Profile — Spinifex & Co

Spinifex and CoLuxury Clothing from Bell

Have you ever dreamed of creating your own fashion label? How would you begin! And could you do it from regional Australia? We caught up with Kayde Lehman the founder of Spinifex and Co located in Bell to find out more.

Kayde Lehman has just opened her first flagship store in the town of Bell near Dalby. The store was a natural progression following on the success of her online business. But Kayde wasn’t always a fashionista – far from it! She was working as a contract musterer in a remote and isolated part of the Pilbara region of WA when she started creating her own designs.

“My first range was just T-shirts and sweaters but I had a vision for what I wanted to eventually achieve,” she said.

“When we moved to our cattle property near Bell I decided to really build the business.

“I’ve worked on cattle properties – vast properties - all my life and I do find that the colours and textures of the bush definitely influence me. I like clothing to be comfortable but quality is number one: all my garments have to be top quality and made from natural fibres.

“I draw the designs for every garment myself and then send my drawings away to a pattern-maker in Sydney who fine tunes the cut and fit to my specifications.

“I source fabrics – including linens, cottons and silks - from all over the world and the garments are made by a family in China.

Kayde has not found living in Bell any deterrent to running a successful fashion business – anything but!

“I find the local community is really supportive and the shop is now a place where the girls can get together and have a cuppa and a chat. We share ideas and do photo shoots together. It has been amazing!

“I love seeing the local ladies looking great in my designs and I am so proud when Sydney and Melbourne influencers feature my garments on their sites … it really is a dream come true!”