Interview with fashion designer Lauren Brooks of Baumbach
Baumbach allows Lauren to explore the small elements in her designs, such as unique back-cutting details, hand printing and choice of fabric.
About Baumbach…
Baumbach designs for a girl who isn’t afraid to dream or get lost in an adventure. She walks to the beat of her own drum. Baumbach is inspired by poetry, illustration, and all things beautiful.
The poetic inscriptions and freehand illustrations hint at Lauren’s own travel experiences through Europe and Australia. Fuelling this young Designer with inspiration, are her frequent trips to rural farmlands, small seaside towns, folk music festivals, and community markets.
Produced locally in Brisbane, Baumbach is community-conscious, working with local suppliers and young emerging artists who share the label’s love for all things beautifully hand-crafted.
Lauren explains…
I put together all of the ideas and stories behind each collection. As I’m only into my second season I am experimenting with different ideas and adventures for the Baumbach girl to embark on.
I am a storyteller at heart and a poet so I like to include small poems and inscriptions in my prints to set the mood for each season. I was lucky enough to get the Baumbach poem made into a song for the first behind the scenes video.
Follow the latest updates from Baumbach on their blog.
Describe a little background on life leading up to Baumbach, and the why and how you got started…
I had been designing for the UK high street companies such as Gap and Primark and eloped to Australia three years ago when my boyfriend got a job over here.
I learnt pretty quick that as much as Brisbane is becoming a creative city, there were and are a shortage of design jobs here. I missed fashion after a few years out and came up with Baumbach so I could live my passion and dream every day. It just organically happened after I planted the seed of thought.
In a few words, describe yourself…
I’m a dayreamer, an optimist and honest.
What are you spending your time on at the moment?
At the moment I am preparing for our upcoming Autumn/Winter photoshoot! I’m sewing samples, sourcing props and screen-printing.
Do you have a ritual for getting into the creative mindset? Or a creative process?
I like to sit in a quiet place and think. Life is pretty busy with holding two jobs and starting a new label. I like to invent new adventures and sketch new illustrations.
What or who inspires you?
So many things inspire me… listening to Bob Dylan and John Lennon, talking to my Dad about his surfing adventures, travelling, friends, and doodling.
What are you most proud of?
I guess I am most proud of launching this label, I have talked about it for what seems like years now and it’s finally happened… I am living my dream and that is beautiful thing.
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I asked my mum this as I couldn’t remember, she laughs and tells me that I wanted to be an actress… always been a little drama queen.
