As autumn and winter descend upon the Sunshine State, we may need to start looking elsewhere than the sky for our fix of colour and joy. Look no further than Alice Nightingale!
This recently opened store is the domain of Alice Veivers, a Brisbane born and raised clothes designer and maker whose mission is to fill our streets, and our hearts, with sustainable, bold, cheeky, humorous and beautiful fashion. Summer sunshine and exuberance await through these doors!
Alice was always good with her hands, and pairing them with her creativity, she equipped herself with an unfailing recipe for spreading joy.
Leaving school early to complete her Diploma of Fashion Design, she started Alice Nightingale in 2009 when she was only seventeen, selling quirky and unique handmade clothes to friends and at local markets.
Alice quickly came to the attention of a broader audience in 2011, when she attended her first Finders Keepers market. She’s never looked back!!
Through these events, she has become part of a supportive, creative community of designers, artists, creators, and locals, helping her develop her business and grow into her brand and ethos.
Alice Nightingale is characterised by a bold, feminine, and quirky aesthetic, awash with colours, striking and playful patterns, good humour, and vintage flair.
The designer finds inspiration in her love of Australia’s landscapes and wildlife, combining her enthusiasm for camping and exploring with her passion for making and creating.
Alice painstakingly handmakes every garment in her home studio, ensuring each piece is one of only a handful. From start to finish, through sourcing fabrics, pattern making, printing, embroidery, and sewing, Alice’s attention to detail and design permeates each creation, setting her apart from most designers and producers in Brisbane.
Something else which makes Alice stand out from the crowd is her focus on environmentally sustainable practices. She uses exclusively second hand, vintage, and locally produced fabrics, making her unique and one-off pieces environmentally and socially responsible as well as fabulous.
Adding print, embroidery, and other decorative elements to the second-hand fabrics, Alice renews reclaimed materials, thus reducing her demand for new fabrics and pressure on raw materials.
Sustainability and the environment have always been an essential aspect of Alice’s ethos. Her business model is geared towards low emissions, low waste, and high quality, helping her to steer clear of landfills and contribute more than just joy to our planet.
Alice is currently working on a project she affectionately calls Re(sh)use. Dismantling old and discarded shoes, she uses reclaimed fabrics and thread, alongside her creativity and ingenuity to remake them into brand new ones. Talk about upcycling!
You can find Alice’s eclectic and quirky range online at alice-nightingale.myshopify.com or in her new brick and mortar storefront at 22 California Lane McLachlan St, Shop 4 (Fortitude Valley), as well as at a variety of markets around the city.
What’s more, on June 1st, Alice Nightingale turns ten! Join the artist and a few top-notch entertainers for Aussie Trivia, workshops, and some great food and drink to celebrate one of Brissy’s best local makers. The fun will kick off at 5 pm at Alice’s store – see you there!