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lisa sorgini studio altÊ hayley o’connor shoes of prey claude ware
summer 12
AN ESSENTIAL ASPECT OF CREATIVITY IS NOT BEING AFRAID TO FAIL EDWIN LAND
MEET THE TEAM
EDITOR & CREATIVE DIRECTOR Jessica Bartholomew jessica@fawnmag.com DEPUTY EDITOR Gaia Gardiner gaia@fawnmag.com CONTRIBUTORS Natalie Claire King, Kristina Yenko, Noelle Parisi, Stephanie Alcaino, Abbey Love, Annabel Gorman Deane, Alison Parker, Tobi Henney. SPECIAL THANKS Shoes of Prey, Hayley O’Connor, Lisa Sorgini, Studio Alté, Claude Ware. ADVERTISE WITH FAWN jessica@fawnmag.com GENERAL ENQUIRIES & SUBMISSIONS info@fawnmag.com FAWN MAGAZINE 12/16 Boronia Street, Kensington Sydney, NSW, 2033 fawnmag.com fawnmagazine.com.au
MEET THE TEAM / 003
CONTENTS
ON THE COVER photographer: stephanie alcaino hair and makeup: tobi henney styling: annabel gorman deane model: jo model wears: hansen & gretel floral playsuit page 048
editors letter 005 summer edit
024 fawn talks lisa sorgini
fawn bits 006 summer edit
028 fawn style on the road
fawn loves 009 summer edit fawn features 012 if the shoe fits
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fawn illustration 018 hayley o’connor
038 fawn style the art of being cool 048 fawn studios studio alté 054 fawn jobs claude ware
HAPPY HOLIDAYS! My oh my can you believe it’s already December, where has the year gone?! The start of December signals the beginning of the new season, and for us here at Fawn that can only mean one thing. The release of our latest issue, the Summer Edition! Spring was a busy season for the Fawn team, with the most notable aspect being the expansion of our online team. With a brand new team of creative writers brimming with ideas, the online content has finally become what we had originally envisaged it to be, an extension of the magazine itself. We’re uploading new creative content onto the site on a daily basis, so be sure to check in every once and while for a hit of creative goodness to help motivate and inspire you. Anyway that’s enough from me, I’ll leave you to enjoy the rest of the issue. xx
Jess
FAWN BITS
DECEMBER
CHRISTMAS CRAFTS WORKSHOP h
5 - 19 DEC 2012
Remember the days of making your own Christmas cards as a young’en with all your bestest friends using macaroni and Clag glue? Well you can safely keep those fond memories in the past, as Newtown Library have a way to bring you into the 21st century with their Christmas Workshop. The free classes show you how to make chrissy cards, trinkets, decorations for your tree, or an authentic gift for friends and loved ones. Special classes for 5-10 year olds are also available. Starts 5th December. Guests must bring their own macaroni and Clag. whatson.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
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FINDERS KEEPERS MARKET SYDNEY h
8 - 9 DEC 2012
The event you’ve been waiting for has rolled up on our doorsteps - The Sydney Finders Keepers Markets. Now remember the 8th and 9th of December because they are only for the blink of an eye and then disappear for months and months. This time around, over 65 emerging artists from every corner of the country, plus some of the most talented musicians at the Finders Keepers stage. Bring all your cash because there will be no trace of ATMs at the Carriageworks location in Eveleigh. And it’s free? Now you have no excuse not to check it out! thefinderskeepers.com
HOLLY HIPWELL FLOWERBOMBS h
16 DEC 2012
One of our most favourite bombs, the flower bomb (the water bomb is clearly the best) is an illusive creature. It is often forgotten about for more conventional ‘flower bouquets’, but this isn’t showing the flower bombs real potential, as it is always stifled in a world of mainstream flower decorations. The solution? Holly Hipwell. This is a person. A person who shows you how to release your inner flower bomb and create what the world needs and beautiful flower bombs will be here for everyone. Do your part to save the world at one of Holly’s regular classes starting 16th December. theschool.com.au
FAWN BITS
JANUARY
100 SQUARED MARKETS h
JAN 2013
One hundred metres squared. That’s how much it takes to make a breeding ground of interaction and insight into people, brands, collaborations and shopping and all within one of Sydney’s most popular retail destinations. 100 Squared have transformed Sydney’s, Bondi’s and Miranda’s Westfield into a one-stop shop for all your fashion needs and everyone’s getting on board to get their name out there. Brands like Faddoul, Saveus, Viparo, Show Pony, Sage, Cindy.G, and Vanessa Rogers are on show so get your skates on because they’re waiting for you! The best part? They’re all home-grown and have the chance to get their name in the spotlight. 100squared.com.au
FEATHER+STONE FIELD TRIPS h
9 - 11 JAN 2013
Field trips are the best. You get to go to places you’ve never seen before, learn new and interesting things, and spend the day off school. Well we’re all adults now (sigh) but the only thing that’s changed is that you skip a day off work...or three! The Feather & Stone Fine Art Film Photography Workshops kick off in January 2013 and is perfect for honing your methods, learning a thing or two, or simply being inspired all over again. The brains behind it all, Seth and Tenielle impress with hands-on shooting, how to choose the right gear and pro lab, curating your blog, pricing and making vs taking photos. featherandstone.com.au
BALLET+ FASHION EXHIBITION h
3 NOV - 19 MAY 2013
