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October 11-17, 2018 Dubbo Photo News
ROYAL TOUR
TRIVIA TEST
Fashion fit for a royal By JOHN RYAN
A locally grown fashion designer has asked Kensington Palace if Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, would wear one of her dresses during her Dubbo visit next week. These days Brigid McLaughlin is a fashion and textile designer based in Sydney and has worked within the Australian industry as a designer for more than 20 years, with stints designing for Lisa Ho, David Lawrence and Charlie Brown before founding her own company, a far cry from her childhood growing up on the famous Merryanbone Merino Stud near Warren. She majored in fine arts from Sydney University before studying fashion design at the National Art School in East Sydney. As a finalist in the International Smirnoff Awards, Ms McLaughlin crossed paths with Charlie Brown, one of the judges, which led to her first job in the industry, designing both the Charlie Brown and Lili Labels for the Discovery Group. Brigid then moved to the Head of Design position at the David Lawrence and Lisa Ho labels before launching her own label in 2006. From a very early age Brigid knew she wanted to create clothing. “Living remotely I believe pushes your creativity as you really need to learn to entertain yourself, and everything around you becomes a resource that you value as to what you can create from it,” Ms McLaughlin told Dubbo Photo News. “I had a very artistic mother and a very industrious father who encouraged creativity, the arts and demonstrated the value of dedication, hard work and focus.” She says growing up where shops were a long drive away
instilled a mantra that all materials were highly valued for the potential of their second life. She has clear memories of carefully flattening out butcher’s paper after her mother’s trip to town, picking off the mucky bits ready for the next art work. “From an early age I learnt to do more from less which has served me well in my own business. I believe it also pushes your creativity when you have less to work from,” Ms McLaughlin said. “I feel very lucky to have grown up in the country, it is a lifestyle very few get to experience and therefore value. “Whilst at Lisa Ho an Irish co-designer once commented whilst we were travelling together to the fabric fairs in Paris how intrigued she was that a girl from small town regional Australia could know the back streets of Paris so well,” she said. Sustainability and ethics in business were core values of her company well before they themselves became fashionable in the fast-fashion industry, and Ms McLaughlin sees that way of operating as being good business. “As a company we pride ourselves on the production of Slow Clothing which we believe to be the new luxury, quality clothing that is Artisanal, Sustainable, Ethical and Australian,” Ms McLaughlin said. She says her clothing is designed and crafted for longevity and sustainability – ethics and the preservation of artisan skills are central to the company’s philosophy. Ms McLaughlin is passionate about “slow clothing”, producing quality, modern, yet timeless clothing in natural fibres by the most sustainable practices. She produces two collections; Brigid McLaughlin which is pre-
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chocolate bar did Hoadley’s 10 Which first make in 1923? TQ442. SEE THE TV+ GUIDE FOR ANSWERS.
IN BRIEF
Defibrillators installed in Wellington, Dubbo SERVICE NSW has installed defibrillator technology at its centres in Mudgee, Wellington and Dubbo. A person’s chance of survival drops by 10 per cent for every minute that passes without resuscitation or the use of a defibrillator. Member for Dubbo Troy Grant has praised the installation of life-saving medical equipment at service centres across the electorate Staff at the Service Centres have been trained how to use defibrillators ahead of this week’s installation. The Mudgee, Wellington and Dubbo centres are among more than 100 Service NSW locations to get defibrillators this year.
:::NUM3ER5 From the Warren district property to the fashion precinct of Paris... A model wears a design by Brigid McLaughlin (right) who has approached Kensington Palace to offer outfits for Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, to wear during her tour to Dubbo next week. PHOTO: SUPPLIED.
16 The number of days scheduled for the royal tour by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, which will include the city of Dubbo next Wednesday, October 17. Their official tour will take in Australia, Fiji, the Kingdom of Tonga and New Zealand. The Duke is keen to highlight youth-led initiatives in his new role as Commonwealth Youth Ambassador.
dominately made within Australia, and the resort line Porcelain by Brigid McLaughlin, which is handcrafted in India.
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