Q: On my previous two visits to both new York and to Italy i have seen the latest Easton Pearson in prestige stores like Bus Stop NY and Banner in Milan. How did this wonderful brand begin. In the 80's you were both involved in the industry but in quite different roles. How did you get together?
A: We have been friends since our early days in Brisbane but formed our partnership in 1988. We both had other lives in the fashion industry before we started together and bought this experience to the label, along with our very similar philosophies and our aspirations for our brand and our lives. We wanted to create a very individual brand with a personality that was not completely trend driven but for women who loved beautiful textiles, hand work and had an abiding interest in history, art and craft.
Q: Do you both design, select fabrics actually have a similar vision for a new collection?
A: We work as one person and may one day in fact MORPH into one person! We travel together, sit together at our desk, plan and design and decide together and when we work on a new collection our minds are uncannily in sync!
Q: Which other international name do you most admire, and why??
A: TOO HARD!
Q: What , where or whom inspires the collection?
A: Everything we see, do and experience informs our collection. It is evolutionary and so the previous season rolls into the next and we are always inspired by ART, HISTORY, FILM and TRAVEL like everyone else.
Q: Who is your customer? and is she the same in the overseas market?
A: Surprisingly similar in all places – people who feel comfortable to be individual and express their own ideas.
Q: How far in advance do you start designing a new season collection for the overseas market.?
A: About 4-5 months for the concepts, textiles and techniques, 2 months for the prints and knits and 6 weeks for the actual garments.
Q:; You both have families: how do you manage the home, the business and the brand and still always get it right and on time whilst appearing so cool calm and undercontrol.
A: Great support from our families and our team at work, who have lives and families of their own.
Q: what is your favourite piece in the next summer collection which is already on sale in the northern hemisphere?
A: From this Cruise collection which is delivered into stores in Australia and everywhere else in the world, all Easton Pearson stock will be delivered into stores here at the same time as in Europe. Our favourite piece is our new art printed and hand decorated Kaftan.
Q: to both of you Pam what is your personal style? and lydia what is your personal style?
A: for Pam and Lydi
A: After designing for each collection with SO many different women in our minds we just wear what feels right at the time.
Q: :How important are accessories to the EP look for next summer? What shoe shape will work well for the EP customer????
A: Our own flat diamante sandals (we have 5 versions) are the perfect solution for summer. If you need a heel, KORKEASE sandals are as comfortable as flats, but add 10cm!
Q: May we have a travel tip from both of you. What can you not travel with out?
A: The finest shawl you can possibly afford is the ultimate travel luxury.
Q: Is travel important to you and which is your favourite City in the world..
A: We travel enormously and could not do our jobs without that, but even for holidays we both love to go on adventures. We are lucky enough to spend 4 weeks a year in Paris and the same in Mumbai and both are fabulous in totally different ways. Hanoi is also a favourite.
Q: : How did you make that initial break into the European market?Was there an Australian agent involved???
A: We have not used selling agents outside Australia. It was really MAFW that springboarded us into the European market. We sold to Browns in London and Joyce in Hong Kong from Australia in 1997 and started to travel to Paris after that.
