With the warmer days settling in (finally), my wardrobe always tends to get a little more adventurous.
Spring and summer always encourage me to experiment with pattern and colour in particular, and Obus has become a firm favourite go-to label for bold prints and fun colour ways.
Founded over 20 years ago by creative director Kylie Zerbst, Obus delivers quintessential Melbourne style, with garments and accessories that are thoughtfully designed and curated out of their Northcote head office.
80% of Obus’ items are made locally in Australia, with the other 20% being responisbly manufactured offshore. Ethical and sustainable practices are important to Kylie and the Obus team, who always strive to offer transparent information on their process and practices whilst delivering fun and fabulous clothing that’s one of a kind.
Clothing made by Obus is of exceptional quality, featuring natural fibres and exclusive prints, designed in-house by Kylie herself. The finished products are easy to wear pieces with a constantly changing palette of unexpected colours.
Earlier this year I had the great pleasure of working with the Obus team on some exciting shoots featuring their Melbourne designed clothing (you can check out the posts here & here).
Today I’d like to highlight this wonderful local label and speak to designer Kylie Zerbst about her inspirations, process and what makes this iconic local label stand out from all the rest.
Read on below.
Tell us a little bit about yourself, your background and why/how you started Obus?
The seeds of Obus were planted 20 years ago when I was working on my masters (Graphic Design) and embarking on my first big overseas trip, to India. I was so enamoured with the colours and textiles of that part of the world, and totally inspired by the handmade nature of everything I saw, that when I returned to Melbourne I was reluctant to get back on the computer. Instead I started developing my own textile designs and garments and the very first Obus collection was born. Fast forward to today, and each Obus collection is influenced by travel, to destinations both real and imagined, and every piece is designed to help women feel empowered and inspired… I still design all of the Obus prints, so original textile design is still a cornerstone of the garments and accessories we produce.
How would you best describe Obus’ design aesthetic & ethos?
At Obus we’re very considerate about producing our clothing in small quantities and limited runs. So once it’s gone, it’s gone! This process ensures all of our clothing goes to a loving home and preloved Obus pieces are highly sought after.
From a design perspective, we are also obsessed with quality, longevity and versatility of the items we produce… what you buy from us won’t just look good for a week or a season, it will continue to make you look and feel great (and mix and match with other Obus seasonal collections) for years to come. And of course, we love colour and print – that is evident in any of our collections, and the exclusivity of the prints I design for each collection make those pieces extra special.
Can you tell us a little bit about your creative process/ what materials do you use and how do you like to work?
In the studio, our creative process is a healthy mix of digital and paper, team input and massaging of ideas until they feel just right. Prints usually begin from photos I have taken on my travels, and I develop the idea in Adobe Illustrator so I can easily play with colour combinations and set up the designs for print. For the garment design, ideas might be inspired by a shape we’ve seen or love wearing, by a fabric we have sourced, or by a print I’ve developed. As a design team, we go back and forth from computer to paper to fabric until a garment is ready for production.
What’s a typical day at the studio/office for you?
Every day is different, but overall I’m always working on a different aspect of a year’s worth of seasonal collections during any given day. So, for example, I might be styling a photoshoot for Spring, discussing garment details for Summer styles, designing textile prints for to apply to our designer’s Autumn sketches, and collecting inspiration for next Winter’s collection. There’s always a lot going on!
How would you describe your personal style?
Eclectic, elevated casual. Lots of print and colour of course! I love to mix old and new – wearing Obus alongside vintage or handcrafted items found on holidays or at the op shop down the road.
What are 5 essentials in your wardrobes?
During the cooler months I love our LEGACY BOOT (I have them in all the colours!). Our Traveller Knit range has been a fantastic addition to the Traveller basics that I love for everyday wear – the colours and shapes elevate a casual look and the cotton/merino feels so lush. If I’m heading out for date night I adore a maxi dress with a SISTERS HEEL, and for a birthday party you’ll probably find me in one of our Jumpsuits (especially if there’s going to be dancing!)
Where is your favourite place to shop in Melbourne?
Because I do 99% of my clothes shopping at Obus (!!), the other things I buy are usually food, plants and books. Living in the inner North, I love CERES, Lygon St Nursery and the bookstores near our studio. And a long brunch or dinner with friends at Park St Dining is a favourite when the days start getting longer.
Tell us about some of the people who inspire you and why?
Our Obus ladies inspire me! They have followed our journey and continue to grow and evolve with us. Without them, there wouldn’t be Obus! What I admire the most is that Obus ladies really do get behind our ideas, whether it be our prints and collections, the ethos we follow, or the causes we put our voice to. I’m grateful every day for their support.
What would be your ideal collaboration?
We’d love to pursue collaborations where our original prints and flair for colour are applied to something other than garments and fashion accessories – so homewares, paint or wallpaper, stationery, we are full of ideas. Our recent partnership with West Elm has given us a little taste of the potential, and we’re hooked!
What are the top 3 resources that you turn to for inspiration?
For me there is no key to finding inspiration, it just pops out whenever it feels like it! The concept of Obus as a brand is to take it’s wearers on a journey so of course travelling is essential for me… To step outside of my life in Melbourne and experience new places is always a good way to find inspiration.
As a brand we feel deeply connected to and inspired by customers – our ladies. What they are doing, what they wear, how they wear it and how they live their lives. That can’t be discounted as a huge inspiration for what we design and why.
What else is on the cards for Obus in the coming weeks/months?
It’s now all about gearing up for summer! I love working on our annual swimwear range (spending as much time in the ocean as I do throughout summer, they come in handy!). Plus we always integrate lots of fun giveaways in the lead-up to Christmas to say thanks to our customers for supporting us all year.
Images provided by Obus, West Elm & Mike Baker Photography
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