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February 23rd 2007 08:01
As a design student, I am always interested in what other young designers are up to. It's a tough industry, and we're so used to hearing stories from the other side, so I thought I would use this post to introduce a young crew of designers who are currently in the very early stages of establishing a fashion range labelled Unlucky Pierre. While at the moment they are selling printed T-shirts (let's not forget how Sass and Bide began) this is only a starting point for them before they move on to bigger and better things.
Shane talbot, the creator of the label, answered some of my questions on how to get started and the challenges involved for young Aussie designers.
Who is Unlucky Pierre?
Unlucky Pierre is an emerging fashion label formed by Shane Talbot an Industrial Design student at UTS, Daniel Ghezelbash an Arts Law student at Sydney Uni, Louise Lie a Norwegian Fashion Student at UTS and Alex Bourke, a Graphic Design student at Billy Blue.
Our current range concentrates on t-shirts, allowing us to establish ourselves and cement our style while we expand our collection to include dresses and outerwear.
How long did it take you to get started from the time you got the idea?
As a young male, I have always been interested in t-shirts and t-shirt design, as they are the staple item of clothing for any occasion, the perfect item to dress up, or dress down. It has always amazed me how versatile one item of clothing can be, and how it can be worn in so many different capacities, from going out to the Cross on you, to breakfast on her.
Way back in 2003, during my failed attempt at an engineering degree, I found myself spending more time sketching ideas for t-shirts "that I would one day print" than listening to boring lectures on concrete, and subsequently made the decision that I was better suited to design.
Fast-forward to 2006, and halfway through my new degree, I found myself with a sketchbook full of t-shirt ideas, a long summer holiday, many friends bugging me to make them t-shirts, and 3 friends willing to help. So we made three quick stops for t-shirts, inks, and screens, and so began the Unlucky Pierre journey...
What inspires you?
Shit t-shirts. They really bug me. One of the main reasons we started producing was due to the lack of quality t-shirts available. There are a few great labels out there doing some really original things, but the general standard of t-shirts available is sub par at best.
The range we are currently developing is centred on a theme of mystery and the unknown and is inspired by some great design features including glow-in-the-dark, double entendres and secret prints.
And Gomez Addams. He's rad.
Where are you selling now and where do you plan on selling in the future?
For the last few months we have been selling at markets all around Sydney, in the standard Glebe, Surry Hills, Bondi scene that so many young designers start out in.
The markets were great in the short term, allowing us to experiment with colour combinations and various prints; however we are now at the point with our upcoming range to be moving into stores. With this collection being released at the end of March, we will hopefully be stocked in independent boutique stores around Sydney.
What separates you from other emerging t-shirt designers?
As our team approaches our designs from a variety of design perspectives, we incorporate our individual skills into producing a product that has been scrutinized by our different sectors. As a result, the new t-shirts are designed by us, and not just printed on cheap imported tees, or American Apparel shirts like everybody else. The new stuff is 100% Australian made, sweat-shop free, everything is hand printed by us, and a select few items in the range are made on Australian Cotton.
We also understand that nobody likes seeing someone else in the same outfit as themselves, so we keep each of the print runs to a minimum, by varying the colour combinations and print combinations. This allows us to focus on quality, not just mass produced clothing, and most importantly, give each garment its own personality.
What are your plans for the label in the future?
Our current prints are moving away from large emblazoned logos/pictures on the t-shirts, and on to more subtle mature designs. Patterns seem to be catching our eyes recently and a lot of the new shirts and dresses have a patterned print on them.
It is also the first range on the new t-shirts which we designed from scratch. The garments have a printed pattern on the inside that is the Unlucky Pierre signature print, that is there as a kind of 'secret'. Something that the person wearing the shirt knows is there, but nobody else... A kind of 'just for you' from Unlucky Pierre to the wearer.
As well as putting the final touches on the new range, in the next few weeks we will be mailing out a sample pack and portfolio to stores and magazines that we feel will appreciate the image that Unlucky Pierre portrays.
We are also going to be doing a photo shoot in the very near future, which will put our photography skills to the test, but will be a blast!
Our long term plans definitely include getting a picture of someone wearing the shirts in the 'Vice Do's' (the Don'ts would be fine too), and recouping some of the sacrifices we have made, which include, but are not limited to, paying jobs, weekends, any other spare time, friends, and any spare space we had, either under beds or in closets...our sanity... I feel the others will agree with me on that front.
So check out the Unlucky Pierre website www.unluckypierre.com which is due to be updated with the new range very soon, and feel free to contact Shane on shane@unluckypierre.com if you have any more questions.
