Nerida continues cutting edge approach

Step inside Nerida Hansen’s world for the day and then you will begin to appreciate the busyness of an entrepreneur juggling multiple businesses, concepts and projects, plus managing family life and her own personal struggles with ADHD.

Affectionately known as the queen of fabrics, Nerida continues to pivot her textiles empire through a global pandemic with the re-opening of the Nerida Hansen Fabrics showroom.

On top of that she manages and drives the recent development and launch of a world-first surface art platform, Patternfield App.

The app is a 24/7 virtual trade show that connects buyers and art directors with surface artists and designers all around the world.

There is nothing else like it in the market.

Not stopping there, Nerida is creative director of Future Folk Designs, which is the home of prints, decals and stickers with fun and positive messaging and creative director of her agency, Nerida Hansen Creative. She is a force.

Since her self-titled fabrics business launched in 2017, it has grown beyond her expectations with more than 40 designers on board and ever-expanding.

“Due to COVID, my business experienced formidable growth,” says Nerida.

“But also because of COVID my business has tread a fine line. We have gone weeks without receiving any deliveries. No deliveries means no stock, which in return means no sales. Thankfully we are seeing a slow turnaround with a series of showstopping collections on their way.”

Nerida’s speciality is in curating and licensing unique designs with talented creatives from all around the globe to offer as stand-out fabric collections to the sewing community.

This has been her forte and she has established quite a name for herself.

“I am living and working my dream. I get to meet the most interesting people. One of our most recent designers to join the fabrics family is an Indigenous artist and educator, Emma Stenhouse. Her work is breathtaking and it has been fascinating to learn more about her journey and story.

“We are offering her designs as meterage, but they are also available to the non-sewer as made-to-order garments from the shop.

“This is an additional value to our customers. The garments will be available in our sustainable substrates such as organic poplin and arriving later in the year in organic voile, as well as other fabrications.

“The re-opening of the shop has been a seamless and natural process. It makes sense to go down this path now.

“Our fashion fabrics cater for sewers and makers, but now we can offer made-to-order garments from our fabrics and sewing patterns to customers who do not sew.

“Fashion on demand is the way forward as it embraces slow fashion principles.

“Many of my friends love our patterns and fabrics, but they are too time poor or unable to sew it themselves. Well, guess what, now they can shop and wear them. We are listening to our audience and delivering what they want!”

Nerida Hansen Fabrics showroom is open six days a week in Torquay.

Follow @neridahansenfabrics on Instagram.