Look at fashion from a different viewpoint, with The National Gallery of Victoria and The Australian Ballet. This incredibly intriguing free exhibition celebrates the signature styles of leading fashion designers, the success of multidisciplinary collaboration and the challenges designers face when creating pieces that must withstand the rough and tumble of performance. More than 20 works spanning over 3 decades by Collette Dinnigan, Akira Isogawa, Valentino, Rei Kawakubo, Christian Lacroix and more will be showcased. On now until May 19th, 2013. Melbourne only. thatsmelbourne.com.au
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FEBRUARY
THE ART OF DR SEUSS h
FEB 2013
Our most beloved childrens series of this century is spreading its wings, extending outside of the U.S to our very own Trevor Victor Harvey Gallery in Paddington, Sydney. This rare display of limited edition Dr Seuss artworks, all for sale to have in your very own home. Deliciously bombastic and inspiring as ever, expect The Secret Art Collection, The Unorthodox Taxidermy Sculpture, and The Illustration Art in person, plus speak to a ‘Seuss expert” - which many fans would like to believe they are. Reignite nostalgic childhood memories and tap into your inner Seuss. On now. drseuss.tvhgallery.com
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CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHY h
5 OCT - 24 MAR 2013
Photography in all its glory is a fickle beast, but contemporary photography is in a realm of its own. It suggests alternative realities and brings a surreal and unreal feel to something so very simple. The photographers in this exhibition use found objects in macabre still lives, propose perplexing narratives using models and dolls, employ a variety of techniques to create disturbing portraits and construct a fantastic reality based on art, science and imagination. Drawn from the NGV Collection, the exhibition includes photographs by Loretta Lux, Thomas Demand and Roger Ballen. ngv.vic.gov.au
MOONLIGHT CINEMA SYDNEY h
29 NOV - 31 MAR 2013
There is nothing as old school as a good old movie alfresco style in a beautiful park, this will be an occasion you’d be simply insane to miss out on. In its 7th consecutive screening season, Moonlight Cinema has billed some great advance previews, new releases, and classic cult films for the more than three-month run. Early sellout screening predictions? Peter Jackson’s The Hobbits, Daniel Craig’s latest Bond buzz, Skyfall, the 2012 adaptation of Victor Hugo’s classic Les Misérables starring Russell Crowe and Hugh Jackman. Last but not least cult favourite, the Grease Sing-A-Long. moonlight.com.au
FAWN LOVES
TYPO FLIP CLOCK We adore Typo at Fawn - their cheap as chips items thrill us because they don’t look cheap. In fact, they’re very cheerful, like the Flip Clock in a very lively shade of Chilli Red. The classic and classy design will see you through your days as the hours flip by...sounds relaxing right? Or it could have the opposite effect, you could end up becoming obsessed with watching the discs flap down for every one of the one thousand four hundred and fourty four minutes in a day. It could be a real problem in your life in fact. We don’t condone looking at the clock for more than ten minutes at a time. In fact, don’t look at it at all. Just buy it! shop.cottonon. com/shop/product/flip-clockchilli-red
A SKULK OF FOXES Necklaces, earrings, clocks, canvas bags, iPhone and iPad covers - all basic stuff right? Wrong. The smorgasboard of originality to be found at A Skulk of Foxes is anything but basic. Simple? Yes. Bold? Yes. One of a kind? Definitely. The prices themselves are unique, with everything staying well within the affordable price range for what is an amazingly kitsch and darling range by a home-grown Australian boutique based in Victoria. And if you can’t suddenly fly to Victoria like most of us, it’s all at your fingertips online. Get on it! askulkoffoxes.com
KORA ORGANICS LUXURIOUS ROSEHIP OIL Okay so besides the fact that Superwoman herself, Miranda Kerr, is the brains behind this beautiful concoction, this is actually a really really good beauty product. With exotic goodies like Noni Extract, Organic Rosehip and Jojoba organic wax providing the skin with a rich source of antioxidants and Essential Fatty Acids. And it’s so totally obvious that EFAs are important to prevent damage to skin tissues, meanwhile the rest of the bottle hydrates and replenishes the skin’s moisture levels. By the end of all of this, you’ll be left with fresh, toned, radiant and happy skin. The oil is simply packaged, after all, the promise of looking like Miranda is enough to make it lustworthy. koraorganics.com
GYPSEA SWIMWEAR Good things come from the coast. And then one day something comes along that exceeds all your expectations - introducing Gypsea Swimwear. Extracted from the edges of the country (the WA desert, where the Indian Ocean joins in) the very talented designer Emma Jones and Scott Bauer, a surf photographer, are inspired by their love for design and all things beautiful. And they’re helping us share the beauty. Gypsea’s current Elements collection is rooted in the four elements and reflects the array of colours found in Western Australia’s natural landscape and its surrounds. A definite Fawn favourite! Find one pieces, swimsuits, clothes and an extra special blog on their website. gypsea.com.au FAWN LOVES / 009
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SKIPPING GIRL TOTES The notoriously cute fashion accessories label Skipping Girl is re-launching just in time for Summer. Since its humble beginnings in 1998, the versatile Skipping Girl woven tote bag became a style icon for the luxe girl who is also practical - and these girls are in every corner of the world from LA and New York to London and Bondi. A mustsee is their new online store, which the girls at Fawn can’t part with, which houses their latest collection named Superstars. A greatest hits collection of SG favourites, including the classic Cherry tote made famous by Gwen Stefani - the epitome of playful yet timeless vibes. Discover the revolution and free shipping. skippinggirl.com/shop
