Here at Lilt Blog we love to support Australian creatives and businesses, so today, I am thrilled to interview Jo Breach, the founder and designer of local label Jiggerjagger for my first ‘Designer Profile’ post of 2018.
The label is fairly new to the scene, and was founded last year by Jo, who has always had a passion for designing and sewing clothes.
Each garment has been created with ethical and sustainable practices in mind and most pieces feature bright and fun exclusive, limited edition prints designed by Jo herself.
I’m looking forward to seeing this label grow with its love of big bright and bold design.
Scroll down below, to read my interview with Jo as we discuss her creative process, her must have wardrobe items and what inspires her designs.
Tell us a little bit about yourself, your background and how your label Jiggerjagger came about?
I work out of a converted stable in rural Victoria, where I live with my husband and our two children. I launched Jiggerjagger in March 2017 after many years of designing and sewing my own clothes. Once it occurred to me that I could design my own prints, a whole new world of opportunity opened up to me. That was when Jiggerjagger was born.
How would you best describe Jiggerjagger’s design aesthetic?
In a nutshell: colourful prints paired with simple, elegant silhouettes.
Can you tell us a little bit about your creative process?
I always have a number of print concepts on the go at one time, and continue to tinker with them until one jumps out at me as a contender for production. Sometimes I start with a sketch on paper, but often I go straight to creating a digital version. My pattern repeats are often quite large, so it’s always really exciting when my strike-offs arrive and I can see the print at scale.
When making a new garment, I generally make a prototype and a pattern, which is supplied to the pattern maker. They make a pattern and sample garment for me to approve. Sometimes there’s some back-and-forth required until the cut is perfect.
What’s a typical day at the studio/office for you?
Depending on the time of year, I may be finalising our next collection, inspecting new print strike-offs or samples, fulfilling orders, answering emails, preparing a post on Instagram—anything and everything, really!
How would you describe your personal style?
I love to pair a colourful statement blouse or dress with muted tones of navy or black to really make the colours pop.
What are 5 essentials in your wardrobe?
A statement blouse
A statement dress
A simple, elegant jacket.
Boots
Karen Muller Lipstick
Where is the best place to shop in Melbourne?
I really love Design A Space retail galleries. We are so lucky here in Melbourne to be able to go into a store and find so many amazing local designers doing exciting things!
Tell us about some of the people who inspire you and why?
Illustrators like Mary Blair, Lucy Cousins, Karl Joel Larsson and Isabelle Feliu are a great source of inspiration for me, mostly for their use of colour, but also for their exaggerated forms and interesting compositions and motifs. Likewise, I’m constantly inspired by my daughter’s art – the colour palettes and shapes she works with are always surprising.
What would be your ideal collaboration?
I recently collaborated with Materiel Design’s Marnie Tisot to create Megaflora earrings as part of our latest collection. It’s a wonderful experience to have a skilled artist apply your design to another format!
In the future, I would love to work with a local shoemaker to create my perfect pair of boots! Often when I design an outfit, I am picturing the perfect shoes to go with it – and they often don’t exist! I’m always on the lookout for amazing footwear.
What are the top 3 resources that you turn to for inspiration?
People watching – I love to see how people put their outfits together. It’s such a treat to see someone who dresses for his or her own enjoyment.
Nature – I love bush walking as a way to unwind, and sketching nature with pencil and ink provides me with inspiration for some of my flora- and fauna-based designs.
Art and design – from the bold, geometric forms of architect Frank Lloyd Wright, to the music of artists like Bill Callahan and Karen O, I am inspired by so many great artists and art forms.
What is your favourite place in Melbourne?
Melbourne Museum – a great place to people-watch, be inspired by the myriad natural wonders of the world, and a fun place for the kids to play.
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