Digital Exposed Seminar

Caressa is an Australian made unique, edgy fashion label, mixed with a blend of casual women’s day wear and fun party dresses.
Each collection is inspired by one of Caressa Sengstock’s paintings of a Dream Time story. With a deep connection to her Aboriginal heritage, Caressa draws inspiration from the past and the present, the people and the land. She translates traditional stories, of important knowledge, cultural values and belief systems through the use of colour, texture and design into a fashionable look that is fresh and stylish. Caressa hopes to inspire others to identify with their own story and feel a greater sense of belonging and connection to the whole of humanity.

The NSW Department of Trade and Investment funded the Aboriginal Design Group program to aid indigenous fashion designers in building their business, including the opportunity to present at Fashion Exposed. Caressa is one of the labels included in the talented Group joined by Mindall & Bungall by Leanne Kennedy; and Mimi Designs by Mia Brennan.
Renowned buyer and former Project Runway Australia judge, Sarah Gale, was enlisted as the Group’s mentor guiding them through regular workshops and weekly mentoring sessions by drawing on her professional experience in the industry to ensure they have the best chance to make it in the industry. These sessions have equipped the trio with the knowledge and practical skills to enter the commercial world covering customer service, market knowledge and awareness, range development, marketing, costing and production.

We spoke with Caressa to chat about her experience with the Design Group, what we can expect from her new collection at Fashion Exposed, and her style influences.

When did you start designing?

From a very young age I was always sewing, knitting or crocheting, but my first piece that I remember designing was made without a commercial pattern. It was for a competition I entered in Year 10 and the design brief was to create an outfit for a celebration. My choice was Mardi Gras, it was a three-piece outfit of silver sequin hot pants, a hot pink cropped lycra top with a heart cut-out at the back and edged with silver sequins and a rainbow-shot organza wrap skirt, matched with a hat that had a large silver sequin heart on top acting as a volcano with red feathers that wrapped around wire and finished off with chunky silver glittered heels. I was made Regional winner and advanced to State Finals.

How did you become interested in fashion design?

As a little girl I would watch my nan making clothes for family and many dolls clothes. At three years of age I would use her Husqvarna sewing machine instead of my battery operated one and I made lots of clothes for my dolls and played with lots of different ideas, but clothing was always going to be a huge part of my life.

What was your inspiration for the collection? How did you choose your colourways, cuts, prints?

My inspiration comes from my paintings. I began painting last year when I discovered I also had a talent for painting my interpretations of Dream Time stories and so each collection is inspired from one of these stories. This collection is a translation of my Spirit Tree painting.

The overall story is about the pathway to heaven. What I learned while painting this, is that it’s one of the original stories that has not changed through generations of story telling and is taught among all tribal nations, not just mine. The colours are very earthy the styles are reflective of the story itself, the strength of the tree or a depiction of symbols.

How has the NSW government body Industry & Investment grant assisted the development of your new range? How important is this for the development of Aboriginal designers?

I have received assistance with my website, look book and fabulous mentor Sarah Gale to attend Fashion Exposed in Melbourne this year. I am extremely grateful for this assistance, without it, these ideas for my fashion label would never have been brought into fruition and would still be bouncing around in my head. It also gives me a great launching pad into a space with like-minded people and industry experts to network with and hopefully learn a thing or two.
In regards to the development of other Aboriginal designers, we are far and few between, but I think it is vital to have a few different key players in the game who can act as role models, and hopefully mentors for others to gain the access to the opportunity that I’ve been lucky to access. But most importantly I think Aboriginal designers have much to offer the Australian and overseas market by representing our culture in a fresh way to help people become more aware about the importance of the Aboriginal culture.

Who are you key style influences?

Lady Gaga, Natalie Bassingthwaite, Gwen Stefani, Danni Minogue, generally chicks with funky musical style and confident, intelligent attitudes. I’d love to see Jess Mauboy in one of my garments.

Are there any designers you idolise or take inspiration from?

I worked with a Sydney designer Alicia Hollen. She gave me absolute grounding and not just on an industry level, I learned a lot about pushing style boundaries while still keeping feminine. I adore Rick Owens, Valentino and D&G, I’m also very inspired by Roberto Cavalli, even though our design aesthetics are quite different. Mostly I like finding that unique piece that you would just die if you didn’t have it and play around with different concepts, which can come from anywhere and any designer.

Where would you like to see your label in the future?

I would like to start out in boutiques across Australia, eventually having a flagship store in each capital city. I’d also love to show in USA, UK and Europe and hopefully pick up a few buyers there as well. I’m also very interested in dressing up-and-coming Aboriginal talent. Last year I dressed Dan Sultan’s girlfriend Jade Blair for the ARIA’s. Dan won two ARIA’s one for Best Male Artist and the other for Blues and Roots, so a few more red carpet events would be nice as well.

What do you hope to gain from exhibiting at Fashion Exposed?

Showing at Fashion Exposed in Melbourne has always been about getting to exposure and networking with people who I would not be able to connect with on an ordinary day. Having never been in an aeroplane, that’s one more thing off my bucket list. Overall I would really love to have a handful of boutiques stock my label, anything above and beyond is a blessing.

To view the Caressa range visit stand 4420 at this month’s Fashion Exposed from August 28-30 at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre.
Register here.