Author Archives: maria

Indie Designers Worth Knowing About

Being in the fabrics manufacturing industry, we are lucky to work closely with some incredible indie designers and brands. Not only do they design beautiful collections, but are closely aligned with our sustainability values as well. Being ‘indie’ categorises independent designers, artists, and craftspeople who design and make a wide array of products − without being part of large, industrialised businesses. We’ve rounded up some of our favourite Australian indie designers worth knowing about.

Tara Whalley Australian Fashion Designer

Tara Whalley an Australian designer with a heavy focus on bold prints (the way to our heart!) In 2020 Australian designer Tara Whalley was invited to premiere her fashion collection at New York Fashion Week, and in 2021 she stole the runway show again at Paris Fashion Week. Tara established her self-titled fashion brand in 2015, after returning to Australia after a year of working with war-affected Mayan weavers. It was this time in Guatemala that formed Tara’s painting practice- translating experience into artwork for fabric print and a clear direction for the basis of her fashion signature style. Her collections are made in Melbourne with natural fibres, digitally printed to reduce environmental impact and utilise offcuts to minimise waste. Her designs are available in sizes XS to 10XLovely and feature Tara’s hand painted artwork.

Deadly Denim Australian fashion brand

Deadly Denim is a beloved customer of Digital Fabrics. Sustainability is at the heart of their brand; a natural fit with our ethos and connection to caring for country. Deadly Denim was founded in 2018 by Rebecca Rickard, a Ballardong, Whadjuk woman from the Nyungar nation living and working on country Perth W.A.

It all begins with recycled denim from local Boorloo (Perth, Western Australia) op shops. Then, a Deadly Denim artist creates a unique design that is sent to us at Digital Fabrics to be printed. The artwork is worked into the denim to create a unique Deadly Denim garments.

Frida Las Vegas Photographer Eamon Donnelly

Where to begin with fashion icon Frida Las Vegas. Designer Stavroula is a customer of Digital Fabrics, she is a talented illustrator who is fascinated by Australian icons and infuses that with her Greek background. Her iconic haute kitsch label Frida Las Vegas has been worn by incredible personalities such as Katy Perry, Sam Smith and Kate Miller-Heidke as well as her affectionately dubbed ‘Glamazons’ around the world.

Variety Hour Australian fashion brand

Variety Hour is a Melbourne based design studio started by textile designer Cassie Byrnes in 2016. At its core they remain a textile focused studio, exploring the technicalities and craft of print design and using Digital Fabrics products as the canvas. All their prints are hand painted by Cassie using gouache, inks and markers which are then digitised and adapted into artworks, homewares and clothing designed with flattering shapes in mind, focusing on the stunning prints.

At Digital Fabrics, we love supporting Australian designers in their quest for a more sustainable world of fashion, and of course bold prints that are to die for. Custom printing designs onto our fabric ensures an angle of individuality, and less harm to the planet with our low minimum order requirements. We can’t wait to see what you’ll design!

Easy Sewing Projects for Beginners

Starting a new hobby or skill can be daunting, and factoring in an entire machine that you need to navigate makes learning to sew a little more difficult, but sewing is a skill for life! Even if you’ve never stitched a hem or replaced a button, learning to sew is a gateway to sparking creativity!

You may think back to Grade 9 ‘Home Economics’ classes or Nana’s quilting, but sewing is great for easy DIY projects for home, altering or creating your own clothes (earth-friendly), making thoughtful gifts for friends and family and so much more. There’s nothing quite like the pride of wearing one of your own creations. We’ve collected some of our favourite tutorials from creators that are perfect for beginners.

Reversible Bucket hat – The Essentials club

We love how Maddy has taken an everyday essential and made it so accessible with her free template and video tutorial (just ask the 1.2 million views on YouTube). Customise your bucket hat by using your favourite prints, this pattern is reversible to reflect your mood or match your outfit! Our Cotton Linen fabric will be perfect for this!

Tote bag by Sotak Handmade

A great tutorial for beginners, a versatile tote bag with french seams with the option of woven handles, or a follow up tutorial on how to make your own matching straps.
Our Cotton Drill fabric would be perfect for this project! Don’t fancy making your own? Digital Fabrics will make a range for you, head to our shop to find out more.

Drawstring Tie Top by DIY Daisy

Versatile and perfect for summer, this drawstring tie top from DIY Daisy takes less than an hour and only 1 metre of fabric! Perfect for a beginner to practice making straps and drawstrings, you’ll be so proud of your ‘me-made’ creation.