BEACH TOMATO It’s better at the beach. Never a truer statement has been a motto for a brand. We’re longing for those days when we can vamoose to the beach and just relax and forget the world. Beach Tomato is the one-stop shop for all your travel, fashion and beauty needs, from where to go when, to what to wear, and how to wear it - and everything is, you guessed it, beach themed. They’ve trawled the latest in coast culture, freely giving out top trends, fresh destinations and emerging designers from all over the globe. Exciting right? Find the most random reads on this site, you may be there for a while, you’ve been warned. beachtomato.com
THE POSSIBLE CO. VEGAN WARES Take your love for the planet to a whole other level with The Possible Co. who stand by their products which have been specifically sourced from companies who work hard to ensure that neither animals, humans or the environment are harmed in the making of their products. Not only that, but they will continue to be on the look out for the best vegan products available. So whether you’re vegan, vegetarian, respect the planet or simply love animals, make it easier and discover the simplest of bags, belts, wallets, purses and shoes. Shopping nice doesn’t mean sacrificing creativity, adventure or design. thepossibleco.com.au
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FIND + KEEP BY BECI ORPIN Beci is a hippie. And her DIY book is amazing. It’s loosely about finding ideas and inspiration, and then what to do with them, like how to put them into action. It also shows her working process – how she finds inspiration and what she does with it. Also, as part of this there are some DIY projects in the book. 26 of them in fact. Then there was a launch in Sydney and Melbourne for the book with delicious wine and yummy food, plus free products from Gorman and Kit Cosmetics. She’s lovely. She’s also modelled the Find and Keep theme around a giveaway in which she gives away her favourite items. beciorpin.com
FAWN LOVES
OB FIVE SKATEBOARDS The most delicious type of cruiser going around is without hesitation OBFive Cruiser Skateboards. Now with smooth, durable wheels and 100% hard rock Canadian maple, it guarantees you the sweetest of rides on those long, hot summer days. Satisfy your old school taste with Circa 70’s in any colour of the rainbow you wish for. Or why not mix it up with Fairy Floss, Fruit Tingle, Fat Cat, Condor, Day of The Dead, Jerry The Sailor and Rocket. Melting in a pot the tried and tested formulas of popular and original 70’s styling, with the distinct and progressive technologies of the 21st century. Our pick of the bunch is the Circa 70 in Blue. Check out OBFive now! obfiveskateboards.com.au
KAREENA ZEREFOS The Sydney spark set to rise on the scene is Kareena Zerefos - London based artist and designer with the kind of whimsical illustrative work that makes her yearning to escape to a world of make believe positively contagious. Having studied design at the College of Fine Arts (COFA), Kareena’s work often combines traditional drawing with contemporary graphic techniques, with which she has the pleasure of working across a range of commercial projects for the music, fashion and advertising industries. Flip through her catalogue online and you’ll be transported into her universe: a whole entourage of enchanting concepts, free-spirited views and an obsession with dangeriously sharp 2B pencils. Very satisfying! art.kareenazerefos.com
FAITH & LOLA Bringing the love like no other, Faith & Love are doing their bit to give us unforgettable fashion moments - and boy do they deliver. The gorgeous collections by the crew are strangely comforting, probably because what they invisage is so spot on to what we want to wear. The romanticism threaded through the collections is a wonderful thing to admire, as we’re reminded of Alice In Wonderland but much more down to earth. To get your mittens on their wares, Princess Polly boutiques throughout the country stock everything Faith & Lola, although you can view the collection online if you get a bit nostalgic. faithandlola.com
HOOBY GROOVY PANDA IPAD CASE Panda cuteness AND stress-free iPad use? Uh yes please! This little critter keeps your beloved technological device housed in one giant Panda cuddle, and we’re in love with it. The case is made from high quality felt, not the stuff you used in kindergarten art and craft class. There is a genius little pocket on the back of it to stash away pens, your phone, or a notebook, and a closure tab to stop it from moving about in there. But this is the cutest: there’s a hook and loop tape on the panda’s paws to secure your earphones when they’re not in use, perfect for when you’re chasing after real life pandas. You’ll thank us later. youngrepublic.comhome-life/gadgets/ pandafromhoobygroovylandipadcase.html
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IF THE SHOE FITS
A woman’s fascination with shoes is relentlessly feminine, the idea of idolising an item of clothing to the point where it is monumental, and the high heel itself, becoming a classic symbol of the female in the fashion world. The comfort, aesthetic, beauty, dream and wonderment a pair of shoes can create within a woman’s imagination is astounding at times.
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Shoes heaven, every woman’s dream.
