Design Federation

Mortimer and LuKe is the story of a handy hoody, If you have a pair of hands then you can wear these hoodies!
What is your name your brand name and where are you located
Mortimer and LuKe, I stock 8 stores across Melbourne and hoping there will be more interest.

Where did you learn your craft?
I learnt from watching my Mum, I am not formally trained and I think I do things in a pretty un-orthodox way and that seems to work for me. I am fascinated by they way things are constructed and am constantly pulling things apart to see how they work, I learn a lot by trail and error forever learning from my mistakes and starting over.

What other fashion designers work do you relate to most? Who inspires you?
I Collage bits from everywhere, a lot of my ideas out of my head and a lot from magazines never knowing who or what I have been slicing up and reconstructing. I am really inspired by garment styling and I guess that come from having a Visual Merchandising background, I like the way outfits are compiled and the options that layering gives you.

How do you think/want other people to respond to your gear?
I want people to understand the way that I compile clothing and construct it, I work collections on the idea that everything can be worn together in a myriad of different ways, like layering up garments, inside out upside down what ever gets you going I want people especially guys to experiment with it and make it work for them.

Fashion or Function?
Definitely Fashunction

Are you just focussing on Hoody for now, or are there plans for going all out?
I think that hoodys are going to be part of my range for winter and summer for a while purely because they are so versatile in our Melbourne climate I reckon that you could just about wear one 70% of the year.
Yes I love hoody’s but I plan to go all out for summer, Shirts, Shorts, Tanks, Vests, Togs, Dresses and Accessories, just wait 4 it to heat up and it’ll be too hot to handle.

Where are your garments made?
Right here in Melbourne. Its hard as a young designer to make here in Melbourne and I am just starting to find that all out, there is not a lot of good fabric suppliers around anymore and unique interesting stuff is hard to come by I can understand why a lot of designers go offshore. But I’d like to believe that I can offer Melbourne a range of garments designed and produced here.

What motivates/inspires your work?
There is not a lot out there for guys and that what inspires me. I want to change that by giving the boys something to rival the girls with. There is too much variety for girls and the boys get stuck with printed T’s and stock standard shirts and jackets.I work to give the boys a fair go…

Do you one day aim to have a show at fashion week, and or sell overseas?
Hmm id love to sell in Japan I reckon they would get what Mortimer and LuKe is all about. I have no real goals that the moment for fashion week but I do aim to have my own show next year to launch my winter collection.

What are your 5 year goals?
Put together some awesome winter collections with heaps of function and changeability then I reckon take it international.

Can you let us in on any trade secrets? ?
Hmm Trade secrets hey, well I haven’t been in the trade that long and I am still learning them, maybe you should let me in on some…

Related Links

www.myspace.com/mortimerandluke

In a nice footnote to this story, Alister who recently purchased one from http://www.corkysaintclair.com/ on the basis of first little post we had on Mortimer and Luke says “Nice fit, funky design and you never forget your scarf again!”, so if you see Alister in the streets, make sure you see what hes hiding in his pockets :)

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