Tag Archives: Zilpah Tart

FASHFEST Designers in Profile—Zilpah tart

By Aine Dowling.

Over the last three years Zilpah tart has established itself as a well-known label in the Canberra region, and is recognised for its unusual and colourful prints that represent Canberra’s unique environment. Designer Yumi Morrissey uses Canberra themed fabrics which include the famous Parliament House dress, through to Canberra’s spring blossoms, and the bright and bold autumn colours of Vivid. Her latest collection, based on a slightly different Canberra theme, will be showcased at FASHFEST 2016.

Federal Member for Canberra, Gai Brodtmann, wearing Zilpah tart Parliament House panel dress

Zilpah tart fashion is easily wearable, and recognisable! It’s designed for women who like to stand out in a crowd but be comfortable at the same time. Her designs have been worn by high-profile Canberra women including Federal Member MP Gai Brodtmann, and Senator Katie Gallagher, both of whom embraced the originality of the Canberra themed garments.

Yumi designs her own fabrics for her collections. She takes photographs around the Canberra region and manipulates the images using Photoshop to repeat the pattern, creating beautiful and intricate prints onto the soft feminine fabrics. “For my latest collection I had to travel a little further afield as I couldn’t get close enough to the images in Canberra,” says Yumi, “so I had to make a side trip to Crookwell and use images from there.” The images from Crookwell are only a part of the collection which also includes beautiful Canberra sunsets over the Brindabella ranges, and stunning images from a particularly well-known annual Spectacular event!

Vivid—autumn/winter collection 2016

Vivid red print – original photograph

Vivid red print fabric and dress

Bloom—spring/summer collection 2015

Canberra spring blossoms in Bloom collection

Parliament Kaleidoscope—autumn collection 2015

Parliament Kaleidoscope print panel dress

And what’s in store for spring 2016? Here’s a sneak peek—can you guess what Spectacular event this is?

One of Zilpah tart’s new print fabrics for FASHFEST 2016

Zilpah tart is available online at their website or from CARDIF Collective, The Parliament Shop, and Canberra Handmade Market.

Zilpah tart collection FASHFEST 2015 – photo by LFW

Zilpah tart will be showcasing her latest collection at FASHFEST 2016 on Friday 30 September Show Two at 8.30pm at the National Convention Centre. Tickets on sale now!

Images courtesy Zilpah tart except where indicated.

It’s Vivid!

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Colour your World VIVID, by Wendy Johnson

Vivid is a word that describes perfectly the stunning colours of the leaves gracing the capital during autumn. And it’s a word that inspired Yumi Morrissey, the fashion designer behind Canberra’s independent label, Zilpah Tart, to get behind the lens of her camera to capture picture-perfect images she could use to design three new lines of fabric.

Vivid dress – also available in plain black

Vivid features a print with bright golden leaves Yumi discovered on trees in Yarralumla’s English Gardens. Another print features bold red leaves the designer discovered on trees while meandering through Diddams Close Park, Lake Ginninderra. And the third print—of a full tree image—was created around a shot Yumi took while in John Knight Memorial Park, also in Ginninderra.

Zilpah Tart’s three most popular styles of dresses are made in all three prints. For the colder weather (fast approaching) Yumi has adjusted her designs so some dresses and tops have long sleeves and she’s launching a new line of cape and outerwear.

Flared black cape – also available in red

Vivid loop scarves, which can be worn however your heart desires, are also part of the collection. “They’re light weight and an accessory in their own right,’ says the designer. “We wear a lot of solids in winter in the colder weather here in Canberra. These scarves easily add beautiful pops of colour.”

Vivid Loop scarf

The first time Yumi used her own photos to design her own fabrics representing special spots of Canberra was for the collection she launched at FashFest 2015. One pattern featured Australia’s very own Parliament House and a second the Civic Fountain. It was such a success that Yumi found herself wandering about with her camera in spring, capturing pretty blossoms at Tulip Top Gardens and Lennox Gardens for her Bloom Collection.

With Vivid, Yumi has manipulated the background colour of her photos, changing the blue sky to a grey scale, to form a colour palette that’s easier to wear in autumn and winter. “The grey is also a stunning contrast to the bright leaves on the autumn trees,” says Yumi.

l-r: Lava dress, T-shirt dress, Cowl neck dress

Vivid garments and scarves will be available at Cardif Collective, from Thursday 31 March (second level, Cusack Centre, Green Square, Kingston). Cardif Collective has the largest collection of independent, Australian fashion labels in the inner south. The Vivid collection also includes a gorgeous pencil skirt, and cowl neck top. Check out the full collection at www.zilpahtart.com.au

Vivid cross-front dress

Zilpah Tart products are also available online. Some, like Yumi’s handbags, cushions and scarves featuring the Parliament House pattern, are also sold through the gift shop, Parliament House.

