The Leo behind the Venus
From an early age, I demonstrated a keen eye for fashion and colour coordination. My passion for textiles, nurtured during my art classes at school, led me to pursue a degree in Fashion and Costume Design a decade later.
After studying, instead of entering the fast fashion world I decided to stay true to my heart and established Forest Elf Vintage. I opened a boutique with my very own vintage collection and also created some clothing using 60s and 70s sewing patterns and fabrics. Additionally, I organised numerous vintage fashion show parties which were extremely fun to organise.
Despite loving my little boutique, declining foot traffic coupled with the rise of online shopping prompted me to transition Forest Elf into an e-commerce platform. With assistance from a friend, we developed a new logo and website for Forest Elf - a pivotal move that allowed me to significantly expand my customer base.
Its’ been a dream of mine for many years to design my own 70s style clothing brand and at age 44 I’m finally realising my dream with Venus in Leo.
Thank you for all your support so far and I hope you love what I’ve created.
Emily
Behind the scenes
After searching for some time for the right manufacturer, I opted to collaborate with a small, female-led manufacturing firm based in Bali, which gave me the invaluable opportunity to work closely with the team at their studio.
Such hands-on involvement was crucial for me during this formative phase, as it enabled me to gain a thorough understanding of the manufacturing process - from translating my hand-drawn designs and tech packs into patterns and producing samples, to finally moving into full-scale production.
Sustainability
Minimising environmental impact is a core value for Venus in Leo, and we are committed to steering clear of the fast fashion model. In selecting a manufacturing partner, it was crucial to collaborate with a small, Balinese-owned company with shared values.
Given the modest beginnings of this venture and limited financial resources, initiating our new collection with organic fabrics was not feasible. Consequently, we ensured that the new collections were crafted from dead stock fabrics. This approach not only enhances exclusivity but also holds potential for these pieces to become cherished vintage items in the future.
