In conversation with Julia Browne, StyleShifter. Fantastic wardrobes and where to find them.
Next up in the secret world of Melbourne fashion, I'm donning my vintage Doc Martens for a chat with Julia Browne, Styleshifter and founder of Melbourne Fashion Hub. A fellow Brit, Julia created MFH to offer a free, open-access program that gives emerging fashion designers a platform to showcase their businesses. Julia’s wardrobe features vintage and secondhand fashion and pieces from independent and student designers, and I cannot wait to hear more about her world and where it all began.
Julia greets me on Zoom wearing one of her signature turbans in textured fabric and a bright green bow tie perched atop a perfectly steamed dress shirt. If there is a rare fashion find to be found, you can bet that Julia has found it. Her megawatt energy, infectious laugh and true joy in dressing set her apart and spills over into her fashion baby, Styleshifter Media which features fashion tips, creative art fashion inspiration and what's new on the Melbourne fashion scene.
ER: 'Your style is so eclectic and playful, Julia-tell me about your love of fashion and how your style has evolved'.
JB: 'As you know, Elle, like you I am from London and now settled in Australia. I was raised in Slough and come from a family who were always well dressed, and appearance was very important. My mum used to make all of her own clothes and my dad always had his suits made for him. I think unconsciously from a very young age I have wanted to look unique and explore my own personal style. We were always taught not to be wasteful; we were very mindful of waste, and this is how I am wired to think about sustainability and the planet, and how to choose special vintage and one-off items that stand the test of time.
My aunty was an influential figure, she was a sewing technician and would make everything from curtains and blinds to jackets and creative textiles. She had a classic style and always looked amazing. She was also a lecturer and I used to love the sales that her student fashion designers made, my idea for Melbourne Fashion Hub was born there. I remember being very young and my cousin went to a sale and came back with a hand painted coat. I was transfixed by the colours, it was so precious and unique. As an adult I havent changed-it's in my DNA to long for visually stunning, well made and conceptual pieces. I love the way that clothing can make you feel empowered.'
ER: 'How does your style reflect who you are?'
JB: 'At my core its expressing my quirky, unusual, playful and eclectic inner-self. I like to dress for my day, how I feel on that day and where I am going. I love the idea of proportionality and balance, mixing print and dense colour in a way that they have space to breathe and accentuate my body in the best possible way.'
“Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.”
ER: ‘I love how playful you are and how you choose unique designs. What is your best piece of fashion advice?'
JB: 'I think its about being true to yourself, don’t feel that you have to fit in with other people’s perceptions and trends, you don’t need to bend to fashion rules if you don’t feel like it life's too short!'
ER: 'I couldn't agree with you more, it can be hard to push against the tide when it comes to fashion and easier to just follow the herd, but finding what works for you individually is so rewarding.'
JB:' It's a form of tribalism, messaging is so persuasive now that it's hard to push against that trap, but its liberating to go with your gut and wear what you feel is your own personal style. There are small steps that you can take to bring joy to a wardrobe, a beautiful necklace shaped to create a 'v', an easy scarf, fun earrings, these things add a touch of individuality and can be a gateway to a bigger shift in your style, to really bring joy to your everyday life.'
ER:' Fashion is storytelling and you do it so well! Talk me through where you like to shop and how do you put together your outfits?
JB: 'I love to shop vintage fashion, and always shop responsibly. You can't be truly sustainable if you're just converting fast fashion habits to a new sector. Reimagining and reinventing clothing in new ways is what I really love to do. When I shop, I love finding pieces in the lost and found market and working with independent designers. Throughout my life I've had different phases in fashion, being a dancer, I was largely influenced by music and how it’s enmeshed with British fashion culture and I still love to combine music and fashion. For me, collecting fashion is collecting beautiful, wearable art and each garment holds memories that I value.
ER: Tell me some more about Melbourne Fashion Hub and the emerging designers that you work with, MFH is such a great initiative, where can we find independent designers in Melbourne, support the next generation and get our hands on some beautiful made-to-measure pieces?
JB: ' Free access for undiscovered talent is something I am passionate about. When I think about Bruce Oldfield, he was raised in Barnardo's orphanage and then placed in foster care. His foster mother gave him a sewing machine, and he became Lady Diana’s favourite designer. It’s essential that there are opportunities for everyone for talent to reach its full potential. If his foster mother had never given him a sewing machine, what would his life have been like? I feel strongly that regardless of background, talent must be supported. MFH promotes sustainability, is helping to combat the torrent of fast fashion, and simultaneously showcasing the next generation of talent-it's a win-win.’
Follow Julia @styleshifter @melbfashhub