Photography: Zilpah Tart

Make-up: Steph Church

Model: Rochelle Riley

Local Fashion at Parliament House!

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By Wendy Johnson

It all began when fashion designer Yumi Morrissey decided to make her own fabric prints for the collection she would launch at Fashfest 2015. That took her to the location of Australia’s most famous landmark and the meeting place of a nation—Parliament House—armed with her camera.

Scarf Parliament House

Yumi, who owns and operates the independent, local fashion label Zilpah Tart, captured ‘the shot’ she wanted while on Capital Hill and then headed to her computer to see what would happen if she manipulated it through Photoshop. After trying this and trying that she ended up with an intriguing kaleidoscope pattern and had it made into fabric for her new collection.

The exclusive Parliament Kaleidoscope print was a big hit on the catwalk at Fashfest, attracting several high-profile politicians and overseas customers to order garments created with it. Then it caught the attention of the Parliament Shop, inspiring Yumi to use the fabric to create a range of new products with the new print, including scarves, bags and cushions.

“You can’t really recognise Parliament House on the fabric from a distance but it all becomes clear when you get up close and study the pattern,” says Yumi. “That’s when it clicks that you’re looking at the building itself.” The print is a perfect fit for the shop at Parliament House and the items are great gifts for locals and the national and international tourists who make Canberra a destination. It’s unique. It’s designed here and made here, and the bags come in a range of styles ($65 to $120), some with accents of black, red and blue vinyl.

Papillon_parliament kaleidoscope red vinyl

The Papillon design, for example, features blue vinyl corners, to protect the bag when it’s resting on a surface. The lining is a fun black and white polka dot cotton and the bag has an internal pocket and closes with a tab and magnetic fastener. The envelope clutch is simple and elegant, with a hand strap for easy carrying, and the large tote is a popular design.

Yumi is also producing scarves, made out of a super soft, 100 per cent cotton. They’re 190 cm long and so can be worn in several ways. They make a fabulous Christmas gift (super easy to pack up and mail also). Cushions come with the Parliament Kaleidoscope print on the front (canvas) and a solid black at the back.

Yumi is thrilled to be selling through Parliament Shop. “Parliament is such a significant institution and visitors to the shop include tourists from interstate and all over the worlds, so it’s giving my label exposure to new markets,” says the designer. Garments made out of the print are available through www.zilpahtart.com.au or you can visit Yumi at some of Canberra’s best markets, including those coming up in time for the ho-ho-ho season.

Lily_parliament kaleidoscope

Fashion on the Field—what we’ve learnt so far …

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LFW is off to Thoroughbred Park’s Melbourne Cup Race Day in November and we’ve been chatting to a few people, including the amazing Power of Presence guru Trish Murray, so we thought we’d pass on a few tips to get you through the day in comfort and style from top to toe—literally! And, use the opportunity to plug some of our fave local fashion designers at the same time.

Myer Fashion on the Field

Stunning colour from Sovata

Wear a hat, or fascinator, or even a hatinator … but definitely wear something on your head. Wearing a hat serves two purposes—it looks good, it saves your hair if it’s a windy day, and provides shade on a hot day … OK that’s three. Plus, it’s almost THE LAW to wear something on your head at the races. Check out these stunning designs from Sovata (right), BM Designs, and spring floral bands from PeonynPearl (see images below).

Wear a dress. Forget the pants—leave those to the guys—and get a nice dress. Preferably not too much cleavage (note: from Myer Fashion on the Field ‘a predominance of exposed skin is not classed as classic race wear’), and unless it’s pushing 40 degrees celcius cover your shoulders—you don’t want sunburn the next day and you don’t want to be constantly hoisting up skinny straps that slide down. Come to think of it, if it is 40 degrees even more reason to cover your shoulders, and a nice light short jacket or shrug style is perfect. Who can forget the famous Parliament House dress by Zilpah Tart? Check out her gorgeous spring/summer Bloom Collection.