Shane talbot, the creator of the label, answered some of my questions on how to get started and the challenges involved for young Aussie designers.
Who is Unlucky Pierre?
Unlucky Pierre is an emerging fashion label formed by Shane Talbot an Industrial Design student at UTS, Daniel Ghezelbash an Arts Law student at Sydney Uni, Louise Lie a Norwegian Fashion Student at UTS and Alex Bourke, a Graphic Design student at Billy Blue.
Our current range concentrates on t-shirts, allowing us to establish ourselves and cement our style while we expand our collection to include dresses and outerwear.
The first Unlucky Pierre collection
How long did it take you to get started from the time you got the idea?
As a young male, I have always been interested in t-shirts and t-shirt design, as they are the staple item of clothing for any occasion, the perfect item to dress up, or dress down. It has always amazed me how versatile one item of clothing can be, and how it can be worn in so many different capacities, from going out to the Cross on you, to breakfast on her.
Way back in 2003, during my failed attempt at an engineering degree, I found myself spending more time sketching ideas for t-shirts "that I would one day print" than listening to boring lectures on concrete, and subsequently made the decision that I was better suited to design.
Fast-forward to 2006, and halfway through my new degree, I found myself with a sketchbook full of t-shirt ideas, a long summer holiday, many friends bugging me to make them t-shirts, and 3 friends willing to help. So we made three quick stops for t-shirts, inks, and screens, and so began the Unlucky Pierre journey...
What inspires you?
Shit t-shirts. They really bug me. One of the main reasons we started producing was due to the lack of quality t-shirts available. There are a few great labels out there doing some really original things, but the general standard of t-shirts available is sub par at best.
The range we are currently developing is centred on a theme of mystery and the unknown and is inspired by some great design features including glow-in-the-dark, double entendres and secret prints.
And Gomez Addams. He's rad.
Where are you selling now and where do you plan on selling in the future?
For the last few months we have been selling at markets all around Sydney, in the standard Glebe, Surry Hills, Bondi scene that so many young designers start out in.
The markets were great in the short term, allowing us to experiment with colour combinations and various prints; however we are now at the point with our upcoming range to be moving into stores. With this collection being released at the end of March, we will hopefully be stocked in independent boutique stores around Sydney.
What separates you from other emerging t-shirt designers?
As our team approaches our designs from a variety of design perspectives, we incorporate our individual skills into producing a product that has been scrutinized by our different sectors. As a result, the new t-shirts are designed by us, and not just printed on cheap imported tees, or American Apparel shirts like everybody else. The new stuff is 100% Australian made, sweat-shop free, everything is hand printed by us, and a select few items in the range are made on Australian Cotton.
We also understand that nobody likes seeing someone else in the same outfit as themselves, so we keep each of the print runs to a minimum, by varying the colour combinations and print combinations. This allows us to focus on quality, not just mass produced clothing, and most importantly, give each garment its own personality.
What are your plans for the label in the future?
Our current prints are moving away from large emblazoned logos/pictures on the t-shirts, and on to more subtle mature designs. Patterns seem to be catching our eyes recently and a lot of the new shirts and dresses have a patterned print on them.
It is also the first range on the new t-shirts which we designed from scratch. The garments have a printed pattern on the inside that is the Unlucky Pierre signature print, that is there as a kind of 'secret'. Something that the person wearing the shirt knows is there, but nobody else... A kind of 'just for you' from Unlucky Pierre to the wearer.
As well as putting the final touches on the new range, in the next few weeks we will be mailing out a sample pack and portfolio to stores and magazines that we feel will appreciate the image that Unlucky Pierre portrays.
We are also going to be doing a photo shoot in the very near future, which will put our photography skills to the test, but will be a blast!
Our long term plans definitely include getting a picture of someone wearing the shirts in the 'Vice Do's' (the Don'ts would be fine too), and recouping some of the sacrifices we have made, which include, but are not limited to, paying jobs, weekends, any other spare time, friends, and any spare space we had, either under beds or in closets...our sanity... I feel the others will agree with me on that front.
So check out the Unlucky Pierre website www.unluckypierre.com which is due to be updated with the new range very soon, and feel free to contact Shane on shane@unluckypierre.com if you have any more questions.
Shane modelling an Unlucky Pierre T-shirt
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Comment by Sisi
Comment by Jana
Comment by Lillian
Unlucky Pierre is the Royalty of my wardrobe!
Comment by Jana
Comment by Anonymous
But I heard that the best disc jockey around at the moment is DJ Wanted.
He's amazing. Unlucky PIerre should make T-shirts with him on it...>>> I'd wear it
Comment by Jana