Bias Slip Skirt – The Essentials Club

A necessary addition to any stylish minimalist wardrobe, the slip skirt. Maddy has made hers with silk satin, however our Dilly fabric’s silky feel is perfect for this project. As a beginner sewer, once you are confident with your way around a measuring tape, you’ll be ready to move onto cutting your patterns on the bias. This refers to placing your measurements diagonally across your fabric for a more natural drape and less rigidity.

We are so excited for your journey in learning to sew and hope these tutorials can help get your creativity flowing. With some marking pencils, a measuring tape, pins and a sewing machine there is so much you can create.

How printing to order helps create planet-friendly fabric

Whenever you choose to order custom fabric through Digital Fabrics instead of a retail store, you reduce fabric waste in the world. The reality is that every year, Australians discard an average of 23kgs of textiles per person. In total, approximately 800,000 tonnes of textiles are sent to Australian landfills each year (and more has been historically sent overseas). This makes Aussies the second highest consumers of textiles behind the United States.

As we are emerging into the new world of social media and the ease of shopping accessibility, micro trends (which typically last 3-5 years) are now playing out in a matter of months.

The rise of fast fashion

Fashion is now the second most polluting industry on the planet – usurped only by oil production. The business of churning out fashion options to hungry consumers who crave the head-spinning speed of trends has a lot to answer for.

When large clothing conglomerates begin a design cycle, they order immense amounts of fabric. If all this fabric is not used, or if the clothing isn’t in demand; it becomes something known as deadstock fabric. Deadstock fabrics remain in the system, generally becoming waste, destined for landfill or incineration; generating greenhouse gases and other toxic emissions.

In 2018, we saw many eyes turn to fashion houses as whistleblowers exposed the burning of perfectly good stock, in order to preserve exclusivity. Fast-fashion giant H&M reportedly destroyed 60 tons of new and unsold merchandise between 2013-2017, a strategy also undertaken by Louis Vuitton, Nike and Burberry.

On top of this issue, according to UN figures, the production of one cotton shirt requires 2700 Litres – the amount a person drinks in 2.5 years! The 2.5 trillion dollar fashion industry is the 2nd highest user of water in the world. These numbers are shocking.

In May 2021 participants from across retail, fashion, charity, production, environment, research and waste management came together for Australia’s first ever National Clothing Textile Waste roundtable, hosted at Parliament House in Canberra.

This roundtable signals the start of a collaborative effort, drawing on a diversity of expertise across Australia to create action to reduce waste from clothing textiles going to landfill. There was a particular focus on increasing the ability to recycle textiles and driving action to improve product stewardship of textile waste. However, this doesn’t address the amount of textiles still being produced at large.

Why Digital Fabrics are doing things better

At Digital Fabrics, we don’t have piles of unsold or unused fabric sitting in the studio destined for landfill once a trend has trickled down to nonexistence. We only ever print-to-order and with low minimum order quantities of as little as 1 metre of fabric or 1 cushion cover this significantly reduces deadstock and wastage.

Sending us your own fabric designs gives you control over what your label, store or DIY project looks like, aligning directly with your style and project requirements. You can also shop directly from our range of designer textile prints which can be custom printed on any of our stocked fabrics.

Order what you need

Everything is printed for you on-site in Marrickville, Sydney and is strictly print ‘on demand’! This means we only use the materials that are completely necessary for each order placed, with minimal waste. We put a lot of effort and time sourcing our fabrics from reliable suppliers who either manufacture their fabrics preferably locally or have long-standing, established relationships with their manufacturers, ensuring the production and supply of high-quality fabrics. Most of our fabrics are from overseas manufacturers and are OEKO certified, which means that the manufacturer meets certain health, safety, environmental, and quality targets.

Whilst we take measures to keep waste to an absolute minimum there is still some waste during any production process. Any left-over unprinted fabric is either re-used by us for samples and strike-off printing, recycled or donated to local makers or craft groups who always have creative ways of repurposing the fabric.

We believe in slow fashion, and believe that we can all do our part to reject fast-fashion practices in favour of more sustainable methods, ethical workplaces, and supporting local makers.

Like the sounds of sustainability? Shop our fabrics now.