What if the tables were turned and the shoes you wanted were actually the shoes that wanted you...no I don’t mean shoes that can talk, but shoes that speak in volumes of you - your personality, style and essence. Shoes of Prey gives you four words: design your perfect shoes. And with these four words they open up a backlog of hopes and wishes in every woman who hears them. For every time you’ve seen the perfect pair of shoes that were in the wrong colour, or the heel height was too high or too low, or even if they were just the wrong shoe all together; wipe the slate clean, bring on the blank canvas and start kicking your imagination into full gear to create the most perfect shoe for you. Since 2009, Shoes of Prey have been making flats, heels, wedges, sandals and more that you can’t get anywhere else. The process is simple: with a 3D designer you choose the shape, colour and height of your shoes. They then custom make them to your specifications in around four weeks and ship anywhere in the world. That’s it. That is the key to their international success. It’s brilliantly basic, yet makes so much sense. Why not let people make their own shoe wishes come true? The shoe fairy certainly won’t do it for you. The result? You’ll never wish your shoes were just slightly different to what you bought, and more importantly, you’ll never walk home with your heels clutched in your hands, while your feet are drunk with pain. These handmade babies have been seen on the tootsies of Twilight Saga star Nikki Reed and Carly Rae Jepsen and founder Jodie Fox has attributed her shoe fame to ‘systemising and retaining focus’ within her business. Jodie’s husband Michael Fox is also part of the success, along with their buddy Mike. The two boys have good work ethic as they contemplated leaving their jobs at Google (which is a notoriously fantastic company to work for) in pursuit of their own venture. We’re glad they did as they were finally able to give the women of the world what they hunger for. A shoe that fits them. The online shoe revolution is in a field of its own, which is a golden ticket to success. The niche quality of the entire project lends itself to a consistent and steady stream of customers and addicts alike. Don’t like the current season trends? Need a shoe for a particular outfit or a certain occasion? Shoes of Prey is there to lend a much needed hand.
“The niche quality of the entire project lends itself to a consistent and steady stream of customers and addicts alike.”
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FAW N F E AT U R E S The Shoes of Prey team from left to right; Michael Fox, Mike Knapp and Jodie Fox.
The team follows a culture and values document created by the company’s employees, that outlines who they are, and what they live and die by. They are a close-knit team who evolve together, stamping their fingerprint on the company and loving every minute of it. Back in ‘09 they were the first on the scene with this concept, and they’re still the only ones to offer the biggest range of options in terms of design and breadth of reach to wanting women. Available to every single country and with over 4 trillion possibilities (yes, trillion), the built-in lifelike shoe designer on their website will also stop you from making any blunders and set you on the right path to shoe happiness. From next to nothing, they have become a team
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of 30 with offices in 4 countries. Women have spent more than 50 million minutes designing tens of millions of shoes with the brand. “Passion, determination and executing things fast are definitely contributors to success” Jodie points out. How it works is the team have developed an online shoe designer interface with infinite combinations of toe, heel, decoration and colour styles. Customers can then either save and store their designs, or choose to purchase them, and have them handmade from premium fabrics and leathers and shipped to their home in 5-6 weeks. For the millions of shoe addicts or aspiring designers who can never find the perfect shoe, this is an ideal way to buy exactly
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Shoe wallpaper, featuring a selection of Shoes of Prey designs.
“This is an ideal way to buy exactly what you’ve always wanted but never been able to find.”
what you’ve always wanted but never been able to find. It also saves you the effort of hours and hours of shopping. This brave move has seen Michael, Jodie and Mike gaining the attention of some of the biggest names in the game. A proactive approach to online and social marketing, teamed with top-notch customer service has been key to their passion for their business and the continued growth of the brand is the Shoes of Prey culture. Behind the scenes, the combination of flexible working hours and working with friends means that the passion is easy to sustain. For Michael, “A big advantage is work/life balance. We don’t need to be at a physical store at a certain time everyday, we’re able to work from our office, home or London as Jodie and I will be in a few weeks time.” Add to that absolute control over the business, inclination to try new things and the flexibility to modify and change in a fast-paced industry and you have an exciting work environment. Michael says, “A key part of our culture is our willingness and ability to experiment and quickly adapt and change our strategy.” Their recent social media campaign has garnered them the attention of shoe lovers across the globe, beginning with teenage girls. Having employed 17-year-old US video blogger juicystar07 to sample a pair of custom made shoes and review them on her video blog, the team had successfully targeted 13 to 17-yearold girls as a valuable vehicle for spreading word of mouth about the brand. By running a competition encouraging viewers to design their own shoes and share with friends and family, they have also significantly expanded their reach to the mothers, friends, and followers of the 13 to 17-year-old girl demographic. This initiative had an unprecedented response of over 500,000 hits in one week and saw their previous site visit figures of 200,000 hits in 6 months. Since then, sales figures are sitting consistently at 3 times
Shoes of Prey lookbook image; keyhole peeptoe.
