Newcastle Fashion Week Designer Spotlight: Little Sparrow
Fashion Week hits Newcastle soon, and the designers involved are putting the final touches on their wares before sending them down the catwalk. We’re catching up with a selection of designers in the lead up to find out what makes them tick! This week it’s Little Sparrow‘s Danni Hewitt.
Danni grew up watching her mother make dance costumes for her, and then moved to Melbourne to go to the Australian Ballet School, which only served to grow her love of fashion. At 18, Danni went to London to dance but an injury cut short her career, and she found that her next move was an easy decision - fashion design. She returned to Australia to study in Canberra, and after competitions and work experience, showed her collections at both Rosemount Australian Fashion Week and 2010′s Newcastle Fashion Week.
Little Sparrow began as a high end women’s evening wear label and has evolved into a label for young affluent women who enjoy expressing their confident, fearless personalities during the day and into the evening. The Spring/Summer collection for 2011/12 is the Dream Collection.
What does being involved with NFW mean to you?
I love being involved in events that are charity based, it means a lot more and brings a whole new dimension to what I do. Also, supporting a smaller city is also really great - I come from a small city myself so it’s wonderful to see great things come out of them.
What influenced your latest collection?
I’ve been influenced by a really laid back period, the 60s come to mind, some of it’s a bit androngonous, and some of it more flirtatious - I wanted to express an easy going concept with personal elements beaming through.
Do you have an all time favourite design? What does it look like and what makes it your favourite piece?
I seem to always have a baby doll dress in all my collections. I think it’s because, as a woman wearing one, you feel pretty, sexy, and sophisticated all at the same time. They flatter everyone, and don’t figure hug so they’re easy to wear.
What is the most rewarding aspect of a career in fashion?
Every time I finish a piece or a collection I feel rewarded. I feel as if I’ve achieved something every time and learnt and developed and grown. Seeing something in my head, or on paper and then see it come to life is so rewarding - then seeing somebody wearing a piece that you’ve created and the enjoyment of their face is priceless.
What words of wisdom would you give an aspiring designer?
Don’t give up - so cliche I know but honestly it’s true. There are definitely times when I think - nope that’s it, I can’t do it anymore, no time, no money, too stressful. Then I think, hey what the hell I’m young, I have this opportunity, run with it - and I’m thankful every time I do.
Keep up to date with Little Sparrow on Facebook.
Read profiles on The Last Romantic & Lady Amalthia.
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