THIS week we chat with local alternative fashion designer Josh Bodenstaff (Bodes), who said one small act of rebellion soon transformed into a creative outlet that has grown into a full-fledged fashion line with a distinctly artistic edge.<\/p>\n
What initially motivated you to take up designing alternative fashion?<\/strong><\/p>\n My journey into alternative fashion began with something simple: boredom.<\/p>\n I was uninspired by the narrow, repetitive choices offered in mainstream menswear and wanted more than just the expected.<\/p>\n So, I started experimenting – at first, by painting stencils and artistic designs onto plain shirts.<\/p>\n That small act of rebellion soon transformed into a creative outlet that has grown into a full-fledged fashion line with a distinctly artistic edge.<\/p>\n How would you describe your style and how did you develop it?<\/strong><\/p>\n What I do now falls under what I call alternative fashion.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not just about clothing; it\u2019s about turning everyday materials into expressions of self.<\/p>\n What began with art shop stencils expanded into using everyday objects as tools for design – leaves from a mulberry tree helped me form a \u201cTree of Life\u201d design, and painting tape gave rise to crystal-like effects on fabric.<\/p>\n Each technique is experimental, each piece unique.<\/p>\n It\u2019s less about following a trend and more about telling a story through texture, shape, and colour.<\/p>\n As the practice evolved, so did the materials.<\/p>\n I started sourcing beautiful, unexpected fabrics from across Australia – boutiques in Sydney, vintage stores in Melbourne, and art shops in remote Indigenous communities.<\/p>\n These places inspired me not just with what I could find, but with the people I met, and the stories shared.<\/p>\n Every fabric holds meaning; every pattern, every brushstroke has an origin that feels deeply connected to the land and culture around me.<\/p>\n Which other fashion designers inspire you?<\/strong><\/p>\n Inspiration doesn\u2019t come from just one place or person.<\/p>\n I wouldn\u2019t say I follow a single artist – I\u2019m more drawn to abstract art in general.<\/p>\n Abstract forms and compositions spark something within me that I can’t always explain, but that always seems to find its way into my work.<\/p>\n It\u2019s in the negative space, the unexpected colour pairings, the off-balance symmetry – these are the things that excite me creatively.<\/p>\n What are some highlights or fond memories you have from your career so far?<\/strong><\/p>\n I\u2019ve been lucky to have my work showcased publicly in exhibitions like Queer Country and United Artists, which have been some of the proudest moments of my career so far.<\/p>\n Having that kind of platform to share my vision and connect with people who resonate with it is incredibly fulfilling.<\/p>\n Another highlight was wearing one of my own pieces at Melbourne Fashion Week, where the response was overwhelmingly positive.<\/p>\n That moment validated everything I\u2019d been working toward.<\/p>\n