An Afternoon With Pamela Usanto

After catching my eye with her beautiful feminine designs, I was keen to learn more about Melbourne designer Pamela Usanto. With the release of her latest collection Très Jolie, I was lucky enough to spend an afternoon with Pamela and have a sneak peak of her new designs.

Located in the beautiful Salon XVI, Pamela's beautifully decorated showroom is the perfect place to have a chat and cup of tea whilst admiring Pamela's beautiful pieces.

The Très Jolie collection features lace, coral, grey, black and lots of delicate beading. The collection is tran-seasonal with the beautiful pieces perfect with sandals for warmer weather and a blazer and tights for the colder seasons.

With chain stores gradually taking over the Australian retail landscape, it can be difficult to find garments which are not mass produced. Pamela only makes a small number of each piece to maintain the exclusivity of each garment.

Ashleigh Cummings (center) at the
AFI Awards in one of Pamela's
beautiful gowns

Pamela also produces beautiful couture dresses, bridal gowns and bridesmaids dresses. Pamela's designs have been spotted on the red carpet on Ashleigh Cummings at the AFI Awards and on Ashleigh Brewster at the Logies. During my visit, I was lucky enough to try on the stunning Lady Grace dress Ashleigh wore to the Logies and it was so beautiful! These pieces have an amazing attention to detail with Pamela hand sewing on all the beading herself. The pictures don't do justice to the beautiful pieces and you really have to see them in person to appreciate their beauty.

If you are interested in checking out Pamela's new collection and couture and bridal gowns contact Pamela on 0430 842 448 or info@pamelausanto.com to arrange an appointment.

Salon XVI and Pamela's workspace is located at Level 1 267 Bridge Road, Richmond, Melbourne.

To learn more about Pamela check out Part 1 and Part 2 of my interview with her.

Pamela was lovely enough to sketch this beautiful picture for me for my blog:

Thanks Pam for letting spend the afternoon with you! I had a great time looking at your beautiful collections and I'm sure I'll be back soon!

Check out some of the new pieces from Très Jolie, pieces from Pamela's couture and bridal collection and her beautiful workspace:

The stunning Lady Grace dress:

Pieces from the Très Jolie collection: 

Pieces from Pamela's made to measure collection:

One of Pamela's beautiful bridal gowns:

Pamela's beautiful workspace:

The beautiful Salon XVI where Pamela's workspace is located:

Images by Stylus Muse and www.zimbio.com

Interview - Pamela Usanto Part 2

In Part 1 of my interview with Pamela we learnt a bit about her background her design aesthetic. In Part 2, we learn about challenges facing up-and-coming designers, and what Pamela has planned for her label.


6. You recently dressed AFI young best actress nominee Ashleigh Cummings, and Ashleigh Brewer at the Logies. How can dressing celebrities be beneficial for your label?
For a young designer like me, I am just happy to be given the opportunity. At the end of the day, I just want my clients to look confident and beautiful when they wear my designs. 


7. What are the major issues facing up-and-coming designers today?
There is not that many platforms that provide mentoring for young designers in Melbourne. I know most designers are very hush hush about their label, considering the competitiveness of this industry. 


I had to pretty much work my way alone, doing mistakes, and learning it the hard way. I just hope that there will be more opportunities for us to grow  (e.g. fashion shows, trade shows, etc.).


8. You have been involved in fashion events such as Catwalk Circus and The Design Awards for Myer’s Fashions on the Fields. Have you found the Australian fashion industry to be supportive?
I think a fashion show is just a show. It will only publicise your work for that moment. If you are lucky, other people will discover you and then you can build your fan base. 


Australian fashion industry is quite small, yet in my opinion, biased. They are more supportive to the labels that they already recognize. For the designers who are just starting, they have to work really hard to get somewhere. 


9. What are your plans for your label over the next 5 years?
My plan is to design more beautiful dresses, it sounds simple yet hard to achieve. 


For me, there is no point in aiming for fame or fortune, because at the end of the day I make clothes because I love it, and I want those who wear my clothes to feel happy and beautiful.


