ShowTellShare one Hundred and Eighty-Six

Share: Meet Nina Maya, The Social Outfit‘s very own *new* board member!

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We’re all really excited to have Nina involved; check out how amazing she is:

Nina Maya Skrzynski is one of Australia’s most outstanding designers renowned for creating collections with an emphasis on quality, silhouette and finishing. Since the launch of her Nina Maya label in 2006, she has developed a strong following from industry, celebrity and consumers alike. Completing a design degree, majoring in textiles at the College of Fine Arts Sydney, Nina has always held a strong penchant for fashion. Following this, she set off for London for an internship at a leading textile firm, before relocating to Italy where she worked for a luxury fashion house. Nina was honoured by an invitation to design her own range for the company, which was produced shortly after. Following her work abroad, Nina returned to Australia to establish her own business and further her self-titled label. Created with a style and design philosophy against the trend of disposable fashion, her focus on sustainability and a desire to create investment pieces have served as a solid foundation for the label’s success. Nina’s desire to push the envelope in design has seen her develop an artisan-like approach to her label. 

In July 2009, the Nina Maya label was selected by MYER to be included in their stable of designer collections and is now stocked nationally. The brand has developed strong working relationships with a select group of celebrities, most notably creating one-off red carpet designs for Jennifer Hawkins, Rebecca Twigley and Delta Goodrem. The resulting recognition of this saw the introduction of the Nina Maya Bespoke service in which customers have the opportunity to have demi-couture designs created personally by Nina for a specific occasion or event. 

Nina Maya has now extended the 
application of her skills to launch Nina Maya Interiors. After returning from London to Sydney, Nina Maya Interiors was launched in early 2012. Since then, Nina Maya has completed residential and commercial interiors design projects in Sydney and Beijing, China. 

In terms of philanthropic work, Nina is a Trustee of the Sky Foundation, a founding member of the ‘10 x 10 Project’ (aimed at engendering a culture of philanthropy and giving within the young professional and creative communities), and a member of the New Gen initiative at Philanthropy Australia.

Welcome Nina!

Show: And here’s some photos from last Friday, as a bunch of us were preparing and working hard at The Rocks Pop-Up spaces, in what will soon be The Social Outfit‘s new home whilst we run our pilot project

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There is a tonne of work to do: Eeeeek! But rest assured I’m making a real effort to make sure our creative workshops, exhibition space and ‘The Social Studio‘ pop-up store are *super interesting* for you to come and visit! For more details as we develop, check out here

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Tell: Earrings handmade, ‘Tokyo Kamen‘ brooch from Japan, ‘Promenade’ shirt from op shop, The Social Studio singlet, TS14+ dress, Black Milk leggings, Fluevog boots. All rings from Italy.

And this is today…

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Tell: Wa-Nyika earrings, scarf from op shop, handmade necklace, dress from secondhand store, vintage leather belt from secondhand store, Spin Dance petticoat, retail tights and socks, Fluevog sandals. Vintage Australiana bag from secondhand store.
Check out  also the First Hawaiian Officer’s *lovely* vintage shirt (below); we’re wearing matching retro-greens… And a BIG *thanks always* to the FHO for such great photos!
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This mini-comic says it all, really …
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ShowTellShare One Hundred and Eighty-Two

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Tell: Green earrings gifted by Kirsten from China, Wa-Nyika pink earrings, handmade orange beaded necklace, vintage beaded necklace from Santa Barbara, The Social Studio silk dress, Estilio leather belt, 1980s ‘Maggie T‘ dress from second-hand store, retail tights and Fluevog boots.

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Share: Today I met with some lovely staff within the Sydney Institute, TAFE NSW, to progress our working relationship. An important part of The Social Studio education model is the provision of TAFE-accredited, nationally-recognised training in the areas of fashion, retail and hospitality. At The Social Outfit in Sydney, we want to make sure we can also provide such integral support as well; so we’re all working hard to make it happen. Plus, I’m just a big believer in vocational and ‘on the job’ training as a key part of education and skills development here in Australia generally. So *hooray* TAFE! And in the meantime, we’ll keep progressing on our formal arrangements…

ShowTellShare One Hundred and Seventy-One

Share: The Social Outfit just got ourselves an ‘Authority to Fundraise’. Hooray! And why might you be interested? Because within the coming weeks the final 20 or so donated pieces of Ken Done from What Ken Be Done will be up for auction! And all for the benefit of The Social Outfit… Let me explain a little more first…

So, you’re a charity (i.e. got your DGR status and tax concession). That means now you can *fundraise like a fiend*, yeah? Well, NO!

