Fashion Wayfinder Carla van Lunn

Carly Vidal Wallace is the Creative Community Curator at NOT JUST A LABEL.
NOT JUST A LABEL (NJAL) is the leading online platform for emerging fashion designers. The website showcases the work of 35,000+ designers from around the globe.
Carly talks about NJAL’s recent move from London to Los Angeles, and the amazing opportunities that the platform offers for independent designers.
NJAL enables buyers, editors and stylists to search for and connect directly with the world’s most innovative and fresh fashion talent.
In 2019 NJAL will be re-launching its e-commerce capability, enabling consumers to discover and shop for creative designer pieces through the website.
This episode is a must-listen for all wild and independent designers !

Brothers Nick and Ben Chiu have been fashion pioneers in their home city of Brisbane, Australia.
They opened their first Apartment boutique in 2006, bringing New York street and sneaker culture to Brisbane.
This year, 2018, they opened in a new larger location and joined with womenswear boutique, Violent Green.
Apartment is a mecca for streetwear connoisseurs, stocking brands like Comme des Garçons PLAY, Visvim, WTAPS… 
Ben and Nick bring a lot of soul to their retail business. Visitors are welcomed with warmth and are inspired by their beautiful products and space.
The brothers believe in creating community and experiences in Brisbane. Their work extends beyond fashion into music and records, and burger restaurants! All delivered with the same quest for quality and attention to detail.

Kay McMahon is passionate about mentoring students and entrepreneurs to succeed in the fashion industry. She says a designer’s first priority should be to create great product, but equally important is to effectively communicate and position your product in front of the right audience.
Kay has a wealth of industry experience from public relations, to journalism, to wholesale and retail, all of which informs her teaching. She tells designers to define success on their own terms. Start small, always be researching and developing, and above all – understand and respect your target market.

Hailing from the UK, Meriel Chamberlin is a textile technologist and the founder of Full Circle Fibres.
Meriel is making it possible for individuals and businesses to source 100% Australian cotton yarns and fabrics. Her cotton is “single origin” and Meriel coordinates every step the supply chain, from paddock to product.
Meriel has a wealth of knowledge to share about fibres and fabric manufacturing. Her sustainability message to designers is to create brilliant products that fit well – that people will wear often and love!
For more information, visit fashionwayfinder.com

Alice Jones was forced to question the ethics of the fashion system when she worked as a fashion buyer and was confronted with the unbelievably low cost of garments made in developing countries.
She met like-minded fashion activist, Louise Visser, and together they established an ethical and sustainable fashion brand, Sinerji, in 2006. Sinerji attracts a loyal clientele who wants quality garments made from natural fibres, and customers who care about the provenance of their clothes.
Alice and I spoke about her sustainable fashion success story, live on stage, at The Royal Queensland Show (AKA The Ekka). Thank you to Laura Churchill for inviting us to be part of this event celebrating Australia’s natural fibres!
For more information, visit fashionwayfinder.com

Thuy Nguyen is the fashion development manager at Creative Enterprise Australia (CEA). Through the Fashion360 program, she mentors emerging and early-stage fashion entrepreneurs to develop their ranges and establish viable businesses.
Thuy has worked in the fashion industry her entire life and has a wealth of technical and industry knowledge. Her design career began very early, using her mother’s industrial sewing machine at the age of 9 to sew Barbie doll clothes which she sold to other young girls. Pursuing her childhood dream, she later established her own bridal business.
Hers is a lifelong passion for fashion and she fosters a sense of quality and appreciation for the craft of fashion in the designers she mentors.
For more information, visit fashionwayfinder.com