10. What do you love most about your job?
I love the process of being able to create something from a simple idea, to a finished garment.  


On top of that, it is just my personal satisfaction that I am finally doing what I have always wanted to do, so no matter how stressful or tiring it is, at the end of the day I just love it.

-------------------------------------------

The fashion industry is so competitive and as consumers, we are not always aware of the struggles that go into starting a label. It's great to get an insight from talented up-and-coming designers such as Pamela to allow us to appreciate their work more.

All the best for the future Pamela! 

Checkout Pamela's website here.

Find Pamela on Facebook here.

Follow Pamela's blog here.

Here are some of the beautiful pieces from Pamela's Madam Rose 2011 collection:

Images courtesy of http://pamelausanto.com and http://stylemelbourne.com

Interview - Pamela Usanto Part 1

Ashleigh Brewer looking stunning
in Pamela's Lady Grace dress

Seeing one of your dresses on the red carpet would be a dream for any designer. For up-and-coming designer Pamela Usanto, not only is that dream a reality with her glamorous Lady Grace dress worn by Neighbours actress Ashleigh Brewer at this year's Logies, but her stunning gown made the Best Dressed List of almost every media poll.


Originally starting in nutrition, lucky for us shoppers, Pamela decided to pursue a career in fashion. Read more about Pamela here.


I was lucky enough to interview the lovely Pamela and learn more about the issues facing up-and-coming designers.

1. You originally studied nutrition. What made you decide to pursue a career in fashion and start your own label? 

I have always been interested in fashion but as a kid I wanted to succeed in science, so I enrolled myself to a bachelor degree at RMIT University majoring in nutrition. I was 17 when I started University and I graduated 3 years after, completely clueless, not knowing what I really wanted to do in life.

What’s hilarious is that I actually was inspired to pursue fashion after watching The Devil Wears Prada. As soon as the movie finishes it was like an epiphany, I knew I had to pursue fashion. I enrolled to an RMIT TAFE course majoring in fashion, and after 2 years I eventually continued to complete a bachelor degree. I graduated in 2009.

2. What have been some of the business challenges of starting your own label?
I think every young designer would say the same thing. Money. When I started the label, it was just a side project. I thought to myself  “I know I will have a label eventually, why not start one now and see what happens?”

I honestly did not think it through, but I am lucky that my parents are always supporting me through my career.

3.You have released two ready-to-wear collections, Lumière (2010) and Madam Rose (2011). The collections are different whilst maintaining your design aesthetic. How do you ensure your collections change each season whilst staying true to your brand?
I basically design clothes that I would wear, and I find that what I would love to wear is not always available in shops.

My design concepts evolve around the idea of old school glamour (1950s fashion), simple cuts and intricate beading. So whenever I design a collection, I will always remind myself of that idea. Thus no matter how different it is it will still have the same aesthetic.

Pamela's studio

4. Your label has a ready-to-wear line and a couture collection. What was the business decision behind having two distinct lines?
I have always loved labels that do both prêt-a-porter and couture lines. As for my label, I wanted to create something that is affordable and wearable whilst at the same time, for those who wanted custom made dresses, I also provide the service of creating a one of a kind piece. I found that after almost one year of establishing the label, I’d like to concentrate more on designing particularly dresses in the future.

5. Do you find that the Australian fashion market has an appreciation for couture designs?
To be honest, I think young Australian values modern designs more than couture designs. In my opinion one of the reason is because of the decreasing number of local manufacturers. Australian designers tend to produce overseas and therefore they have to constantly be aware of production cost (the more difficult the outfit, the more costly), so what we are used to wearing is simple cut modern design.

This is why I want to re-introduce the beauty of hand beading/embroidery so more women will understand that it’s not all about edgy and modern design.

Click here for Part 2 of my interview with Pamela.

Here are some of the beautiful pieces from Pamela's couture collection:

Camille & Kelly

Ivoire

Kate & Mademoiselle

La Chinoise

Lady Grace

Madame Sofia

Noir de femme

Images courtesy of Pamela Usanto