One more form, people! In NSW, if you want to fundraise (i.e. ethically ask people for money via campaigns and request for donations… *NOT* hassling, mind you), you need an ‘Authority to Fundraise‘. You fill in forms from the NSW Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing, and show how you are legitimately doing charitable work. Then a little bit later, they let you know it’s OK, and you can begin fundraising. The Social Outfit got our confirmation this week. Yee-haw!

So if you, or anyone you know, wants some (more) *GOLD* pieces from my Ken Done fashion archive, you’ll soon have your chance. All the money raised (other than the auction fee) will go straight to The Social Outfit! And we’re going to use the money for our pilot program (supported by the City of Sydney). As soon as Kit gets the auctions live, we’ll let you know. You get Ken Done, and WE all get to support creative, great programs celebrating people from our refugee communities in Sydney. I like it!

So, in short: things here are MIGHTY busy, I can tell you…

Also, Kit got her hair cut. It’s *fun*, it’s got *verve*, and we have the photos to show, of course… xo

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Tell: Wa-Nyika earrings, Ken Done scarf handmade by Susan, The Social Studio silk dress, Ken Done leggings, retail socks, Fluevog shoes.

ShowTellShare One Hundred and Sixty-One

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Tell: Wa-Nyika earrings, Anthea Crawford 1980s jacket from op shop, Saba belt, Kmart skirt, Black Milk leggings, Fluevog shoes, vintage bag gifted.

Share: This was me on Monday. And, oh how I love me some 1980s Anthea Crawford jackets… it’s those short sleeves that makes them so-SO-80s-appealing!

ShowTellShare One Hundred and Fifty-Four

Show/Share: Last night we returned to Sydney, and it proved a *spectacular* way to finish up 2012, and herald in 2013… Because we came home to see that the ATO has granted The Social Outfit ‘Deductible Gift Recipient’ status and the ‘Charity Tax Concessions’. Yep, we’re now a bona fide Public Benevolent Institution! *Great news* that is another super important step on our way to securing our future in Sydney. It made the fireworks last night feel a little extra special…

… And I couldn’t have done all the ATO paperwork and procedure without the help of The Social Studio’s Grace McQuilten. She’s supported me every step of the way, and her advice and counsel is *priceless*. A huge and heartfelt thanks to her xo xo

In other fashion-related news, can you believe I found this custom, hand-made dress in an op shop in Perth? $24.99 and my size, it’s like it was made for me! Once I spotted it I just kept clawing at it, praying it would fit. Hooray, it does! Ruffles! *You Rock* Perth op-shops; so much second-hand gold to be found…

Another highlight from Perth was going on an evening boat cruise on the Mandurah Canals to look at people’s Christmas lights. It *so* appealed to my love of kitsch, glitter and frou-frou!

Yet another super-fantastic photo by the Hawaiian First Officer, who really is the BEST live-in-photographer ever! <3 …Thanks for all your support and expertise in 2012 … <3

The Hawaiian First Officer and I also spent New Year’s Eve with friends; including dearest Bec who is sporting my Ken Done shirt she bought in the auctions when supporting What Ken Be Done. Love!

So here’s to a hopeful and fulfilling 2013 for us all! xo

Tell: Hat from ‘Cat Protection Society’ op shop in Enmore, Wa-Nyika earrings, Tatty Devine necklace, handmade dress from Perth op shop, vintage belt from London, Uniqlo leggings, Camper sandals.

ShowTellShare One Hundred and Thirty-One

Show: Well, what a ripper of a day; and much of the *fun* came from wearing my high-waisted 1980s yellow *Mom-jeans* because…

Tell: Wa-Nyika earrings, necklace from op shop, top from Prahan near Chapel Street (a million years ago), singlet from op shop, jeans from op shop in Perth, Fluevog shoes.

