The following piece was originally written for Australian Fashion Guide, June 2010 (Part two)
Lisa Taranto
From one beauty to another, my next stop is Melbourne’s GPO and the Lisa Taranto pop up store. It would be easy to think the well-dressed girl manning the store is simply another slave to retail but this girl is in fact designer and namesake Lisa Taranto herself, putting in the hard yards to get her label off the ground. Dressed in her own Tilly Petal Mini Coat and Harem Pants, Lisa is a breath of fresh air to the Australian fashion industry even though her fashion journey started over ten years ago.
Having launched her self-titled label in 2007 after traveling the world, Lisa has achieved much, much more in her 28 years than most other people her age. She began with the study of Illustration and Photography, moving on to the prestigious BA in Fashion Design at RMIT University. A difficult, demanding and competitive course, Lisa graduated with honours in 2004 before working in production and pattern making and beginning her travels.
The Lisa Taranto brand exemplifies attention to detail, thoughtful patternmaking and a relentless consideration for the fit of a garment on the body. Lisa explains, ‘I like to keep classic lines and unique shapes but play with the patterns, change it up with textures and fabrics.’
Currently stocked in twelve boutiques across Australia, Lisa Taranto has grown exponentially in four years. The GPO store opened in June of this year after a successful pop up store on Chapel Street and the labels fourth collection, winter 10 the fallen, was exhibited at the L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival this past March.
The winter 10 ready to wear collection, the fallen, was inspired by the simple idea of light vs. dark, with moody, dramatic fabrics juxtaposed with airy tenuous ones. Lisa’s classic lines and unique shapes are clearly evident and she talks about how underlying darkness, as well as lightness and beauty, are reflected in the tailoring and colours used.
Lisa describes how the label is continually evolving and changing, and how the influences in her life affect her designs. Travel is a major part of her inspiration, along with her family and friends. Lisa also cites literature and photography as stimuli, taking every opportunity to read or use her photography skills.
One of the key aspects of the success of the label is the importance of keeping production and manufacture in Australia. Lisa and I discuss the Australian fashion industry and she expresses her desire to move the label interstate and to New Zealand in the future, but to always keep the Made In Australia tag.
‘It’s important for quality control and finishing, and to keep jobs in Australia. I want to support the industry here’ she says.
Together with design partner Lea Oldjohn, who herself has over 20 years’ experience in design, patternmaking and production in the Australian fashion industry, Lisa Taranto – the girl and the label – are at just the beginning of a very bright future. It is hard to imagine her having a bad day but she confesses they do occur.
‘Sometimes it’s great but some days you wonder! It’s definitely not easy all the time. But I do love it.’
I ask the mandatory final question – a fashion moment you would rather forget?
‘Mum used to dress me and my sister in matching clothes. I remember one outfit, jeans with a tapestry cuff and a vest in the same tapestry. I think I was thirteen or fourteen? Mum made it.’
Thankfully, it seems that Mum’s fashion choices haven’t rubbed off too much and with the ambition and dedication Lisa exudes, we can expect plenty more great things from this unique label in the future.
Note: Images from s/s 10/11 collection
