SHOP Brisbane_Interview with founder, Kelly Poulter

1. Kelly, 'Shop Brisbane' is an exciting online fashion concept! Can you tell us more about it and what it is you do?
Shop Brisbane is a Facebook portal that showcases the highlights of the fashion and shopping scene in Brisbane. We aim to provide regular updates on Brisbane designers, stores and events, and link through to our websites -www.followthefashion.wordpress.com, www.queenstreetmall.com and www.visitbrisbane.com.au.

I work for Brisbane Marketing, Brisbane’s economic development agency, and our job is to simply do that – ‘market’ Brisbane. We promote Brisbane as ‘Australia’s New World City’ in all its facets - events, investment, leisure tourism, conventions, study, film, and of course retail (with a particular focus on Brisbane CBD and the Queen Street Mall) – it’s such a big part of Brisbane’s offering to locals and tourists.

2. How did you come up with the idea of Shop Brisbane?
I use Facebook quite a lot and saw that it was becoming an increasingly used tool by Brisbane businesses, in particular retail stores. So I formed Shop Brisbane in April 2009 as it was a logical and easy way to connect with these businesses. The natural progression was then to connect with Brisbane people, and obviously Facebook allows you to do this very easily, so now I have made over 3,000 friends (growing every day!) and they love to hear about our emerging fashion and shopping scene. It’s very nice to see that Brisbane is evolving so much.

3.How do you stay on the pulse of the latest fashion trends, exhibitions or sales?
A lot of the content on Shop Brisbane comes about by researching and relaying information on behalf of Brisbane designers and stores, there is so much to talk about. I research designer and store websites, Facebook pages, magazines etc. Plus I do have a love for fashion so that makes my job easier! I have been finding lately that more and more stores and designers are contacting me as they are obviously realising the benefits of being a part of Shop Brisbane and Brisbane Marketing – this is so great to see.

4. What are the highlights of having an online fashion site?
The highlights and benefits of having an online presence are ever-growing. It allows you to be up-to-date with content as you can edit and upload information quickly, and of course, being the world wide web means that it allows you to reach a world audience, and this helps us really put Brisbane on the world map. Any fashion designer or store has to have an online presence, be it a website, blog or Facebook page, these days as it is fast becoming the sole means of advertising and promotion.  

 

 5. Which Brisbane designers or shops should we be looking out for right now?
This is a hard question as there are so many, especially as the Brisbane fashion scene continues to grow before my eyes every day! ... I would say Gail Sorronda, Miss Unkon, Vanguard, Chelsea de Luca and Paula Walden are definitely Brisbane designers that will make it big nationally. Natalie Denning’s stores (Bessie Head, Dirt Box and Bam & Juju) continue to dress Brisbane in fashion-forward pieces – Natalie has done wonders for Brisbane. It is also so exciting to see the growth of the number of fashion events in Brisbane.

6. What advice would you give to women who want to have more of an online presence and be a part of the fashion industry?
The great thing about Brisbane’s fashion industry is that it is so new, we want more and more people to be involved and we really encourage innovation. There is so much opportunity here in Brisbane, unlike other places in Australia and the world that are more established.

If you are a journalist or just a fashion lover then I would definitely suggest starting a blog – they are a great way to allow you to be creative, have a voice and showcase your talent. And the ‘blogger’ is gaining recognition the world over as being highly influential within the fashion industry. There aren’t that many blogs that focus on Brisbane either, so there is definite opportunity here that will then allow you to move into fashion jobs in journalism and marketing.

If you are a designer or store then having a website is vital as this allows you to create a strong brand for yourself. And of course having a Facebook page is essential - they will soon be a vital element to the fashion industry, and every industry for that matter.

Thanks Kelly! Add Shop Brisbane on Facebook so you can stay up to date with the lastest in fashion and shopping in Brisbane as well as Kelly's blog, Follow the Fashion.

Arielle, Gloss Posse

Brisbane fashion photographer, Shaelah Ariotti...

Gloss Posse Feature//

1. Shaelah, can you share with Gloss Posse who you are and what it is you do?

I'm currently a photographer focusing in the areas of fashion, beauty & portraiture, but at the end of this year I hope to also add visual communication designer, illustrator & artist to that list! 

2. What is it about fashion that you want to portray as a photographer? What makes your work unique? 

I aim to never shoot without narrative - my work always needs to have a story behind it or I am not satisfied. I want to make work that speaks to people. I aim to always approach clients and projects with the utmost integrity, regardless of whether it will lose me a job or money; I will not do anything ethically wrong, and I do my best to look after those I work with. 

What I am to achieve is to have enough influence - to be sufficiently well known - that I can use the medium of fashion to change paradigms, to change minds... for change of all kinds. The battle is one of the mind - the people behind the media are the ones that drive what we want, we think, we desire, we dislike.... I think fashion is really an untapped resource in that nobody really expects anything other than the superficial; so when fashion has something to say it really has great impact! 

3. Your photography is very artistic and really tells a story. How do you go about creating these stories and scenes? 

Well I always map out at the very least what I want to say/what the client wants to say, but more often we map out a specific story we want to tell. Sometimes it's as in depth as, 'There's this character who lives in this house and she does this,' and we find locations for each scene or we make up scenes for each location; sometimes it's as simple as, 'The character is this, this and this.' Having said that, I let the shoot evolve on the day to be what it will be. Rather than over directing my models, I prefer to let them/help them fall into character, really feel what's going on with who they are in that moment and adjust as necessary, which is I think why my work feels largely less forced and more natural. 

Also I did minors in Art photography and in nude/experimental/portrait photography while I was studying, which brings a slightly different perspective into my work. 

4. Who/what is inspiring you at the moment?

I am always inspired. To begin with, Georges Antoni (always,) Baldovino Barani, Steven Chee, Richard Bailey, Bec Parsons, Benny Horne, Greg Kadel... The list is endless, I could go into those inspiring me for illustration (to start with Kat MacLeod & Ortolan studio, Catherine Campbell) and design, specifically type but I'd be writing forever. Mostly I just link them down the side of my blog you'll see what I mean when you see how many are there.

I do think it's important to make sure that you find the balance between immersing yourself in the wealth of visual culture we have access to, but retaining your own voice and vision. And remember that whether we realise it or not, we all learn by imitation to some degree!

5. What advice would you give to women pursuing fashion photography as a career?

Be prepared to do a lot of work for free, but know when you can afford to do that no longer & stand your ground. Keep testing & doing free work throughout your career but be really selective about it. 

Be prepared for a long hard road to get to where you can function professionally and not be living on 2 minute noodles just to survive. Long days and sore eyes will be your constant companions. 

Remember that (this sounds corny but it's so true) that in taking the long road to get where you want to be, you learn things that people who take the short route just don't have the opportunity to learn, so you're actually more likely to last the distance!

Take every opportunity you get that will actually assist your career, don't do stuff that's just a waste of time. Get out there and make contacts; expose your work to as many people as possible - make a blog, get a website, use sites like carbon made, behance, deviantart, the loop... 

Remember why you do what you do, and LOVE it.

Thanks for sharing your experiences with Gloss Posse Shaelah! We look forward to seeing more of your work and keep us up to date with where your art work takes you. You can contact Shaelah by email, read her blog and see her website.

Checkout Shaelah's online portfolios at:

http://goldenhair.deviantart.com
www.theloop.com.au/shaelah_ariotti
www.shaelahariotti.carbonmade.com
www.behance.net/shaelahariotti

Arielle