Kirrily's eleison
Time Out catches up with designer Kirrily Johnston to talk inspiration, Sydney style and awkwardly dressed Aussie men
Leaping into the Sydney style scene
with her label in 2003, Kirrily Johnston
seemed on a fast track to global
recognition. Aptly named ‘Meet Me
at The Magic Club,’ her first collection
revealed to the media that this
newcomer was no one-hit wonder.
Merely a few years on from her debut,
Johnson is not only a household name
but is in demand from niche boutiques
from the UK to the USA.
Where did you first put down
your fashion roots? I live here in
Sydney but I grew up in Melbourne
near the Dandenong Ranges in a
suburb called Montrose. I was always
interested in anything crafty and
was always making things. I started
thinking about becoming a designer
when I was 14 years old.
What was it that influenced your
creativity? My main influence
was music. I had a real passion for
alternative 1980s New Romantic and
punk bands in my early teens, and
that led me to people and clubs where
everyone was heavily into their look
and passionate and creative about
dressing. It was great. I wish it was
more like that now!
How did you go from dreaming to
doing? It did start off as pipe dreams
– I wasn’t really doing that much
about it other than making my own
clothes. I got really into photography,
and worked in that industry for a
while before realising I could make a
living out of making clothes so I quit
my job and went back and studied
fashion when I was 25.
What was the most important
step in reaching your goals? Formal training was the first really
important step, and after that I took
steps every single day. You have to
just keep at it and keep pushing yourself...
and you simply cannot entertain
the idea of not making it.
How nerve wracking was it showing
for the first time? My first solo
show was spring/summer 2004 at the
Icebergs Restaurant. It was early in
the morning, the water was glistening,
the air smelled amazing, and the girls
walked through the room a metre from
the guests, so it was intimate. Fashion
Week organisers didn’t believe anyone
would come – I couldn’t get them to
see my vision but everyone came. We
got incredible reviews.
Which fellow Australian designers
do you admire and why? Romance
Was Born, because it’s great to see
such boldness with ideas. I also
admire Sylvie Markovina – she’s
a young jewellery designer that I
collaborate with and she is just so
talented and fresh.
Any celebrity fans? Toni Collette,
Irina Lazereanu, Miranda Kerr, Connie
Mitchell (Sneaky Sound System),
Delta Goodrem, Megan Gale and
Kate Bosworth have all shopped in
my store. I’d like to dress actresses
Julie Delpy and Natalie Portman.
What sparks your imagination
here and overseas? My latest
collection is called “The Wanderers”
and it is about roaming the globe in
amazing rich textured clothing. I think
national costume is my biggest inspiration
overseas. But here in Australia
my biggest has to be nature.
How on the edge of fashion do
you think Sydney is? I don’t know
if I would say Sydney is on the edge
of fashion but it definitely has it’s own
thing going on. It doesn’t have the history
other major cities have, so if you
have original ideas and a bit of style
it’s a good place to get noticed.
Do Aussie shoppers have different
requirements? Beach and lifestyle
dominate the way women shop
here. That’s the difference between
Sydney and Europe. Sydney and
Melbourne – they could be different
countries as far as I’m concerned.
How difficult is it for Aussies to
break into the international market? Very hard, but do-able. I think
Australian Fashion Week has had a
huge impact on younger designers.
Give us the lowdown on your
favourite Sydney haunts? Assin
on Oxford Street is my favourite
store – they stock Rick Owens, Anne
Demuelemeester and Comme des Garcons.
Icebergs at Bondi is my favourite
hang. And Nielsen Park, where I go to
think, is incredibly beautiful.
Aussie men are given a hard time
about their lack of style. Fair? Yes, they’re generally very lazy and
unimaginative. The way to my heart
is through a good outfit. Most girls
love a man that dresses well, it’s not
only a sign of good taste but shows
respect towards yourself and to other
people. Clothes are a way of speaking.
My tip? ‘If you want to get out of
your clothes more often, get into your
clothes more often!’
Any exciting plans for 2008? We just got into Harvey Nichols in
New York so there first. Then New
York for a week to see my agency
there. I’m doing L’Oreal Melbourne
Fashion Festival show in March and
then the Aussie Fashion Week show
in April. And hopefully open a Sydney
City store by the end of the year!
Kirrily Johnston Boutique, 6 Glenmore
Road, Paddington, 2010 (02 9380
7775). For more stockists visit www.kirrilyjohnston.com.