TWELV sits down with founders of Parlor Social Club Jan Cieslikiewicz and Frederick Ghartey to give a glimpse into the story of co-founders living in New York City.
FROM AUSTRALIA WITH LOVE: Designer Profile of Gabriella Ferrante
September 06, 2013 3:22 PM
I find that Australia’s fashion industry can sometime be accused of playing catch-up with other, bigger and more cosmopolitan locations (i.e. Paris, London etc…) This needn’t be the case. There are a number of growing emerging and established Australian designers going by the beat of their own drum who prove that the Australian fashion industry can be treated just as seriously.
Gabriella Ferrante is an emerging and talented designer based out of Melbourne. Her creativity and exceptional craftsmanship can easily be spotted in all the garments she creates. However, it’s her social and ethical responsible approach to fashion design that has always fascinated me, particularly as she works almost exclusively with leather. In a world where just about everything is ‘fast’ – you only have to look at the high street stores where shipment of new product arrives daily – Gabriella slows things down and proves that fashion isn’t a race.
Who are you?
Gabriella Ferrante: dedicated to slow fashion + sustainability, or rather sustainable fashion, and promoting and nurturing the local fashion industry and local manufacture (wherever that may be: Melbourne for now, likely to be Europe next year). My father was a tailor and my aunt a dressmaker, both trained in Rome in the 50's, so you could say it's in my blood.
What influences you?
I have a special interest in leather: after using leather for whole collections and finally researching the industry and leather production, I begun using recycled leather, which is a more sustainable option than many toxic and unethical forms of leather production. I am also interested in educating the consumer into making more conscious choices, not just quick and easy ones
I’m influenced by the senses, exploration, sub-cultures, wind, fire, water, tessuti, anthropology, sounds and, and, and……
Working in Australia - - do you feel like you’re a big fish in a small pond or are you waiting for lightning to strike?
Working in Australia is difficult. It's certainly a small pond, and even smaller for those of us who chose not to produce offshore. I am keen to persevere, but not indefinitely: not sure if the lightening is going to strike. There is a small shift to buying from local designers, but we don't really have the numbers here. But who knows what the future holds?
Gabriella is currently working on her next project: creating sustainable leather accessories including bags and wallets.
By Matthew Feddersen
related posts
Keiichiro Nakajima interview
Keiichiro Nakajima is a photographer and director based in Japan, represented by a management and production company called Signo, Inc, which is one of the largest and leading artist management...
SHIN FUJIYAMA Founder of Students Helping Honduras INTERVIEW
Japanese-American philanthropist Shin Fujiyama co-founded Students Helping Honduras with his sister Cosmo Fujiyama.
NEW TYPE #36: Mônot - ELI MIZRAHI INTERVIEW
Beginning with his childhood in Lebanon, Eli Mizrahi garnished inspiration from across the globe to debut his evening wear brand, Mônot, last fall.
RMK CREATIVE DIRECTOR: KAORI INTERVIEW
KAORI is a renowned make-up artist and the creative director of RMK beauty, a flourishing Japanese makeup and skincare brand that is now sold worldwide.
MICHEL GONDRY INTERVIEW
“MAYBE WE CAN BE IMMERSED IN MOVIES BECAUSE WE’RE USED TO DREAMING.”
JEAN PAUL GAULTIER EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
It has become almost useless and banal to introduce Jean-Paul Gaultier.The mere mention of his name alone elicits a constellation of images that have become part of our mind and imagination since...
NEW TYPE #35: DARA SENDERS INTERVIEW
Dara Senders, the designer behind the eponymously titled, all size inclusive brand that launched in 2018, has always been obsessed with fashion.
NEW TYPE #35: NTTE HATS
From a small city near Milan to Downtown New York, Paolo, Designer and creater of NTTE Hatsdiscovered his passion for hats and anything vintage at a young age.
NEW TYPE #34 : BEAU WATSON
1. As a new designer, how do you hope to distinguish yourself among other designers?
NIAN FISH INTERVIEW
Nian Fish, creative director of KCD, has been, for decades, a pivotal figure in the fashion world, assembling and producing fashion shows that have become cultural benchmarks unto themselves, such...
CESAR LOVE ALEXANDRE INTERVIEW
Cesar Love Alexadre is a duo of visual artists formed by Isabelle Chaput and Nelson Tiberghien.They met at the Gobelins school of Photography in Paris and now based in New York where they work on...