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the numbers prior to the campaign. It’s the stuff of dreams for any social media marketer. While continuing to expand their audience, the team have also made a concerted effort to ensure their existing customers are well looked after, despite the absence of personal contact. Michael explains, “There are so many new and exciting tools at our disposal to excite them.” Using these, the team manage to maintain a personal feel to their global shipping and fulfillment process. “Together with the custom shoes we make for our customers, we like to offer highly customised customer service to increase the value we give our customers. We’re very responsive to emails answering many of our emails within 30 minutes of receiving them. We also write a handwritten note that comes with each pair of shoes, and we professionally photograph your shoes as soon as we finished making them. The photograph is emailed to you when your shoes are shipped and a developed copy comes with your shoes. We want to offer a very tailored, personalised experience, not just in our product but in every contact we have with our customers,” says Michael. And the team is now pursuing the possibility of using augmented reality to create a more instant, personal experience for the shopper. “Imagine walking into a shoe store, designing your dream pair of heels in 3D on a touch screen, then looking down at a mirror/monitor showing your shoe displayed on your feet?!” This kind of technology can also have huge advantages for the functionality
“Imagine walking into a shoe store, designing your dream pair of heels in 3D on a touch screen, then looking down at a mirror/monitor showing your shoe displayed on your feet?!” With an easy to use interface, designing your own shoes has never been so easy.
It’s all in the details; leopard print flats.
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of the online shoe designer, opening up new possibilities for 3D display. It appears that one of the biggest problems facing the Shoes of Prey team is too much choice for their customers, resulting in low conversion rates. “When we speak to them they love our concept, love our shoes and plan to make a purchase, they just can’t decide which ones to buy first,” explains Michael. However, the opportunity for customers to design more than 20 pairs of shoes without buying a pair has huge potential for the younger generation who are quickly getting the hang of social shopping, sharing their wish lists with friends, and telling their online connections all about their recent purchases. They have also hit on a particular niche with brides and bridesmaids designing the perfect shoes for their big day, having them custom made to their own specifications and shipped to their house, with
a handwritten note. What woman doesn’t appreciate that kind of service? Impressively, they are still striving to stay ahead of the pack, looking to redevelop their Flash online shoe designer to make it compatible for the iPhone and iPad, and allowing for further growth into the mobile strong Japanese market, where the site has been recently launched. With an ambitious product offering and an ever increasing online presence, the team at Shoes of Prey seem destined for online retail superstardom. With 4 nominations in the inaugural Online Retail Industry Awards after only 7 months in business, these guys will be ones to watch. Their advice to young entrepreneurs? “Be passionate, do everything before you’re ready and do something with your ideas.” And on that note we’re off to make our own slice of heaven, and we think you should do the same. Who knows? You may just find the perfect shoe...
“When we speak to them (our customers) they love our concept, love our shoes and plan to make a purchase, they just can’t decide which ones to buy first.”
Shoes of Prey lookbook image; floral oxfords.
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HAYLEY O’CONNOR We hail Hayley the illustrator of the century award, because a lot like a pure genius, she weaves the perfect dream and brings a flat image to absolute life. The Melbourne girl is a star in her own right in the underground universe, as she has tattooed her name onto the likes of Nana Judy, One by One Clothing Co, Less Is More, Deft Division Clothing, Rise of Dawn and Hurley. Her name has been thrown around in the likes of Curvy 8, Yen, Fashion Journal, Semi-Permanent, Drum Media and The Design Kids. Step into the Hayley’s universe and see what everyone’s talking about...
LOCATION // Resides Melbourne, Australia I live in a town called Eltham on the edge of Melbourne. Most of my life I have lived there but I’ve lived in Sydney’s Northern Beaches for a little bit too! FOUNDATION // I always loved drawing and since I was little I would always be drawing or painting when ever I could in primary school. During high school I still loved art and design but it seemed to be just in the background. It wasn’t till year 12 and after that I was really sure that a career in art and design was for me and became serious about it.
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EDUCATION // After high school I went on to study graphic design and loved it but found myself always wanting to draw after my classes and get away from the computer. I liked the creative freedom I had in my own work in contrast with the structure of graphic design and it just gave me a good creative balance work wise. PRODUCTION // I like to start traditionally with pencil and paper. I used to use a lot of watercolour but lately I’ve been liking the control of pencil as I’ve been focusing more on the details and then refining colours, highlights and shading on photoshop. I also like to try new canvas’ like surfboards and skateboards if I can get my hands on them.
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INSPIRATION // It’s a bit of everything but I love going on fashion and design blogs to find random bits of inspiration. My work I guess is a mixture of beautiful things with a dark twist. Skulls seem to pop up a lot lately! I go through fazes of what inspires me, who knows what it’ll be next year! When ever I find an inspirational image I save it or paste it in my ideas book. When I’m out and about I write my ideas in my phone and come back to it later. www.hayleyo.com.au
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F A W N TA L K S
LISA SORGINI
A photographer with a voice, Lisa Sorgini has contributed in the most extensive way to the life of images in Australia, taking it upon herself to team up with music artists. An admirable quality of this woman is her involvement with homeless youth which is one hell of a story to tell, and we couldn’t be more chuffed with her swag. Q: You’ve collaborated with a host of music clients, as well as for The Age and Beat Magazine, how do you normally come across your next job? A: I was very fortunate when I moved to Melbourne 4 years ago to land myself at the right place at the right time. It was one of those moves where everything happens easily and smoothly and you look back after a couple of months and wonder what the hell you were doing before you were here. I met my now husband shortly after I moved who is an incredible musician and quickly made some very good friends. It is so interesting to have such an insight into a creative field that you yourself are not skilled in, I am pretty sure I am tone deaf. The music scene in Melbourne as I have come to know it is one of the most supportive and close knit communities that I have ever experienced. So naturally as I formed these close friendships it was a easy choice for me to take the photos that they needed, whether it be for promo, album artwork or album launch. For me it is much more satisfying as a photographer to have that bond too and it has been a lot of fun.
