Today we are giving a warming welcome to this stunning new debut fashion label Oddish . Not only is Oddish new to Finders Keepers community but has also joined our online shop. Snuggle up with a cuppa and sink into this wonderful chat with Carmen the creator behind this thoughtful sustainable label! Oddish comes from a place of curiosity and rebellion. A place of empowerment for women to use style as their voice to collectively lead a quiet revolution. Generating a conversation to become more informed about what we wear and how it was made! Read on for more..

 Who is behind Oddish and how did it start? 

Behind the seams of Oddish is Carmen Spencer – I’m based on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland where I design, make and curate my slow fashion label in my home studio. Every piece in the Oddish collection is made locally in small batches – the jewellery is handmade using traditional and slow practices by me and I work closely with a seamstress who hand cuts & sews my garments. 

Oddish came from a place of curiosity and rebellion. I want to empower women to use style as their voice so we can collectively lead a quiet revolution – ultimately, I want to generate a conversation to become more informed about what we wear. It’s important to me that every aspect of my label has consideration for the environment, the workers who made it and the future of the piece when it reaches your wardrobe. 

It’s important to me that every aspect of my label has consideration for the environment, the workers who made it and the future of the piece when it reaches your wardrobe.

What influences your work, and what sparks your creativity? 

I find that my most creative state comes when my mind is free to experiment, when I can let the materials I’m working with take on their own life. Sometimes my ideas can’t be translated into the materials as I imagined, but this often produces even more interesting results than what I intend – so I’m learning to just trust the creative process more and more. 

I am constantly absorbing inspiration from interior design (hello mid-century modern, meets Japanese tea house), contemporary and fine art (I always go back to art deco and art nouveau as a rule) as well as fashion photography and graphic design aesthetics. 

How has the COVID-19 crisis affected your business and how have you managed to navigate through this period? 

Being a sole founder working from my own space I was fortunate to hit pause for a moment and reassess how my business fits into this unknown. It reminded me that my home ritual is essential to keeping my mind & body feeling balanced. 

It reminded me that my home ritual is essential to keeping my mind & body feeling balanced. 

I’ve taken this time to reconnect with the reason why I started the label, and have created my guide to Unboring Your Laundry to integrate some joy & intention behind one of the most mindless of homely tasks (that needs a reboot!). I’m so grateful to have collaborated with Brisbane artist Emily McDuff on the project to help bring it to life. Can’t wait to share it with the Finders Keepers community. 

What are you watching / reading / listening to right now that is inspiring and uplifting? 

I find myself tuning into the songs of the local birds and wind in the trees around our house, it really helps me to stop the chatter and ideas spinning around in my head and return to a restful mind. When I feel like gearing up, I put on the Start Up Creative podcast by Kaylene Langford or flick through Advanced Style by Ari Seth Cohen for a little inspiration injection. 

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What’s your take on the ‘curated wardrobe’ and what are your go-to Oddish pieces you’d add to it? 

My take would be a collection of effortless silhouettes that can carry you through the seasons, embodying your personality and values. Having pieces in my collection (and my wardrobe) that can be layered creates opportunity to experiment with vintage styles, statement jewellery or a paired back look when feeling more minimalist. 

One of my go-to Oddish styles would be the boat neck dress – its metal zipper creates a subtle statement that pairs well with colourful wedges or chunky mary janes, and it sits beautifully under a kimono or a longline coat through the cooler months. Plus every gal needs pockets, so it’s always a fav!