Petal Dress by Zilpah Tart – Bloom Collection

Get some colour. You can add pizazz to monochrome with colourful shoes or bag, or stick to black and white and go wild and colourful with your head wear. According to Vogue (the guru of all fashion) spring/summer colours are lemon, tangerine, strawberry pink, subtle greens, bright blues, and hot peach.

Summer colours …

Get a nice clutch bag—one that comes with a slender detachable shoulder strap is handy for après races. You don’t need to cart around a big tote or handbag. Get a clutch that will hold a small purse, phone, lippy, keys, and a couple of tissues. The lovely Sash & Belle has a great selection of clutches and small handbags just perfect for the event.

Colourful clutches from Sash & Belle

Don’t overdo the jewellery! You can sparkle without covering yourself in bling. Coco Chanel had this great tip ‘before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take something off’. I think she meant jewellery … yeah, she did.

Legs. To tan or not to tan. To wear stockings or no stockings. It’s always the legs … Seriously though, if you wear sandals then forget the stockings, and if it’s scorching hot definitely forget the stockings. If you absolutely must get a spray tan make sure you do it a couple of days before so it has time to calm down a bit. Alternatively, you can just get a good quality over-the-counter fake tan. We recommend Ambre Solair or Le Tan, both of which are easy to apply and give a nice subtle tint.

L-R: Wedge sandals by I Love Billy, Missano, Top End

Wear wedge heels. They’re more comfortable on grass and uneven surfaces, and offer a bit more support if you’re standing for long periods. Spindly heels are definitely a no if you’re on soft surfaces! Sandal wedges with an ankle strap are trendy, comfy, and look great.

and finally … get your toes done! Polished toes are a must in sandals.

So there you have it. LFW race tips—from top to toe!

Amazing headwear from BMdesigns, and floral bands from PeonynPearl

FASHFEST—Colour my World!

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Yes, we know we loved the monochrome, but sometimes you just have to have a bit of colour, and FASHFEST designers really know how to pop a colour. Take a look at some of the colourful and gorgeous creations over the four night event—certain to brighten up any Canberra winter day! By Aine Dowling

Listed in alphabetical order. All photos by LFW unless indicated.

BM Designs

Boho Bird

Hana Apparel Designs

Miranda Sa’khino

Popping colour by Miranda Sakhino. Model: Lydia Honan, Hair and makeup: http://www.sakhino.com, Photographer: Andrew Kiyingi

Recollection

Sovata

Sovata (R) – showcased her collection on Night 3

The Prodigal Daughter

The Professor’s Daughter

Zilpah Tart

Canberra’s Inspirational Design

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The inspiration that is Canberra

By Wendy Johnson

Whoever says Canberra isn’t a truly inspiring part of the world is, well, very misguided. Very misguided. Just ask several of the fashion designers madly working on their new collections for FASHFEST 2015 about their inspiration. They’ll tell you the bush capital, and surrounding region, offers up plenty to work with.

BMdesigns by Barb Mickelson

Click the link to read who’s inspired by what at FASHFEST 2015! Continue reading →

Hustle&Scout – Bigger and Better!

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The Market; the Bling; the Newbies, and the Favourites!

By Wendy Johnson

When Hustle&Scout hit the capital, it did so with a bang. And ever since that packed-out inaugural event, Canberrans have flocked to the Twilight Market to, well, hustle and scout for fabulously designed and, more often than not, hand-made clothing, jewellery and more.

The next market, 11 April, is the third that founder Tegan McAuley will hold at the expanded premises in Fairbairn and it promises to be the biggest and most entertaining. Planning is also underway, as if Tegan isn’t busy enough, for the first Hustle&Scout in Hobart, to be held at the gorgeous Long Gallery and Sidespace Gallery, Salamanca Arts Centre during the weekend of 20 and 21 June.

But back to Canberra soil. All up 63 designers will showcase their wares at Hustle&Scout. This includes 21 new stall holders, some Canberra-based and some from interstate, and five designers who will launch new collections on the runway at FASHFEST.

Designer: The Prodigal Daughter

Read on to find more about The Market, the Bling, the Newbies, and the Favourites! Continue reading →

LFW MAGAZINE

never lost for words

Tag Archives: Zilpah Tart

FASHFEST Designers in Profile—Zilpah tart

It’s Vivid!

Local Fashion at Parliament House!

Fashion on the Field—what we’ve learnt so far …

FASHFEST—Colour my World!

Canberra’s Inspirational Design

Hustle&Scout – Bigger and Better!