Lisa setting up her darkroom, located in Pop&Scott workshop cooperative, in Northcote, Melbourne.
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Above: From the series ‘Lambent’, a landscape series shot throughout Australia and New Zealand. Below: From the series ‘An Isolated Object’, an abandoned theme park located in East Berlin.
“Imagery plays such an important role in creating awareness around a particular charity or organisation.”
Q: Tell us more about your work with homeless youth and female refuge centres? A: In 2011 I was overcome with an urge to contribute something to the bigger picture in an altruistic way. After much thought about how I could help I decided what better way to volunteer than to do so with my camera. Imagery plays such an important role in creating awareness around a particular charity or organisation and what they do. So I drafted a letter and sent it off to as many Melbourne based charities as I could find. The response was amazing and so every Wednesday for the next few months I spent my time photographing what ever was needed for the particular charity I was working for. It really was such an incredible experience and I saw a different side of life and a different side to the city I live in. I worked alongside homeless youth with STREAT, photographing their stories, took photos for the Sacred Heart Mission Women’s Refuge centre in St Kilda, and worked alongside Les Twentyman from the 20th Man Fund, documenting drug addicted youth at their medical centre in Footscray. Q: What kind of resources and attractions are available in Melbourne for photographers? A: Melbourne has played a big part in helping me take my photography more seriously. I feel as thought it cultivates and values the arts and as a result there are so many places to visit for inspiration or to learn practical knowledge. The CCP in North Fitzroy is a great example. They do it all, hold internationally acclaimed photography exhibitions, hold lectures and
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From the series’ Roadtrip America’. Taken in New Orleans. From the series ‘An isolated Object’ Taken whilst on a 2 month trip to Europe earlier this year.
“ The sensation of being out of place or somewhere unknown forces all of your senses to work and for me that is a great feeling.”
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floor talks, run weekend courses for all levels of photographers and provide so much valuable information on where to find grands and photography opportunities. Q: How did your journey begin and how have you grown? A: I suppose it all began for me when I took my first overseas trip in 2006. I spent three months travelling through Vietnam and from the moment I arrived I had an insatiable urge to capture all of these new sights I was seeing. But it wasn’t just the sights, I wanted to somehow capture
the smells, the temperature and the sounds too. And that is still something I strive to do. Although an image is only visual I think it is possible to evoke the other senses. Travel and seeing new things remains a huge inspiration to me and my work, whether it is something as simple as walking down a different street on my way home or an overseas trip the feeling is the same. The sensation of being out of place or somewhere unknown forces all of your senses to work and for me that is a great feeling and something I try to communicate with everything I do.
F A W N TA L K S
From the series ‘An isolated Object’ Taken whilst on a 2 month trip to Europe earlier this year.
Jen Cloher and Courtney Barnett Music portrait. Promo shoot taken for their November 12 tour.
Q: What are some of the biggest obstacles photographers face these days? A: For me it has been to know what field of photography to focus on. I didn’t realise just how many options there are. Whether it be fashion photography, editorial, wedding, fine art, music I have found it important to decide what I am as a photographer and what I want to achieve so as not to get frustrated. Trying to manage a lot of different work styles can be hard as there is such huge differences to all of them, so getting to a point where you know your style and what kind of work does and doesn’t fit with that style has been an obstacle but also such a great learning curve for me. Q: What are your career goals and what’s in the future for you? A: I am happiest when I am creating images and it has taught me so much about myself, so I am just going to keep on and see where it leads me, I don’t want it to be too structured. I am holding my first solo exhibition in December and I hope to publish a book of my work early in 2013. I have also started shooting film again and just recently set up a darkroom, something I haven’t done since I was at school, so I am really looking forward to learning the processes all over again and seeing what I can come up with. Warren Ellis of ‘The Dirty Three’, performing at Mossvale Music Festival 2012.
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ON THE ROAD Photography: Kristina Yenko Styling: Noelle Parisi Talent: Alison @ The Agency Models Hair/MUA: Abbey Love .