To gain some knowledge, research, and write this blog post we’ve used information that we’ve found in the reference links below. We know that you are curious just like us so please feel free to browse these links and learn more about textile waste in the world and its impact.

https://www.planetark.org/newsroom/news/tackling-australias-textile-waste
https://www.instagram.com/p/CgpkKDyPEez/?hl=en
https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/protection/waste/product-stewardship/textile-waste-roundtable
https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2018/9/17/17852294/fashion-brands-burning-merchandise-burberry-nike-h-and-m
https://unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/RCM_Website/RFSD_2018_Side_event_sustainable_fashion.pdf
https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/protection/waste/product-stewardship/textile-waste-roundtable

How printing to order helps create planet-friendly fabric

As we are emerging into the new world of social media and the ease of shopping accessibility, micro trends (which typically last 3-5 years) are now playing out in a matter of months.

The rise of fast fashion

Why Digital Fabrics are doing things better

Order what you need

We believe in slow fashion, and believe that we can all do our part to reject fast-fashion practices in favour of more sustainable methods, ethical workplaces, and supporting local makers.

Like the sounds of sustainability? Shop our fabrics now.

The Creative Night -Recap

About a month ago we hosted the Creative Night exhibition in support of The Designer Project to celebrate all of the designers we work with as well as to demonstrate what we do at Digital Fabrics and how you can bring your creative ideas to life through digital printing and design.

We have had a “Design transfer to fabric” demonstration, a gallery display of fabric prints by The Designer Project designers, Fabric headers flip-through station, a “Creative Opportunities” custom products display, complimentary drinks, photos, DJ, and lots more fun.

It was a great pleasure to meet so many wonderful people and creative minds under one roof. Quite frankly it was humbling to see so many people come to support our work, we didn’t anticipate how much interest and love we would receive on the night. Curiosity and appreciation of creative processes and the artistic work of others were simply infectious!

22 Designers were showcased that evening demonstrating the talent and creative possibilities that surface design and digital fabric printing can offer! A huge thank you to all the participating designers and those who came to meet us. A special Thank You goes to Tracy Hall, Marie Schmitt, and Michaela Burgess who took the challenge to create and draw on the spot, demonstrating and sharing their knowledge and processes the night.

And because sometimes pictures speak louder than words, please enjoy this visual recap of our Creative Night! Samee and Wade.

‘Digital Fabrics Team – Group Photo’ ‘Designer Project Designer – Michaela Burgess’ ‘Designer Project Designer – Sarah Ossitt pictured with her design Dance’ ‘Designer Project Designer – Lillie McDonagh pictured with her design Sunshine Confetti’

‘Video recap of the exhibition’

With special credits to our Photographer – Samee Lapham @samsette and Videographer – Wade Van Den Hoek @van.flix of the night, for capturing what a wonderful evening this was.

The Creative Night -Recap

And because sometimes pictures speak louder than words, please enjoy this visual recap of our Creative Night! Samee and Wade.

‘Video recap of the exhibition’

With special credits to our Photographer – Samee Lapham @samsette and Videographer – Wade Van Den Hoek @van.flix of the night, for capturing what a wonderful evening this was.

Digital Fabrics Exhibition

JOIN US FOR A CREATIVE NIGHT TO CELEBRATE FABRIC PRINTS AND PATTERNS!

If you are like us who love fabrics, prints, fashion, creative design, art, DIY, and craft, join us for a creative night to celebrate fabric prints and patterns! On Friday 24th June, Digital Fabrics will be hosting our first ever Exhibition!

This exhibition will be in support of The Designer Project to celebrate all the designers we work with through this creative initiative as well as to demonstrate what we do at Digital Fabrics. On a daily basis, we are in touch with so many amazing people who have enough talent, passion, and ideas to cover the whole world in prints and patterns and this event is to celebrate them and all about fabric design and printing.

It’s been something we’ve been working on for a while and we’re overjoyed to be able to finally open up such an amazing event for you all. We will be having a live “Design transfer to fabric” demonstration, a gallery display of fabric prints by The Designer Project designers, fabric headers flip-through station, a “Creative Opportunities” custom products display, complimentary drinks, photos, DJ, and lots more fun. Come with your family and friends! Register your interest in the form below!

