My story begins at eleven when my family home burned to the ground. Standing by my Father, gazing out over the ashes, I had no sense of what this disaster was leading me toward.
After the fire, the wonderful family’s in our country town filled boxes with clothes for us. In these boxes was the kernel of an idea that would become my life: I would learn to redesign and to recut. My brother used to help me—he’d do the fittings on me and we’d remake the garments in my size. He was my first collaborator.
I didn’t want to be “little Jeanie whose house had burned down” and now as an adult I see the drive in that little person: Really, I just wanted to look fabulous!
In 1981 I launched my own label: Jean Bas.
In 1981 I launched my own label: Jean Bas.
I’ve spent years designing high-end pieces for clients around the world, I’ve created executive wear for Australian companies like the Newcastle Permanent Building Society, NIB health funds, and many others. I designed the very first uniform for the world-renown Marching Koalas, which they still use today. All the while, I was showing collections in David Jones department stores across the country, selling to boutiques and raising a family with my husband and soul mate Kevin. And, after all this time, I am excited to reinvent what I do.
We have all felt the difficulties of the last few years. Hidden in the ashes of our lives are little glimmers of hope and invention.
In this time, I’ve realised I’m a storyteller and story-keeper, but that my stories are held in threads.
I have realised that I am also a knowledge-keeper in an industry that is too fast and too quickly losing all of its makers and tailors.
So, from here on, I want to create beautiful bespoke garments that respond to who you are, and that capture your story in threads. This is a personal design process that amplifies the special moments of your life as you weave your own story. I design sculptural, one-off pieces that are like architecture that moves you.
