience

Jess comes to us with gentle hands, she is a qualified masseuse and is currently studying interior design so she is great to connect with on any home, commercial or Airbnb styling projects!

#jessservedyou

MEET 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.

#sallymadeyourclothes

Tracy

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

#tracycutyourclothes

Shannon 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.

#shannonmadeyourclothes

Steph King

Machinist

Steph trained in fashion, gaining a Certificate IV through Tas TAFE, as well as completing a Diploma in Costuming for Performance through the Adelaide College of the Arts. Let's just say, Steph knows her stuff!

She also ran her own dressmaking business for six years, and to add another feather to her cap, she has also worked as a chocolatier. Yummy!

Steph enjoys the process of designing a garment and having the skills to take it through to completion. She particularly loves being able to design garments that use offcuts or fabric scraps, or creating designs that are zero waste. That's why we love her! Steph is addicted to purchasing beautiful natural fibre fabrics to add to her stash, just another reason why she’s perfect for the SQ Studio. She also has an interest in architecture and interior design. Wow!

#stephmadeyourclothes

Berry 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.

#berrymadeyourclothes

Danielle 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.

#daniellemadeyourclothes

Elyse

Machinist
Fashion Designer

Elyse is one of The Spotted Quolls very skilled machinists having previously trained at TasTAFE gaining her Certificate IV in applied Fashion Design & Technology. We keep her busy at the factory whipping up our beautiful creations with organic fabrics but Elyse is always on the hunt for unique fabrics for her own designs too. Check out @ellie.cate

Along with this Elyse is a very keen sports person playing a variety of sports across the seasons.

#elysemadeyourclothes

Ange 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

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