THE BIRTH OF THE 9INE LIVES PROJECT.

I HAD A “MOMENT” BACK IN 2009...POST BUSHFIRES...THAT AS A FASHION RETAILER, I WAS CONTRIBUTING TO THE IMPACT ON THE EARTH AND WAS BROUGHT TO THE EDGE OF DESPAIR FOR MY FUTURE IN THIS INDUSTRY. I REALISED THE ONLY WAY FORWARD FOR ME POSITIVELY, WAS TO MAKE THIS INDUSTRY WORK FOR ME AND MY CLIENTS.

THE CONCEPT FOR THE 9INE LIVES PROJECT WAS BORN. THE FOUNDATION ISSUE FOR ME IS THE LACK OF AVAILABLE GOODS MANUFACTURED HERE IN AUSTRALIA.  WE HAVE LOST SO MUCH OF OUR SKILL TO OFFSHORE PRODUCTION. THOSE GOODS MUST TRAVEL VAST DISTANCES AND CONSUME COPIOUS QUANTITIES OF NON RENEWABLE RESOURCES TO GET TO US. AND IT’S NOT THAT QUALITY IS THE BIG ISSUE ANYMORE IT’S JUST WE ARE LOSING THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRODUCE FINE QUALITY GARMENTS AND ACCESSORIES HERE IN AUSTRALIA.

THERE ARE MANY YOUNG WOMEN AND MEN STUDYING FASHION DESIGN IN MELBOURNE AND YET VERY FEW HAVE BASIC SEWING SKILLS! IT’S NOT A BIG REQUIREMENT BECAUSE SO LITTLE GETS MADE HERE! OUR DREAM FOR THE FUTURE IS TO DEVELOP A SKILLED WORKFORCE OF TALENTED DESIGNERS AND TO BRING MANUFACTURING BACK TO MELBOURNE AND VICTORIA. WE ARE TAKING BABY STEPS TOWARD THIS AT PRESENT, WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF A RANGE OF CLOTHING MADE FROM RECYCLED TEXTILES. WE HAVE BEGUN RECYCLING LEFTOVER STOCK FROM PREVIOUS SEASONS AND ADDING TO THIS WITH SECONDHAND TEXTILES FROM PRE-LOVED GARMENTS.