TOM PECHEUX INTERVIEW
TWELV got a special interview from Tom Pecheux. Read as we host interviews and explore the lives of artists who shape the final product - directors, fashion designers, stylists, ...
ANTHONY VACCARELLO INTERVIEW
Anthony Vaccarello was considered as one of the brightest new talent in fashion: he was part of this new generation of talents the whole industry has kept an eye on to see them grow, to see them...
Why is Everyone in Hollywood Buzzing About Actress Malgosia Garnys?
Have you ever felt like you were beautiful and powerful and the universe was conspiring in your best interest, and your opportunities were endless because you’ve lost people you loved...
INTERVIEW: Bigwig Broadway Producer, Jordan Roth and Acclaimed Choreographer, Michelle Dorrance
R.I.P Chek Wu
We at TWELV are deeply saddened to announce the passing of talented photographer, boundless free-spirit, and our friend, Chek Wu.
GatherNYC: Everything We Love About Church With No Weird Stuff
GatherNYC is Everything We Love About Sunday Service With None of the Weird Stuff
NEW TYPE #33: Catherine Casias Inteview
If fashion is an expression of experiences, Catherine Casias has a lot of area to cover. She has excelled as an Olympic volleyball player, a philosophy major, and a fine artist....
Party Czar Carmen D’Alessio, Empress of the Sun and the Queen of the Night
You may not know Carmen D’Alessio by name.
IKEMEN #39: JORDAN HENRIQUEZ
IKEMEN (ē´k´mɛn): Japanese Slang
"REALLY, REALLY, RIDICULOUSLY GOOD LOOKING PEOPLE"
IKEMEN #38: WARREN KAY
IKEMEN (ē´k´mɛn): Japanese Slang
"REALLY, REALLY, RIDICULOUSLY GOOD LOOKING PEOPLE"
NEW TYPE #32: ALEXANDER ROYS INTERVIEW
"Introducing an innovative Men’s designer to inspire you with the visions of future and the rise of technology."
Branding in the Worlds of Art and Commerce According to Silvia Mella
Branding is everything. For an entrepreneur, it is the difference between viability and bankruptcy. On social media, we are all our own brands.
Interview: Jackie Yang, Creative Director of Chelsea and Walker
TWELV sat down with Jackie Yang, Creative Director of Chelsea and Walker, in the brand’s New York City...
New Type #31: Angela Mitchell – Krystal and Marilyn Lavoie Interview
We are living in the age of fast fashion, and even Europe’s most storied luxury brands have been moving their factories to Asia to reduce costs.
Ikemen #37: Dominik Halas
IKEMEN (ē´k´mɛn): Japanese Slang
"REALLY, REALLY, RIDICULOUSLY GOOD LOOKING PEOPLE"
New Type #30: Carolina Sarria & Bianca Allen Interview
Both Carolina Sarria and Bianca Allen knew they wanted to become fashion designers from a young age.
Interview & Backstage: Christian Siriano Celebrates 10 Years in Fashion
After the successful launch of his book Dresses to Dream About, a decade-anniversary celebration on the runway, and a whirlwind of striking celebrity looks on the red carpet of...
New Type #29: Jackie Astier Interview
Astier places its identity within the advanced adaptation skills of the modern New York woman.
INTERVIEW: Meet Kiko Arai, Miss Japan-turned Face of Balmain and Zara
Kiko Arai hails from Osaka, Japan, and after winning the title of Miss Japan 2012, the now 27-year old is captivating a new audience– the fashion world.
Interview: Parisian Designer Frédéric Robert's Debut Shoe Collection "ME.LAND"
A vibrant brand of Italian-made shoes for men is emerging this year as one-to-watch.
New Type #28: the Design Duo Behind Maxime Hernandez Interview
The streetwear phenomenon in the fashion establishment is not slowing down anytime soon.
MICHEL NAFZIGER INTERVIEW
With a wealth of experience shooting some for some of fashion's most renowned clients (Yves Saint Laurent, Guy Laroche), ...
IKEMEN #36: Jérôme LaMaar
IKEMEN (ē´k´mɛn): Japanese Slang
"REALLY, REALLY, RIDICULOUSLY GOOD LOOKING PEOPLE"