Doing things differently…
From the very beginning of my working life I felt there was something very wrong with Fashion.
I began working in what would now be called a fast fashion brand but in the 90’s was known as High Street Fashion. Back then I was a Business Studies student and I had to write my dissertation. Even in the 90’s it felt like things could be done better so I researched into ways that fashion brands could help their employees to feel more valued.
This was the beginning of a life long passion for doing things differently.
So when I started my own Slow Fashion Project I knew that I wanted to create something that would rebel against everything I had been told you ‘had to do’ to succeed.
My clothes are made either as one-of-one or as part of limited edition collections.
I create only one collection per year and I share my research, my notes, my sketchbooks and my choices with my collectors.
All pieces are part of our Care to Repair gift which means that as your garment is worn, it can be returned to me for any light repairs.
I use a standard sizing chart as a starting point which means that if your body requires an alteration then that is to be celebrated. The more I work with clients individually, (either in person or online), the more we can understand each other which - rather than trying to fit into clothing that was never made with you in mind - results in beautiful clothing that feels perfect on the body you have.
Most of my pieces are Made on Desire which means they are only made when they are wanted. This system negates any waste, which helps to support our beautiful planet.
Made on Desire also means that if you see something but think - “ooh I’d love it is if had long sleeves”, or “I’m not tall enough for that” or 101 other reasons you can think of -then you just need to let me know which garment you love and I can make the changes get it right just for you.
Commissions, unlike for many other artists and designers are actually a dream for me. I would far rather work with you to design exactly what it is you are looking for than have all the freedom in the world to create for creating sake. I am passionate about only having what is needed in our world and create garments to be loved, cherished and care for.
If you have any questions I am always just an email away.
Model: Dene Selby Modelling Perth Model Lennox @LennoxHickey
Slow Fashion Designer: Leuca Jane Ziemons I Melaleuca Rise
Runway: Eco Fashion EFWA in Florence, Italy
The Story behind Melaleuca Rise…
In 2011, Leuca Jane Ziemons, a Scottish-born artist and researcher, emigrated to Australia with her husband and young family, where she pursued further art studies in printmaking and textiles, enrolling at Edith Cowan University. It was there that she fully embraced her ancestral love of cloth, a passion deeply rooted in her heritage.
In 2013, Leuca was selected to submit one of her designs to the Fairly Fashionable runway event, organised by, her now friend, Gaelle Beech of Anjelms. It was during this event that she first encountered the term "sustainable fashion," a concept that brought together her love of design, her deep connection to textiles, and her strong values of social justice and the importance of community. This pivotal moment inspired her to align her creative work with these principles.
Melaleuca Rise officially launched as a slow fashion clothing brand in 2017, while Leuca was continuing her studies in Contemporary Fashion and Textiles at ECU. That year, she was invited by Zuhal Kuvan-Mills, director of Eco Fashion Week Australia (EFWA), to showcase garments from her graduate collection, Nomadic Nostalgia, on the runway.
This opportunity introduced Leuca to a supportive community of designers, models, volunteers and advocates working to reshape the fashion landscape through sustainability, ethical practises and collaboration—a connection that continues to inspire her work.
The name Melaleuca Rise reflects Leuca’s philosophy of living in harmony with nature. Inspired by a homestead she and her husband once owned in Tasmania. Melaleuca Rise symbolises humanity’s place within the natural world. For Leuca, the Melaleuca trees rising above serve as a reminder that nature is not something to be owned or controlled but something to honour and coexist within. This ethos informs her vision to create clothing that is cherished, cared for, and passed down through generations, reimagined, creatively reused, and always valued.
Through her multi layered approach to life and work, she seeks to pass on these skills and inspire others to care for textiles, fostering a deeper connection to what we wear.
Leuca Jane at theFibonacci Christmas Markets. Image captured by the lovely Annette Wiguna.