Genevieve Milne creates funky, casual clothing and costumes inspired by retro fabrics and nostalgic styles. The designer and creator sat down with Teagan Bell to discuss her label Funky House Designs and the vision and story behind its quirky pieces. Pictures: Ben Gross
FOR Genevieve Milne, a career in fashion was always inevitable.
“Growing up, my Nanna and I were really close and she was always sewing so she taught me a lot of things like pattern making and basic sewing techniques,” she says.
“I was probably five when she started teaching me.”
With a keen interest in art and photography, Genevieve studied art-based subjects throughout high school, but it wasn’t until she graduated that she realised creating a fashion brand was something she wanted to pursue.
“I had been doing a lot of self taught stuff but then I decided to study a Diploma of Costume Design,” she says.
“I did that in 2017 in Prahran in Melbourne which was really cool because there was a lot of art culture.”
During her studies, Genevieve completed work experience with Circus Oz, learning the ropes from legendary costume designer and founding member Laurel Frank, alongside other placements at Prahan’s The Essential Hat and the National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA) in St Kilda.
“I also did costume design for one of the plays at La Mama Courthouse Theatre,” she says.
“It was for one of their plays that was about colonial Melbourne so it discussed early Aussie battlers, larrikin gangs and larrakinettes, the female gangs, which don’t really get spoken about.
“It was amazing.”
Overwhelmed with Melbourne’s fast paced lifestyle and one too many parking tickets, Genevieve moved back to Mildura last December, where she started her own label, Funky House Designs.
“I decided that the best way to continue on with what I was doing was to start a business, so I studied a Certificate IV of Small Business Management,” she says.
“I came up with the name because I was thinking about fashion houses and what I would call my own fashion house if I had one.”
Genevieve says she draws inspiration mainly from other designers such as Vivienne Westwood, which she combines with pieces she sees in media like movies or music videos and finishes with her own spin.
“What I make is retro but quirky, casual, comfortable and childlike as well,” she says.
There have been problems bringing such a loud line of clothing to a regional centre, though.
“I have a lot of costumes that I’ve made and I tried selling those at markets and it doesn’t seem to be very popular because I don’t think there are as many events here where people need to dress up as there are in Melbourne,” she says.
“I think Mildura is more family oriented so I’m thinking of doing ‘Mummy and Me’ sort of outfits but keeping the retro style because that’s obviously my thing.”
While she can’t pinpoint the exact reason for her love for retro, Genevieve says it’s a nod to nostalgia.
“Retro things remind me of my Nan and I think the kitsch things are funny, especially like creepy kitsch things,” she says.
“It gets a reaction out of people or it’s a talking point – I just think it’s fun.”
Moving forward, Genevieve says her vision for the business is to create a clothing line that helps people express their creativity.
“I want to be size inclusive too,” she says.
“I don’t want to have just a range that is all tiny sizes – I want to have petite right up to plus size so that everyone can be included.
“I just want to have clothing that gives people confidence.”
Genevieve says ethics is also an important part of every piece she creates.
“Once I’m really established I want to have most of my fabrics from somewhere that is totally ethical,” she says.
“I try to do as much as I can, like a lot of my stuff is recycled but sometimes you have someone who wants something really specific and you have no choice but to buy from a conventional arts and crafts store that isn’t very transparent.”
With spring a matter of weeks away, Genevieve says she’s been busy brainstorming ideas for a new seasonal collection.
“I was thinking pinafores,” she says.
“And I really want to find some psychedelic florals with funky, bold colours.
“I’ve also been focusing on tote bags because I make my own stencil art.
“I like to do different characters like moths and dogs and people – it’s very street style.”
While she is hopeful her business will take off in Sunraysia, Genevieve says she is also exploring other avenues to promote her label.
“I’ve been selling on eBay and that has been speeding up which I feel really positive about,” she says.
“I’d also love to travel to do some markets with some pieces that are more aimed at Byron Bay or the Barossa Valley, or even LARP groups so medieval kind of stuff.
“There’s just so many options, I think the hardest thing is just narrowing it down and not overworking yourself.
“I’ve also been collaborating locally and doing a lot of photo shoots with different photographers like Russell Murphy and local make up artists and models too.
“I think it’s really important, especially in smaller communities, to collaborate and just help each other out.”
When asked about what fashion means to her, Genevieve’s answer is simple.
“I think it’s just an extension of an art form,” she says.
“It’s a way of expressing yourself, like Marie Antoinette, for example, she used fashion to say something politically or socially.
“I think that’s interesting because you can use a tote bag or shirt with an art piece on it to say something without using words.”
Find Funky House Designs on Facebook or on instagram @funky_house_designs.
