Designer Profile - Loré Loré -

I have many great things to say about my time studying Textile Design at RMIT, and one of them is that I was lucky to meet a heap of creative and ambitious women who are all doing some pretty exciting and inspiring things now a days.

Las week I published a post of a fellow RMIT alumni, and today I follow it up with another post on local creative, and personal friend Lorena Gonzalez of Loré Loré.

Lorena, is the talented designer and maker at Loré Loré, a knitwear brand committed to creating handcrafted vibrant and timeless designs. All Loré Loré pieces are carefully crafted with locally sourced materials and produced in small runs at Lorena’s Melbourne studio, making them truly unique.

From garments, to knitted accessories and interior textile art, what makes Loré Loré pieces so special is the attention to detail, the colour and yarn selection, design consideration, production and finishing.

The label is embedded with the values of quality natural fibres, hand made and slow fashion principles with the purpose of each piece finding a home to be cherished time and time again defying short term trends.

You can find Loré Loré online, or at the Finders Keepers market this weekend. And please read on below for my interview with the warm and wonderful Lorena.

Tell us a little bit about yourself, your background and why you started your label Loré Loré Knitwear?

My name is Lorena and I am the creator and maker behind Loré Loré. My background is in textile design. I studied at RMIT and majored in knitting. My love for knitwear began years before then. I already had it set in my mind that this is what I wanted to do before I even began studying. After graduating I starting off in the textile workplace designing socks and hosiery, however after a year the industry took some financial hardship and I was made redundant which meant that there was little textile work available out there. Out of this I began Loré Loré. I entered the NEIS program, which pushed me to pursue my passion for knitting and creating knitwear.

How would you best describe Lore Lore’s design aesthetic & ethos?

Loré Loré represents an expression of ones own identity. Often subconsciously, we reflect ourselves through what we wear and how we accessorise as a symbol of our mood, how we feel about ourselves and what we value; being style, comfort or functionality. It is unique and personal. Loré Loré is an extension of what the wearer is sharing about themselves, whether through colour, texture, pattern or shape, customers walk away with a unique piece that they have fallen in love with and feels that it reflects them visually.

Loré Loré represents a history, a tale of a craft passed down from generations. It is the core of the brand to reflect the craftsmanship of the art of knitting and the use of all natural quality fibres. I make all the knitwear myself in minimal quantities to promote the buying of better quality products as well as the culture of slow fashion.

Can you tell us a little bit about your creative process/ what materials do you use and how do you like to work?

I believe to have an unconventional creative process and tend to work backwards. Before anything is really planned out, I am already on the machine creating something that will then determine the direction of a new range. I like to begin with texture, as it is the most important element and is what defines knitwear amongst fashion. After selecting textures and colours that I’ve decided to work with, I then begin to visualise shapes and silhouettes for garments and combine them together to plan the range.

I have always taken pride in working with an all-natural fibre product promoting the elite properties that they provide as well as the importance of healthy breathing skin. Predominately working with Australian merino wool, it coincides with sustainable environmental ethics instilled in Loré Loré. Wool is an all-natural, renewable fibre, which can be reused, repurposed and is 100% biodegradable, making it all round planet friendly.

I work on a vintage domestic knitting machines and produce fully fashioned garments. Each piece is meticulously calculated to pattern, ensuring there is no cutting of the fabric. This minimises yarn waste and ensures better quality finishing. Once a garment is completed, I quickly move onto the next piece to keep the creative process stimulating and not lose momentum.

What’s a typical day at the studio/office for you?

A typical day in the studio varies. As I work on my own, I carry out all the tasks that are involved in a small creative business. Most days start of with a strong cup of coffee and trend forecasting to kick start inspiration and motivation. I would then jump straight onto one of my knitting machines and begin to knit, whether it’s completing orders, or working on new pieces. Trialling out new stitches, colour combinations or shaping. Sometimes I do a quick visit to my yarn supplier, which fortunately is at walking distance, so my dog Buster usually tags along for the trip. A working day usually ends quite late as knitting is time consuming, however it is more that I get lost in working on a piece and want to feel the satisfaction of completing it.

You’re celebrating 10 years of Loré Loré this month! What are some outstanding moments over the years that have brought you to where you are today?

I believe it is the people who have supported me and who I have met in the industry whilst running Loré Loré that has brought the brand to where it is today. Every year the work gets a little more professional and a little better than the year before. I’m constantly learning something new and growing as a creative business owner and also personally. If anything, it’s my passion for the craft that has kept Loré Loré going for all these years. It has travelled with me, it has grown with me and is now such a part of my own persona that I don’t think I could ever part with.

How would you describe your personal style?

I have been accused of having a ‘nana chic’ style, which I can admit, is probably correct. I developed much of my own style whilst living abroad in South Korea. It is a mix-matched combination of old with new. Lots of colour, pattern and shape and most importantly, coordinated. Much of what I design is what I aspire to wear for myself, however I rarely wear anything that I make as I prefer to share the things I create with others. I have kept a few much loved pieces for myself that come out on special occasions.

What are 5 essentials in your wardrobe?

Hair scarves – full of colour and pattern. My top accessory!

Earrings – I have a bit of a collection, and always feel nude without them.

White Shirt – A weakness of mine, one can never have too many white shirts. Love the classic look.

Coats – This is my finishing touch for any outfit, it ties everything together even though it’s mostly for arrival and departure.

Boots – My biggest love is shoes. For winter any outfit is complete with a star pair of boots!

Where is your favourite place to shop in Melbourne?

316 Melbourne. It’s a super cute boutique stocking womenswear from South Korea. I always tend to find some key piece for my wardrobe that speaks to me. The Strand is also a favourite of mine. I cannot walk past without wandering in to accidentally shop.

Tell us about some of the people who inspire you and why?

Frida Khalo. I know it may sound cliché, however she is such a vibrant feminine figure that inspires in various areas of life, hence her popularity. What inspires me is her way of being, an expression, ideology, culture, colour, pattern all of which Frida Khalo embodies in her tales and in her art.

What would be your ideal collaboration?

I have always had a huge love for Missoni knitwear. It would be a great opportunity to collaborate and learn from their years of expertise and history of pattern.

What are the top 3 resources that you turn to for inspiration?

Travel – It’s the best way to see things with fresh eyes and to expand a creative vision.

Culture – I gain much of my inspiration of colour and texture through research into cultures and their histories of textiles.

Pinterest – I thank the universe for Pinterest, I only wonder why it wasn’t around when I was at uni. It’s a very useful platform to gauge what’s trending and to gather a collective of visual images of inspiration.

What else is on the cards for Loré Loré in the coming weeks/months?

I have a couple of Markets remaining for the season; Finders Keepers in Melbourne this weekend and The Melbourne Collective Market in early August.

I’m really excited about the upcoming Finders Keepers Market as I will be offering customised beanies. Customers will be able to select their own beanie/ pom-pom beanie colour combo and I will put it together for them on the spot. I have never done this before, so I am eager to see how this is received and also excited about sharing a part of the making process that goes on behind the scenes.

Over the next couple of months towards the end of the season I aim to hold a few beanie making workshops at my studio. I hosted some last year and they were a great success, so I hope to offer more classes where I can continue to share this craft. Participants will be able to walk away with a finished beanie they made and in the process, learn a new craft. I hope to continue offering more workshops like these in future and keep them going on a frequent basis.