May 24, 2014
Susan Tuckwell, Vilaasi
Bio The path that led her to this point
I'm a Sydney based Interior Designer who's always had a deep love of textiles and travel.
My Interior Design business was a small, boutique affair that allowed me work from home and raise two children.
Working on residential projects I immersed myself in the world of fabrics, texture, colour and pattern.
I always specified authentic fabrics made from pure fibers such as cotton, silk, cashmere and linen.
Through the later part of 2011 and to the end of 2012 I worked with Artisans of Fashion.
It's a social enterprise that actively raises awareness of the role textile artisans in India play in contemporary fashion - and supports and encourages economic opportunities for these struggling communities.
Through my work I was immersed in the world of amazing hand crafted textiles - embroidery, ikat weaves, resist dyes techniques and so much more.
My travels to India inspired me to explore more of this extraordinary land and bring back a range of exquisite pieces to Australia, and thus Vilaasi (hindi for luxurious) was born in early 2013.
I have sourced authentic textiles from the rustic to the luxurious and am committed to sustaining and supporting the handcraft industry in India.
The collection is for those who appreciate individual high quality pieces and I'm constantly working on expanding the range, more travelling to India and beyond is definitely on the agenda.
Q&A Insider advice & tips
What's been your greatest achievement to date?
Launching Vilaasi has been my biggest achievement - curating the collection and putting together the website.
What's been your biggest challenge so far?
Social media - still learning and have a long way to go.
Best lesson you've learned along the way?
Be brave and go for it - there's no point sitting on the sideline and watching everyone else make a go of it.
A website, book or resource that has helped you in your business or inspired you and why?
I love Pinterest!
I use the boards, both public and locked, as mood boards for inspiration, for referencing, for communication and as a visual tool for art directing photography.
Which person or brand do you most admire and why?
Lauren Bennett & Genevieve Fennel and their brand Walter G.
They're really gutsy women, working and living (in quite challenging conditions) with textile artisans in very remote areas of India. They produce a marketable high-end range of eclectic fabrics.
Lisa Messenger, who going against market trends, has launched a dynamic publication, Renegade Collective.
What advice would you give someone starting an independent business in your industry?
Bring in the experts - if it's not your area of expertise work with people who have the skills that you're missing.
Finish this sentence
Everything changed for me when…
I travelled to Sri Lanka and then India - my eyes were opened to the exquisite authentic traditional textile crafts.
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