Digital Fabrics Exhibition Opening Night

Friday, June 24th. 2022

18-22 Sydney Street, Marrickville

6.30 pm to 10 pm

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Digital Fabrics Exhibition – by appointment

18-22 Sydney Street, Marrickville

Saturday, June 25th 10 am to 2 pm

Sunday, June 26th 10 am to 2 pm

Monday, June 27th 10 am to 3 pm

Tuesday, June 28th 10 am to 3 pm

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HEALTH & SAFETY

Please note, that due to potential exposure to Covid19 at the event, we may require the full name, email addresses, and phone numbers of each person attending the event.

Exhibition Registration

Digital Fabrics Exhibition

JOIN US FOR A CREATIVE NIGHT TO CELEBRATE FABRIC PRINTS AND PATTERNS!

Digital Fabrics Exhibition Opening Night

Friday, June 24th. 2022

18-22 Sydney Street, Marrickville

6.30 pm to 10 pm

——————————————–

Digital Fabrics Exhibition – by appointment

18-22 Sydney Street, Marrickville

Saturday, June 25th 10 am to 2 pm

Sunday, June 26th 10 am to 2 pm

Monday, June 27th 10 am to 3 pm

Tuesday, June 28th 10 am to 3 pm

——————————————–

HEALTH & SAFETY

Please note, that due to potential exposure to Covid19 at the event, we may require the full name, email addresses, and phone numbers of each person attending the event.

Exhibition Registration

Crystal Kruger – The Designer Project

We’ve been incredibly lucky to have the very talented Surface Pattern Designer Crystal Kruger take part in the latest instalment of The Designer Project. As part of the initiative, Crystal has made a range of her designs available in our Fabric Shop online which can be printed onto any of our stock fabrics! In her blog post Crystal shares plenty of gorgeous snaps of her gorgeous designs, process work and creative space.

Hi everyone, I’m Crystal Kruger, the designer behind Skye St. Studio. I’m excited to share my new collection ‘From the Garden’ with you all and even more excited that you will be able to print my designs onto your favourite fabrics through Digital Fabrics.

Crystal Kruger in her creative studio

The ‘From the Garden’ collection is inspired by all things nature. Each print is a little bit nostalgic, but is also modern, soulful and trend relevant. The collection celebrates the comfort and joy of having a backyard garden or courtyard (or even a favourite local park) and of growing up playing in grandparents’ flower gardens, crunching along pebble driveways and a swing or two around the Hills Hoist. ‘From the Garden’ also gives a nod to our recent times in isolation, to romantic dreams of having your own fruit trees or veggie patch, being more self-sufficient or having a tree change and rediscovering the joys of home.

“From The Garden Collection” mood board

Collection of pretty finds in Crystal’s studio

There is quite a bit of variety in the collection, with some great trans-seasonal prints including florals, abstracts, stripes and fruity prints, which are so much fun! There are definitely patterns that are suitable for fashion, homewares, upholstery and accessories.

“From The Garden” textile collection

“Clementine Rose” fabric design used to upholster a chair

You will also find variety in the scale of the motifs across the collection, including a small-scale pattern called ‘Inky Botanical Ditsy’, which is asking to be made into some gorgeous dress!

‘Inky Botanical Ditsy’ design printed on Ponti fabric

I especially love the energy and joy of the ‘Summer Dahlias’ print, but there are some darker, moodier patterns as well, if that’s more your style!

‘Summer Dahlias’ design printed on Ponti fabric

All of my patterns start as hand-drawn and hand-painted motifs that I then digitise, clean up and then put into a repeating layout. I love that I can capture the organic feeling of a painting, all those lovely textures and variations in colour through digital fabric printing.

Crystal Kruger sketching designs in her studio

Clementine Rose hand painted artwork

“From The Garden Collection” hand painted motifs

I love to work with gouache paints because they are so versatile, from gorgeous washy ombre colours to solid, bold block colours. Cleaning up hand-painted motifs in Photoshop is definitely a labour of love, but worth it to have all those wonderful hand-painted marks and brush strokes.

Lemonade design- hand painted elements

‘Lemonade” design digitally printed on Demi fabric.

“Lemonade” fabric design used for a dress

You can see some of the behind the scenes photos of original artworks and motifs, paintings in progress and my studio space. My studio is based at my home in Sydney and I love my days working here creatively. It is a bit of an eclectic space, with some vintage/retro and upcycled furniture, lots of colour and plenty of inspiring items I have collected from my travels around the world. Oh and also lots of design books and plants – which finish off the perfect studio space! Part-time, I am also a design teacher, so it is wonderful to have that balance between my own creative projects and helping others manage their projects and learn design skills.