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Dress: Sportsgirl, Jacket & Boots: Stylist’s own (vintage)
Dress: Sportsgirl, Jacket: Stylist’s own (vintage)
Dress: Ksubi, Jewellery: Colette
Dress: Ksubi, Jewellery: Colette, Shoes: Siren
Bra: Etam, Bandana: Vintage Harley Davidson, Jewellery: Colette
Slip: Stylist’s own (vintage)
Slip & Boots: Stylist’s own (vintage)
THE ART OF BEING COOL Photographer: Stephanie Alcaino alcainocreative.net Stylist: Annabel Gorman Deane annabellajones.net Hair/MUA: Tobi Henney tobihenney.com Model: Jo @ EMG
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Overalls: August St, Bodysuit: Sass & Bide, Shoes: Shubar, Hat: Op-Shop
Overalls: August St, Bodysuit: Sass & Bide, Shoes: Shubar, Hat: Op-Shop
Playsuit: Hansen & Gretel
Playsuit: Hansen & Gretel
Playsuit: Hansen & Gretel, Sneakers: Adidas
T-shirt: Bonds, Bunny Ears: Stylist’s own
Cape: Ellery, Hooded Vest: Sportsgirl, Pants: United Constructions, Sneakers: Adidas
FAWN STUDIOS
STUDIO ALTÉ There is always beauty in simplicity, and Studio Alté personifies this tenfold. The cult boutique graphic design studio in the heart of Sydney bases their business in the universe of fashion and the young, spritely team proves that anything is possible, spelling out a bright future for graphic design in the Australian landscape. With clients like Whitney Eve by Whitney Port, Door 121 and Premonition, it is a pleasure to bring you Studio Alté. Welcome to the Studio Alté office.
Andrew’s fun phone accessory.
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Q: For those who are unaware of your existence, give us a rundown of Studio Alté. A: Studio Alté is a multidisciplinary creative agency specialising in fashion. We offer a wide range of creative services, which spans over Design, Photography and Film - from idea generation all the way through to the final output. Everyone has something different and unique to bring to the table,
FAWN STUDIOS
Dual monitor video work space.
so we love collaborating. We consistently work with local and international Fashion Houses, PR Companies, Agencies, Musicians and other creatives to produce content that is both fresh, unique, on-trend and of a high standard. Q: Your studio is based in Surry Hills, what advantages does this have? A: Surry Hills has a really buzzy vibe and is much like a creative bubble – it’s virtually a reflection of us. When we started Studio Alté, we wanted to take it very seriously as we knew the idea had legs. We really wanted the best for our new ‘baby’ so we decided Surry Hills was the perfect location to aid our creative growth.
“Surry Hills has a really buzzy vibe and is much like a creative bubble – it’s virtually a reflection of us.”
Creative Director, Elli Zacharowitz.
Videographer & Photographer, Andrew Kaineder.
Photographer, Retoucher, Blogger & Social Media Guru, Nicole Cooper.
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FAWN STUDIOS
Fergus the Fauna helps bring some life to the office decor.
Another priority was to make the experience just as comfortable for our clients with a convenient, central location. Oh and the after work drinks may have played a small part. Q: When you began, what were you looking for in a studio? A: Space. And plenty of it. If you work 7 (lets be realistic here, 12) hours a day you need to be in a comfortable and personalised environment, otherwise it just won’t work. We also wanted the flexibility to be able to set up extra desks and make the studio feel like a home. Studio Alté fancy ‘branded’ candles.
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FAWN STUDIOS
Medium format goodness.
“We love how a client can give the same brief and we have the capacity to divide the work across each discipline.”
Q: How important is the environment to encourage creativity in a team? What’s your approach? A: A solid structure and a plan is all you need to encourage creativity. While there are three of us who work at the studio full time, we each specialise in separate creative disciplines. This works to our advantage, as we are always working on different projects. This way we always have an outside opinion from someone who is a) familiar with the client and b) is fully across the creative brief. We love how a client can give the same brief and we have the capacity to divide the work across each discipline. It keeps us inspired by the work we produce. Minimalist open work stations.
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FAWN STUDIOS
Q: How have your clients taken to the studio? A: They love it! It makes an idea a lot more legitimate when there is a base behind it. You can only work out of your bedroom for so long (and use a hotmail address, which I may have been guilty of) before you realise your workload and come to terms that you may need some extra help! Our clients have been very supportive of the move, helping us take the small idea and mould it into something big. It’s always good to see someone succeed in what they love. Q: What makes the Studio Alté headquarters unique? A: Definitely the team. We’re all really great friends and we bounce off each other really well. It’s a really special thing being able to hang out with friends whilst still being able to switch straight into work mode when necessary. As both a collective and on our own, we simply love what we do and we feel it echoes very positively through our work. Q: What advice do you have for readers of Fawn looking to follow in your footsteps? A: Work your ass off and don’t say no to anything - except your social life.
Nicole’s iMac, the perfect pixel pushing tool.
“We simply love what we do and we feel it echoes very positively through our work.”
Photographic essentials, the art of analogue photography.
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START WHERE YOU ARE. USE WHAT YOU HAVE. DO WHAT YOU CAN. ARTHUR ASHE
FAWN JOBS
CLAUDE WARE crafter at bless your cotton socks This is Claude Ware and this is her story. She lives in a craft factory, powered by cats pictures, wool, vodka and glue. She makes jewellery and then sells it on Etsy. She lives in Sydney, and works a day job in radio. But for her, the knitting keeps her sane. Since 2006 Claude has wool-crafted the most incredibly unique objects, like fruit, rings, fingerless gloves, and these things called ‘love stacks’, and the story’s just begun for her... Q: Your creations are uniquely crafted and produced, what goes into the process from an initial idea through to owning an authentic Bless Your Cotton Socks piece? A: I’ll usually get a crazy idea, make a sample piece, and then work out if I can make a collection out of it. From there I decide what material or colour variations I want, and then set to work creating. Photography plays a large part in marketing the piece online. Sometimes this can take a while, because generally none of my pieces are the same, so everything has to be individually photographed. From there the pieces are either sold by word of mouth, Etsy or ASOS Marketplace, and hopefully the owner goes on to love it!
