Upcycled coats in demand

AS the direct impacts of COVID-19 have reduced, the hairdressing side of High Street Beauty Gallery in Eaglehawk has come to an end and made way for a collection of slow-fashion items to attract the eyes of clients.

Along with on-selling clothing by what she said are sustainable fashion labels, business owner Fleur O’Dwyer came up with the idea to transform old blankets into fashionable, everyday garments.

“I started this last winter, I just sort of had a design that I liked and wore all the time, just with tracksuit pants, with runners, with jeans, with boots,” said Ms O’Dwyer.

“I sort of thought I wanted to make it out of vintage woollen blankets, so that was my first prototype.

“I have a very talented seamstress.”

Ms O’Dwyer said her family has been in the garment business for generations and starting to sell clothes seemed natural.

“I’ve always been in the clothing trade because of the family, but my background’s spa and beauty so that’s what I do as well,” she said.

“I’ve never really got heaps at one time because they just sort of sell. It’s just really starting to take off now.”

With the blankets coming from across the region such as The Mill in Castlemaine as well as being dropped into her store Ms O’Dwyer said she goes “exploring” for materials.

The end result is a bespoke coat with warmth at its centre.

“The coast are a little bit custom made, but if people come out and they’re here to sell, well it’s a bit like Cinderella’s slipper,” she said. “If it fits, and you like it, well, you take it home.”

With the ongoing success of the effort, Ms O’Dwyer is now considering making the offering more permanent with a Made in Eaglehawk brand.

“I was selling them last winter, but they didn’t have a label. I didn’t know what to call myself, so I thought I can’t keep making these coats for them not to have a label,” said Ms O’Dwyer.

“I’m not really into fast fashion, I think it’s nice to be unique and mix the old with the new and get something more authentic that way, but I would like to expand, definitely.

“I think there could be a calling for this sort of thing because the blankets are very nostalgic.”