Our Story

I've been an avid op-shopper and vintage enthusiast since my teenage years. Back in the 1980s, my friends and I would scour local charity shops for oversized "grandad-style" shirts and coats, inspired by bands like The Smiths and The Cure. We'd find white shirts, wash them, and roll up the large sleeves. I often spent time in the garden, splashing fabric paint on these items in a Jackson Pollock-style, ready to wear them out that evening.

My interest in fashion was strong, but funds were limited, so creativity was key. I recall taking my mum's best cotton sheets and cutting them up for my next fashion project. One regretful memory is modifying my dad's Navy jacket from the attic. As I was heading out, my mum caught me and exclaimed, "That's your dad's naval jacket; you'd better not let him see what you've done to it!"

This brings back a childhood memory of my first attempt at customising fashion. Around the age of 9 or 10, my grandma had a Welsh blanket that my mum wanted to preserve as an heirloom. However, I had other plans and cut a hole in it to make a poncho for my teddy bear.

I had aspirations to study textile design at art school, but being a child of the '80s, my parents encouraged me, as a girl, to pursue science or engineering. I earned a degree in Food Technology and Marketing and had a lengthy career designing food products.

Despite this, my passion for second-hand shopping and fashion remained. I was drawn to the colours and patterns of the '60s and '70s, with their oversized glasses, flares, and floral prints. At university, I would spend my entire grant in one week at Kensington Market in London, buying vintage clothing. Opposite the market was a large shop called Hyper Hyper, where emerging designers sold unique pieces, ensuring whatever you bought was genuinely one-of-a-kind.

In my third year, we had an evening event, and I found a beautiful silk dress in a vintage shop in Reading. My mum was horrified when I cut it shorter and replaced the old beads with ones I preferred. I wore the dress with a pair of Dr Martens boots, spiked hair, and bold make-up! Another '80s memory involves cutting the ends off a black sock to make a sleeveless glove, which I embellished with beads. My teenage years were filled with such creative endeavours.

Fast forward to my career in Food Technology—it paid the bills and is where I met my husband (we went on to have two beautiful children). However, I always felt unfulfilled in my work; it wasn't my true calling. Over time, my attic in Sydney filled with amazing finds from op-shopping. I had about 60 designer leather bags and beautiful clothing hanging on racks, waiting patiently.

One day, a gentleman knocked on my door. "I understand you're interested in leasing the building at 61 West Street. It's coming up for lease. Would you be interested?" he asked. I was intrigued, though unsure of what to do with the space. Within a month, I had signed the lease. I sublet the offices to various businesses to help cover the rent, and then inspiration struck—why not use this space to sell my attic full of op-shop clothing?

Studio61 and our website, Preloved Clothing Online, were born from an idea that wasn't fully formed but grew stronger over time. After just one month in business, I realised that people truly wanted my products, and I enjoyed sourcing them. Since then, the business has gone from strength to strength, and I couldn't be happier.