In recent articles I’ve been highlighting the creative genius that is coming out of Canberra of late. Hip creative hubs, fashion shows and new designers are cropping up everywhere you look. I have even recently heard some out-of-towners saying that Canberra was ‘cool’. Now that’s got to be good news for the most paid out city in Australia.
It’s crept up slowly, this new era of innovation, but it’s here and everyone is feeling it. The buzz is that there are more opportunities to make your mark as a creative person. There is a creative industry that is insular yet supportive as everyone wants to see it grow. Dare I say it, designers, stylists, photographers and other creatives can now make some sort of a living off their craft. This is big news.
That’s not to say it’s an easy road. The big fishes are swimming in a bigger pond these days. However the difference between Canberra and the bigger cities may be that we support each other in a really healthy way, the competition isn’t generally so cut-throat and we share ideas and information freely to boost the industry.
A perfect example of this is Canberra’s first fashion and designer collaboration, CBR Collective. Established by Lighthouse Business Innovation Centre in partnership with Canberra Centre, CBR Collective provides Canberra based designers with the opportunity to grow or establish their brand. The boutique is run with designers and an experienced retail manager. Designers from Canberra are being encouraged to get involved in this unique retail concept and initiative which includes mentorship and peer and industry support.
Currently, 6 designers share the tenancy: E4, FibreStudio Design, M&TM, Pure Pod, T-Heinrich and sofia polak. Other labels being stocked are: Hutch, PNC Metalsmith, Tango & James, I Heart Threads, Cynthia Jones-Bryson and BM designs, with a vintage label coming soon.
Anna Pino, CEO of Lighthouse Business Innovation Centre says, “It’s not just about the retail outlet, but also about supporting the development of broad based business skills and expanding the reach and appeal of their products. Lighthouse and Canberra Centre will remain actively involved with CBR Collective during the first six months with the intention to then hand total control over to the collective itself’
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| M&TM |
“A number of businesses in Canberra have come on board and joined Lighthouse in supporting this creative and entrepreneurial initiative,” says Ms Pino. Its start-up stage also has benefited from a local patron who prefers to remain anonymous.”
“As awareness of the creativity of our local designers increases so does the demand for their collections of fashion and accessories, creating a stronger economic base for the designers and a stronger local industry.”
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| sofia polak |
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I spoke to one of the designers in the collective, Janette Lenk of T-Heinrich, to find out why this initiative is helping her grow her business.
Why did you decide to get involved with CBR Collective?
I had been thinking about my own store for a while. Then I heard talks that a fashion incubator was coming and I had to know more… Lighthouse came up with the whole concept and branched out to designers, they have been very supportive in making it CBR Collective happen (thank you). I felt this was as better time as ever and show casing with other Canberra designers would be perfect. It was the next step for me and my label and I wanted to be able to point my customers to a store and CBR would be it!
What has been the response from customers to the store thus far?
Many Canberrans have been saying that this is something they have been waiting for, it has been a long time coming. I had one of Canberra’s fashionistas, Sarah Kelly, come in and she couldn’t get enough. She loved the fact that she could now go in to a store and buy quality local designers items. I mean, people love to support locals and the response we got on the opening VIP night was awesome – you couldn’t move in the store.
How do you think CBR Collective will be a beneficial platform for Canberran designers? How has it benefited your label, T-Heinrich?
It is a platform for the designers to develop and learn from this wonderful opportunity. Also the fact that we have a great support network with the other designers and Lighthouse. We are all in it together and to bounce ideas off. It also gives us ideas of where we want to go next, each designer has their own motive – and this it’s an unlimited positive platform - the sky’s the limit. In fact I think this will only make designers hungry for constant expansion and creative evolvement - it’s very exciting! After seeing how healthy my sales have been, it is motivating – my product is wanted and I want to make my customer happy.
What does the future of CBR Collective look like at this stage?
With the interest from customers and designers there is a bright future for CBR Collective. We are in stages of planning individual designer/VIP nights. We have a ton of creative ideas and we want to make it an experience when shopping at our boutique. We offer a unique experience, the fact you can speak to the designers yourself is a one off; you can even give feedback to the designers. We all hope to be here, well in to the future.
What advice would you give to other emerging designers?
Go get em! Be hungry for it. Network where ever you are, you never know who is around the corner or who the person you have just met knows. Having a clear goal of what you want right from the start helps. Take little steps to achieve where you want to be and watch yourself grow. Learn from your mistakes and be POSITIVE.
6. Where do you see your label in 5 years?
I love this question, in the next few years I want to be able to sell a completed collection with pieces replicated a thousand times (laughs). I want to design coats in wonderful colours, textures and design my own fabric prints. Studying overseas in Italy or Paris is also on the cards. AND long term, I wouldn’t mind selling in Myer or David Jones.
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| Janette in T-Heinrich |
I know where I’ll be shopping this weekend and who knows, I may just bump into the designers themselves. There are not many places where you can do that.
n
recent articles I’ve been highlighting the creative genius that is
coming out of Canberra of late. Hip creative hubs, fashion shows and
new designers are cropping up everywhere you look. I have even recently
heard some out-of-towners saying that Canberra was ‘cool’. Now that’s
got to be good news for the most paid out city in Australia.
It’s crept up slowly, this new era of innovation, but it’s here and
everyone is feeling it. The buzz is that there are more opportunities to
make your mark as a creative person. There is a creative industry that
is insular yet supportive as everyone wants to see it grow. Dare I say
it, designers, stylists, photographers and other creatives can now make
some sort of a living off their craft. This is big news.
That’s not to say it’s an easy road. The big fishes are swimming in a
bigger pond these days. However the difference between Canberra and the
bigger cities may be that we support each other in a really healthy
way, the competition isn’t generally so cut-throat and we share ideas
and information freely to boost the industry.
- See more at: http://www.stylehunter.com/featured/cbr-collective-canberras-very-own-designer-incubus/#sthash.fZJ5Ltlx.dpuf