Crystal’s furry studio assistant

I can’t wait to see what all of you wonderful sewers and designers out there make with my prints, feel free to tag me on Facebook and Instagram so I can share your amazing creations! I would love to see some gorgeous upholstery or bedlinen made from the ‘Clementine Rose’ print, or perhaps the ‘Frutti Tutti’ stripe. Maybe some fun summer dresses made from the ‘Lemonade’ and ‘Papaya Spot’ patterns? There are so many great fabric bases to choose from at Digital Fabrics, so almost any project is possible!

“Frutti Tutti” design digitally printed on Ponti fabric

“From The Garden” fabric collection used in kitchen textiles set

“Papaya Spots” fabric design digitally printed on Ponti fabric

“Papaya Spots” fabric design used for a dress

If you want to collaborate with us on The Designer Project initiative and become part of this creative club, please apply! Send us an email with your portfolio and why you want to be part of this and sure, I will be in touch.

“From the Garden” New Fabric Collection by Crystal Kluger

Been looking for a new textile design for an upcoming project? We strongly recommend checking out the latest and very fabulous “From the Garden” fabric designs which have just been added to our ‘Fabric Shop‘ online, catering to both fashion and homewares applications. These divine new prints are by Sydney-based designer Crystal Kruger who is the creative force behind the textile and surface design focused Skye St. Studio. Crystal is also our second contributing artist to The Designer Project and we are so excited to share her work and process with you! Crystal’s designs are often inspired by travel and adventures, however, her latest collection celebrates the comfort and joy of having a backyard garden, a quaint courtyard or even a favourite local park. The ‘From the Garden’ is available from our ‘Fabric Shop’ online and features a range of prints which are both nostalgic and contemporary. Keep reading to find out more about each hand-painted design and the types of products and garments we think they’ll be perfect for!

‘Clementine Rose’ fabric designs perfectly captures the beauty of the humble clementine and pairs deliciously warm orange and pink tones with a deep teal background. ‘Clementine Rose’ features beautifully undulating watercolour textures arranged in a mid-scale design.
This design would be a fantastic choice for a statement upholstery project.

‘Summer Dahlias’ print is absolutely bursting with energy and reminds us of long summer days spent in the backyard under the hot Australian sun. A riot of colour and joy, this mid-scale design is the perfect choice for statement fashion applications.
This design is simply begging to be the hero of a gorgeous summer shirt-dress.

‘Pebbles’ features delicately painted stone motifs and is inspired by the crunchy gravel driveways from Crystal’s childhood. This small-scale design features an understated colour palette making it versatile for home fashion and homewares.
‘Pebbles’ would be the perfect print for a pair for leggings.

‘Papaya Spots’ fabric is a bold graphic print inspired by Crystal’s childhood memories of summer afternoons in Queensland eating tropical fruits. The mid-scale design features a wonderfully crisp colour palette where the vermillion motifs really pop.
We’re seeing this design as the perfect choice for a statement dress.

‘Inky Botanical Ditsy’ celebrates classic ditsy florals and features a warm autumnal colour palette. This small-scale print is a fantastic choice for fashion garments and accessories.
‘Inky Botanical Ditsy’ would be a great choice for a really pretty and easy to wear wrap-dress.

‘Fruitti Tutti Blood Orange‘ is reminiscent of retro outdoor furniture and has been reimagined as this beautifully versatile print. A modern twist on the classic stripe! This relaxed stripe design has been hand-painted and would work well both on it’s own or used as a coordinate.
We think a skirt with pockets is the perfect application for this gorgeous print!

‘Lemonade’ is a playful design which pairs glistening lemon motifs with a graphic monochrome background. This mid-scale design is a simple yet effective way of adding a little pop of colour to any outfit or space.
We’re imagining this design as a fresh and calm drapery in your bedroom.

‘Rainbow Fruit’ fabric print is a rich homage to a summer classic, fruit salad. The hand-painted watercolour motifs glisten like gems set in a deep green background. The small-scale design is a real focal point of the range and is a great choice for both homewares and fashion.
‘Rainbow Fruit’ would be the perfect print for a statement jumpsuit or an accessory bag!

We’re thrilled to have Crystal taking part in The Designer Project, with each of the designs in the ‘From the Garden’ collection available to print on any of our stock fabrics. Our ideas above are only suggestions and we can’t wait to see all the different types of projects you use these designs for.

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