Tell us about your business:
Arkadia is a label for kids and the young at heart. Our ethically made, high quality baby onesies and kids t-shirts come in sizes 2-8 and serve as a canvas for our quirky prints. Each one is lovingly designed and printed in Australia in small, limited edition print runs. Our unique prints draw inspiration from the magic of nature, our children, our own childhood nostalgia, classic and contemporary films and music, quotes, bygone eras, simple pleasures and vintage treasures!
What inspired you to start your business?
I have worked in fashion for many years and finally worked up the courage to pursue my dream when I started working as a Graphic Artist for a Screenprinter. After designing for other labels and clients for many years, I wanted a place where I could design with total creative freedom. I wanted to design prints that were unique, retro, playful and for the enjoyment of the kids and parents. My husband Justin’s talents for business, writing, customer service, sales and finance complement my creative dreamer scatterbrain! We also wanted to connect with other like minded people to share in their childhood nostalgia and parenting journey.
Is there an interesting anecdote behind your business name?
˜Arkadia embodies: Arcadia; the ancient Greek province that was an idyllic vision of unspoiled wilderness, where people lived in harmony with nature and each other; and the old-school vintage games Arcade, an emporium of child-like wonder and fun!
What is the most satisfying part of what you do?
Getting to learn about all the aspects of running a label, seeing my imagination come to life in the designs, interacting with our Arkadian community, the acknowledgment from each order that people dig your designs, doing what I love and loving what I do!
Have you tried something in business that didnt work as planned, or on the flip side “ worked out better than expected?
We had planned to launch our label much earlier in the year than July but our second child had other ideas! I finished work to go on maternity leave in March with the hope to design and launch our website before Evie arrived, but she decided to greet the world the day after I finished work! I designed our entire website whilst caring for a newborn and toddler. It took a lot longer than Id planned, especially a site such us ours with hand drawn illustrations and quirky details in our layouts, but it was a labour of love and we are so proud of the result.
What would be your best tip for someone thinking about selling their handcrafted goods?
Selling your own designs or handcrafts is immensely satisfying but also hard work, particularly if you’re juggling motherhood or another career whilst youre building your business. You need to love it to really commit to it and stay positive and motivated. Find what makes you distinctive and ensure your branding is strong and consistent. Identify who your products would really appeal to and constantly try to find new and innovative ways to reach and engage with your audience. Ensure you have the support of your partner, mentor, family member or a trusted friend who can help keep you motivated, be supportive, encourage you, who can give a second opinion or can watch the kids for you when your workload is hectic! And remember, there is no adventure without the unknown.
What is your favourite item you make?
So hard to choose a favourite from all my little t-shirt babies…. but if you twist my arm, I’d say the Hootenanny t-shirt in Natural. Its organic, colourful, hand-drawn and I have a fondness for owls (my sons initials even spell out OWL and its his favourite t-shirt too!).
Any personal or business highlights in the last year:
Designing and launching our beautiful website with an online store – I am so proud of how playful, detailed and different our website is (we had amazing developers in Seventh Vision). Seeing my designs come to life and being worn at our first range photoshoot. Winning the 2012 ˜World T-Shirt Tour’ run by Kid Independent. Every time we receive an order, media coverage, are approached by a wholesaler, run a FB post that really connects with our community or gain positive feedback from a customer; it warms the cockles of our heart.
3 things about you that people might not know:
1. I loved to draw as a child, but a small minded art teacher in high school shattered my confidence and I gave up on my art. Many years later, working alongside the graphic artist at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary rekindled my creative side and that’s when I knew I’d found my perfect career and would become a graphic artist.
2. My first design job was in the Mens Design Room at Billabong and I have designed tour t-shirts for the likes of Lior, Clare Bowditch, Mia Dyson and Ash Grunwald to name a few.
3. I have only just gotten my learners permit and looking forward to learning how to drive. Better late than never!
