Gill Milligan
What sounds like the finishing touches to your morning muesli is in the fashion industry, a quintessentially sunny Australian label.
The brainchild of Gill Milligan, 31, Milk and Honey came about in 2003, offering young women a line of cool clothing that merged surf chick chic with an edgy vibe.
Now entering it's tenth season, the label is rapidly growing in popularity both here and overseas, thanks to some uniquely girly designs and street art twist. Time Out caught up with the enigmatic designer to find out more about her journey to success.
What were your creative inspirations growing up?
It's funny, because looking back, I can see that my inspirations came in many forms. My creative flare has definitely come from my dad's side. My nanna sewed and baked amazingly and she taught me to do both from a very early age. My dad was a toolmaker by trade (designing tools from scratch) and is brilliant at creating almost anything without any real instruction - like parts for cars, furniture... While none of us are true artisans in the formal sense, we all have a flair for visualising and bringing ideas to life.
How did you move into the world of fashion?
I had been working on a girls' teen surfing magazine and was in charge of setting up and styling the fashion shoots as well as filling the product pages. Apart from a few futile home economics sewing assignments I had at school, design was not part of my life. In fact, up until this point I was set on becoming a doctor, or at least trying to become one! But as soon as I got into mags, I realised I loved being around clothes and knew it was something I could do for myself. In hindsight it was a pretty brave move, as I truly had absolutely no idea what I was doing.
You are a self-taught designer - how difficult a process?was this?
Really, really difficult and more so than I first thought it would be. I was never afraid of the challenge but it has taken me a good few years to truly understand the process of design and the architecture of a well-made garment. It has only been in the last couple of years that I can go away and sit in a room with only a pen and paper and design a collection from scratch.
How old were you when you started your design label? Was it tough cracking a market full of more experienced designers?
I was 22 when I first started with my very first label, Mermaid Sister. The clothes sat in the surf market alongside huge competitors like Billabong and I went through a very sharp learning curve in discovering that having a 'label' was a great deal more than just good designs. It's a marketing juggernaut; a strong collection is just one piece of the puzzle that has to be in place to have a successful business. Starting out so young helped me get all the knowledge I needed to make a success of Milk and Honey. There are so many wonderful, experienced Australian designers, but the ones that make a difference in the industry are those that have mastered all areas of their business and brand.
How do you like to define your designs?
My style is definitely girly and quirky. It's flirty rather than overtly sexy and is definitely for girls who are comfortable in their own skin. My Autumn/Winter 08 collection is called The Future's so Bright. It's a little bit futuristic and a little bit pretty, with a focus on beautiful fabrications and the architecture of design.
How do you think your very Australian style translates in foreign markets?
Australians do have the reputation overseas of having a very 'unique' style - international buyers say they can always spot an Australian label. I'm not sure exactly what that 'thing' is that makes us stand out from the pack. It may be our ability to carelessly fuse high fashion and street style, to give us that look that takes us from the beach to the dinner party without a change.
You recently launched the brand in the UK - how did that go?
Brilliantly. We have 12 stockists throughout the UK and it's growing every season. It's been a big investment as we wanted to do it right from the beginning, but it pays to follow the right paths. To a certain degree it's like starting the business all over again, as you really are a little fish in a big sea.
What are your plans to move the label forward in 2008?
We are really excited about launching the Spring/Summer 08 collection early in the New Year. It's going to be a big year for both domestic and international growth. There will also be a big focus on our Sweet Cheeks denim line that launched late this year. The jeans are like a bra for your bum and come in different 'cup' sizes.
As a young woman in fashion, what would your advice be for budding?designers?
Get as much experience as you can. Never believe you have nothing left to learn and don't be afraid to be persistent - just remember your manners. It's worth it - the feeling of seeing any woman look fantastic in something you have created is amazing.
style@timeoutsydney.com.au