Share: This afternoon Chloe and I met with Ross Longmuir who owns and runs, Planet in Surry Hills. Ross is a completely delightful and ethically-minded man, and he’s graciously offered to host a small party for The Social Outfit at his *beautiful* store and showroom in November. So Chloe, Ross and I met up to talk logistics and planning. I’m getting excited (and yes, nervous!) about the thought of a runway show displaying the amazing clothes of The Social Studio: all to highlight what we too could do here in Sydney with our talented young people from refugee communities …

My rather crappy Instagram-ming doesn’t do Planet nearly enough justice here… the space is really, really great!

A big thanks to you Ross: your generosity and support means the world to us! xo

And, as *luck* would have it, before meeting Ross, Chloe and I were having a coffee when who should sit right down next to me but Ronni Khan of OzHarvest: a social entrepreneur of considerable standing. Of course, I instantly knew who it was, but imagine my surprise when it was my yellow jeans and accessories that caught her eye: OzHarvest have just produced their first cookbook, and what do you know, yellow is a defining feature of it. So *thanks* to my 1980s jeans, Ronni and I got to have a chat and she was very supportive of The Social Studio and what we are aiming to do here in Sydney, so we’ll stay in touch. How *good* is that?! xo

ShowTellShare One Hundred and Twenty-Eight

Show:

Tell: Glasses from op shop, Ken Done scarf as headband, Wa-Nyika earrings, handmade necklaces, and long coloured necklace from North Shore op shop, The Social Studio singlet, Easton Pearson silk dress from op shop (*hello* lucky find!!), Fluevog boots.

Share: This morning I’ll be working hard on The Social Outfit paperwork-trail, and then Chloe and I are off to meetings with potential supporters in the afternoon…

… I’m not entirely sure how this outfit came together with such *gusto* and tinges of both Carmen Miranda and 1980s Cindy Lauper this a.m., but I am prepared to just go with the flow and embrace the fun of it: It is a Friday after all! xo

ShowTellShare One Hundred and Twelve

Show/Tell/Share: Down Under, Down South…

Yesterday Day 6/10, 12 September: Glasses from op shop, earrings from H&M Japan, Tatty Devine necklace, Ken Done ‘Down Under’ vintage t-shirt from eBay, Kmart skivvy, Fletcher Jones tartan skirt, Simon de Winter socks, Fluevog shoes.

And some pink eyebrows just because…

As for today, well OF COURSE, I *had* to visit my favourite store in Melbourne… Check out my grin at simply being in The Social Studio … Plus of course, I picked up some *great* and stylish bargains. Can’t wait to show you! xo xo

Today, Day 7/10, 13 September: Glasses from op shop, Wa-Nyika earrings, pashmina scarf from Italy, Uniqlo skivvy, red skirt from Savers op shop Frankston, vintage belt from UK, Ken Done leggings, Happy SocksFluevog shoes from Sole Devotion.

And thanks Lily for posing with me…

ShowTellShare One Hundred and Ten

Show/Tell/Share: Hello regional Warburton; thank you for your warm village welcome, and especially your Vinnie’s op shop… (photos of *finds* for another day)…

Then next, on our road trip today, we next headed to Bruno’s Art & Sculptures Garden in Marysville. After the February 2009 ‘Black Saturday’ bushfires so much of Marysville was destroyed; so being able to see something like Bruno (and his supporters) rebuild his artist garden, studio and home is amazing. A wee little owl sculpture took my fancy in the garden:

Day 3/10, 9 September: Ken Done glasses, Wa-Nyika earrings, vintage necklace from Berlin market, Kmart skivvy, Fletcher Jones tartan skirt, socks borrowed from my Step-Dad (I needed green!), Fluevog shoes.

Day 2/10, 8 September: Glasses from op shop, Wa-Nyika earrings, vintage necklace from op shop, Ken Done vintage t-shirt from eBay (with original tags!), Kmart skivvy, Levis jeans, Happy Socks, Fluevog shoes.

ShowTellShare One Hundred and Three

Show/Share: I’m not sure what to say other then I *really* do still love Ken Done fashion and colour. The evidence is clear, I think… I hope… xo

Tell: Ken Done glasses, Wa-Nyika earrings, scarf gifted by my sister-in-law, Dangerfield skivvy dress (bought when I was all of 19, I think), Ken Done cardigan, belt from op shop, Ken Done skirt handmade, Caledonia tights, Happy Socks, Fluevog boots.