An Interview with Donna Sgro!

Donna Sgro is yet another talented designer who presented her collection at Japan Fashion Week's Shinmai Creator's Project. I had a chance to talk to her at the Luxe by Plugin Show and see her clothes first hand. One of the highlights of her collection were the cool hooded scarves that were mixed and matched with a variety of pieces. I got to take a closer look at the amazing scarves and we took a picture with them (see below)! Donna has a degree in Textile and Design as well as a degree in Philosophy and Art Theory! Her collection was playful and full of exciting colors, unique cuts and layers! You can read my runway review and summary of her collection from The Shinmai Creator's Project here. Please visit her website here for more information.

A: What was your inspiration for this collection?

D: The name of the collection is Octopus’s Garden. The theme has evolved from a recent fascination I have had with the deep sea world and creatures that inhabit this environment, such as the many species of octopuses and jellyfish. I am amazed at how these creatures have adapted to what seems to us to be such a strange environment. Their world is so black but the creatures have developed sublime mechanisms of illumination and invisibility in order to exist.

The range I have designed is based on the idea of liquid blackness that is the deep sea and the sparks or flashes of illumination that exist from the creatures that inhabit the environment. A lot of layering features in the range, with a strong jersey story adaptable to many options to combine with other garments. I have designed a print for the range based off the undersea textures and use the print in layered options with semi-sheer reflective fabrics combined with opaque print options. The garments draw together methods of tailoring and sportswear applications to produce a fusion of both that can be either dressed-up or more casual and relaxed.

A: Can you talk about how your education has influenced your design aesthetic?

D: I have so far finished 2 degrees – one in Fashion & Textiles Design at the University of Technology, Sydney, and one in Arts at the University of Sydney. I am a person who is guided by a large amount of curiosity and intrigued by all things interesting, so have really sought to study to broaden my knowledge of literature and the arts and develop specific research interests. I have a background of study in art theory and philosophy, which, as a designer, gives me a depth of knowledge to keep drawing upon for inspiration and direction. It helps me to keep questioning my own work and develop a unique aesthetic.

A: What was it like participating in Japan Fashion Week?

D: Participating in Japan Fashion Week was for me an amazing experience and one I will never forget! The SHINMAI Creator’s Project show was so well produced and it was such an honour to have been chosen to take part. To be able to see my collection come together for such an event and be displayed in the way in which I would want it to has really been such a unique opportunity. It has been wonderful to be invited to another country with such a welcome invitation to show my range, an opportunity I don’t think many new brands are lucky to receive.

A: What are your plans for the next year? What stores are you clothes being sold at in Tokyo?

D: So far the range will be sold in Isetan Department Store in Tokyo from June 10. Following on from this I am hoping to secure more stockists in Japan, but I do think I am only at the beginning of the process of doing business with Japanese stores. I am currently trying to secure an agent for selling the range in Tokyo, which is a critical first step to going further.

A: Who has been your biggest inspiration?

D: It is really hard to say who has been my biggest inspiration as there probably is not just one! I am inspired by so many people throughout history who have had an individual creative voice. In fashion, people like Hussein Chalayan, Rei Kawakubo and Elsa Schiaparelli, in arts Jean Cocteau, Vaslav Nijinsky, Marcel Duchamp, Max Ernst. In everyday life, my husband!

A: What was your favorite part about attending Japan Fashion Week in Tokyo?

D: Being able to meet with the other designers from the SHINMAI Creator’s Project and really make some great friendships. Each designer has such a different approach to design and a different aesthetic, but all were great people to meet and share a wonderful time with!

At the exhibition!

(Photo credit to Stephen Reinhardt)