There’s a certain youthfulness infused with vintage charm behind Arabella Ramsay’s designs, a sort of rock-folk fusion achieved with crafty details like applique, crochet and patchwork detailing. Checked prints next to denim, sequinned dresses with jagged hemlines bring the urban attitude. Her bowerbird approach to picking out influences extends to her glorious mish-mash of colour, print and textile. Salvaged denim and pre-loved quilts unite, reborn as bustier dresses. There are striped knits, loose linen and florals of all permutations. Furthering the lo-fi approach is her country-inspired homewares line, Homegrown.
Most of Arabella Ramsay’s fabrics are sourced locally with about 95% of production taking place abroad, “always fair trade,” she tells HowBigIsYourEco. Leather pieces are constructed in India, non-leather in China. Her use of vintage fabrics and recycled remnants is, she says, a throwback to a country upbringing where veges were homegrown, clothes hand sewn and nothing wasted. Tea towels, lace collars, pre-loved boots and old jeans are re-worked, while upholstery fabric becomes clutches and cushions. Her Armadale, Melbourne, store includes a selection of vintage pieces. Arabella is ambassador for Support Scent, a collaboration between Guide Dogs Australia and Kit Cosmetics.
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Brand: Arabella Ramsay
