The darling gem invited me into her mother's home where she works from the basement and boy is it an inspiring workplace! I have never seen so many fashion photos and inspiring quotes posted up against the walls- definitely manifesting a lot of positive energy in there!
We spent the day gossiping, making patterns, looking through fashion catalogues and a little bit of online browsing! Oh and she let me visit her current home, where her shoe collection is absolutely INCREDIBLE. !!
As some of you may know, Virgin Blue have unveiled their new glamourous flight attendant uniforms designed by the very own Juli! On our day together she gave me a little inside scoop about what she was creating and goss about the launch!
After Project Runway, J found the business got too out of hand and just simply crazy! So she stopped the business and decided it was time to start again and invest in something completely different.
A year ago, Juli was overseas when she received a phone call to bid for Virgin Blue as the new designer for uniforms. She realised "yup this is it, this is for me," and worked day and night designing, coming up with a concept, sketches and went that extra step with creating a photoshoot.
On her flight home after receiving the phone call, Juli jumped on the first Virgin flight available, where she took the opportunity to talk to all of the flight attendants, cabin crew and pilots in regards to the uniform- what they liked and what they didn't like.
[Juli in her blue Tibi Pants!!!]
So J came up with a 60's inspired design, where instead of having buttons, she created a boat neck style shirt, back zip, little slits on the side arms to have that extra movement for reaching overhead lockers and on top of that, incorporated all three Virgin corporate colours, purple, red and white.
Her designs were revealed at the Virgin Blue launch in Pitt St Mall, Sydney, with guest appearance, legendary model, Elle McPherson.! According to J, her measurements were phenomenal!! Juli also said it was a little difficult to come up with a design that had to fit a size 6 and a size 26, so taking all of that into consideration, she came up with this wonderful creation!
[Elle McPherson claimed the Pilot outfit]
Whilst helping out in the workroom, I asked Juli a few questions about Project Runway, her "absolutely to die for" shoe collection, and life as a designer. ! [please excuse the lack of photographs! i had taken multiple photos but once I put the camera into the computer they somehow got deleted! apologies!]
What has been your most memorable moment in your fashion career so far?
Winning Project runway, that was amazing. That was the best thing ever, can’t even describe it. The show was pre-recorded, so for a whole month couldn’t tell anyone. I’ve worked so hard for so long and something like that happens, I think to myself how can I be so lucky?
Basically went to see one of my friends, do you know of any jobs going. I’d work at an Nightowl. I seriously didn't care! She said to me, "you need to go on Project Runway all you need to know is how to sew and send in one minute video about yourself." I thought yup, I can definitely sew! But I had no idea what I was in for! So I got a callback, come in for an interview and a few weeks later got a call saying I got on the show! But what was really harsh was later on, they told me I was no longer on the show. And then, 2 weeks later they told me again that I was. So I grabbed the opportunity with two hands and just went for it.
What has winning Project Runway meant to you, to your profile and business?
Something that you can’t pay for, as far as publicity/business goes. A bit hard to handle, struggling but now everyone knows about it and they all want it. Since then opportunities have come up , Sydney fashion week, running my own business and label and now this bid for Virgin's new uniform. They were contact Australian designers so if I had never been on Project Runway, I never would have gotten the opportunity to bid for this project. I honestly d
on’t think winning was my big break, it was a break of some sort.
Where did this all start for you in regards to receiving any Fashion Education?
I studied at Gateway tafe in Brisbane 97 and 98, then
Eastern Pearson, then moved to London, studied at Central St Martins where Stella Mccartney and John Galliano studied as well! It was amazing.
Define your style. Where do you get your inspiration from?
I love to travel so alot of it comes from travelling. I'm Inspired by what is around me, collection bright, capsule collection jean brown 48 hours paris, inspiration from travelling. Where you’ve been. Use a muse, final collection for project runway, Princess Charlotte Casiraghi, Grace Kelly someone living or dead. Sometimes even fabric. If I see a fabric and think "OMG that is amazing," I design a whole collection around that. Mind you I don't do sketches before I design. I'm not much of a planner, I like spontaneanity, I just have an idea in my head then bring it out in my designs.
You have a big love for shoes. How big is your collection? Do you have a favourite pair?
I have about 80 pairs of heels and go throw 2 pairs of flats/sandals per season. After each season I throw some away, for example shoes I buy here, Wittner etc. The majority of my collection is Gucci, Prada, Louboutin, YSL. I plan on keeping these forever and even passing them down to my kids where they'll own something vintage. The whole collection is mainly heels as I simply feel better the minute I put them on. I feel sort of empowered! The most I have ever spend on shoes would be my Christian Louboutin heels for my wedding- $2700.
Did you make your dresses for your wedding?
I had 4 dresses for my wedding. 3 of which I designed completely myself and the fourth was designed by Leigh, runner up from Project Runway, and it was an absolutely amazing piece. He told me, Juli I'm going to make you a dress for your wedding and he worked on it until the very day of my wedding and it fit perfectly!
Who/what has inspired you the most in your life?
Definitely my mum. She came to Australia when she was 21, came with nothing, couldn’t speak English, was a cleaner to start with and she bought sewing machines to sew us clothes. It's just inspiring because she came here with nothing to now knowing so much.
Brisbane born and bred, will you always keep your business based here?
Most probably, family means a lot to me. I am Family orientated and I know I could move to Sydney or somewhere else in the world and "get a break" in the industry but at this stage I choose to stay here. I mean you don't really need to go anywhere to design, you could do it anywhere in the world. You could even be sitting in jail and design! Just the support from my family is what keeps me grounded.
Whats your advice to young girls out there who want to get into design?
Just work as hard as you can. Don’t be shy of hard work, its not what it really is, glamour etc. dream stick with it, don’t give up. I know I had times when I wanted to but by sharing your dreams with people you love, friends and family, they are your virtually your support system, and support comes very often. !
She is so inspiring and such a positive, vibrant person! Such a little darling! Thanks Juli!
I had such a wonderful day,
Gros bisous
xxx