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Claude prefers to spend most of her time knitting on the floor, taking advantage of the space by spreading out her work.
FAWN JOBS
Bless Your Cotton Socks handmade packaging featuring vintage Archie comics.
Q: What was your experience of turning your childhood passion into a successful business? A: It was something that happened without me really noticing. I’ve always had a drive to create crafty things. My Dad’s a musician so when I was little we spent a lot of time at home together making paper lanterns and drawing with Derwent pencils. From there it grew into what my mother would call ‘phases’ – 3 months making nothing but pom poms, a whole summer of just making tiny origami boxes. Then there was the time in ’93 when we couldn’t throw away any single piece of cardboard because I was building dollhouses and giving them to people as presents. So from there I’ve taken ‘phases’ and tried to turn them into ‘ranges’, creating one small handmade collection at a time. I have to be quite disciplined about finishing the whole collection before moving on to the next thing though, because I get really excited about new ideas and want to start them straight away. So I keep a list of things to move onto next and I make a sample to keep on ice ready to go. Q: How does your studio contribute to the creative process? A: I never realised how much of a difference having an open organised space, makes to being creative. I’m in a new studio now that allows me to have everything stored and set up in a way that looks inspirational to me, but is also there in my face and reminds me to finish a project. I’ve lived in lots of tiny sharehouses where my craft has been crammed out of sight in cupboards and I went months without getting anything done. Though I
“I have to be quite disciplined about finishing the whole collection before moving on... I get really excited about new ideas and want to start them straight away.”
Knitted grape necklace. Grapes are individually knitted and stuffed before being put together.
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FAWN JOBS
The Bless Your Cotton Socks workspace, located in Chippendale Sydney.
Knitted apple necklace. A favourite in the Bless Your Cotton Socks Fruit Salad collection.
“My latest range of fingerless gloves was born entirely out of wandering through Lincraft and finding a new type of wool.”
owe many flatmates over the years ‘thankyous’ for letting me cover the living room in wool cuttings and half-finished cross-stitches. Having a space though, where you can leave something until you have the mindframe to come back and know how you want to finish it, I think is imperative to the creative process. Q: What inspires your collections? A: It would have to be just the materials themselves most of all. I found an 80’ s VCR cabinet on the side of the road, and the faux wood panelling was the catalyst for an upcoming range of pendants with kittens. My latest range of fingerless gloves was born entirely out of wandering through Lincraft
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and finding a new type of wool. I also collect a lot of stuff that inspires the ‘vibe’ of the label too, such as vintage books, Elvis figurines, Cat statues and antique crockery. Q: What is the biggest source of satisfaction of your job? A: Just getting an order and receiving customer feedback that they love something I made. I feel like I would be a crazy craft factory regardless of whether anyone bought my stuff, so the fact that someone out there on the other side of the world found it online and felt like they had to own it is amazing to me.
FAWN JOBS
Claude is always on the hunt for books on cats or craft for the vintage book collection in the studio.
“My friends are used to me turning up at the pub with my knitting needles ..”
Q: How many hours do you work a week, and what kind of downtime do you have? A: Well I have a day job in radio that I’m also committed to that keeps me busy, so Bless Your Cotton Socks takes up all my downtime. But I integrate it into my social life pretty well. My friends are used to me turning up at the pub with my knitting needles. I have lots of little ‘project bags’ that I take with me if I’m going on long trips. I can never watch TV without knitting or I feel lazy. I also tried knitting at the Movies once, but that didn’t work out too well. Q: Do you have competitors, or is Bless Your Cotton Socks simply one of a kind? A: If I do have any, I’m not going to tell you about them, hahaha. But really, I’ve not come across anyone doing exactly the same stuff, but I think that’s the awesome thing about the online creative community, I’ve found people are pretty respectful and supportive of each other’s ideas and designs. Sometimes you do start something and realise someone has already done something similar, but I think you also have to have faith in your own creativity and believe you’ll always be able to come up with new ideas. Q: What advice would you give to those following your path? A: Make sure that you work out what part of the process of running a small business it is you enjoy, and don’t take that part away from yourself. Some people thrive on the admin side, some people love the initial design aspect. I love the actual process of making the thing, so I know that I’ll never be able to have a brand that massproduces, and I’ll always be OK with outsourcing the admin side, because I’m hopeless at it. Q: What’s next for you? A: Small picture - I’m finalising the photography on a range of Vintage Bow-Ties I bought in Amsterdam that I turned into two-way necklace/hair bows. Big picture – I’m opening up a new wing of the business that creates bigger bespoke craft & knitting solutions. My dream is that someone will say ‘Hey, we need you to knit 45,968 cat faces to sew onto the Harbour Bridge, it’s going to take 5 years, but we’ll pay you billions of dollars’ and I’ll be like YES, (or something slightly more realistic, but along those lines).
The talking Babushka cookie jar is the latest addition to the Bless Your Cotton Socks studio.
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