Artist Interview: imp`ish

I like to be called Joanne but most people call me Jo I'm a mother of 6 and designer of imp`ish. When i first left school in Sydney I studied fashion design but have never used it until 2 years ago after closing my retail store in Devonport -Organic Island Baby which i have run for the past 5 years online 2 of those in our store. I learnt what shoppers really wanted from Organic Cotton baby and kids clothes and it got me keen to create my own range. The range has non gender specific styles and colours, the cuts stay the same every year I add a new colour way and cut, basics to be used for more than one child. imp`ish is timeless, long john leggings, boat neck tops and prints/ stripes that will make you reminisce and smile at its naughty-ness. All Certified Fair Trade and Organic Cotton.

What inspires you? I get inspiration from so many things on my Island but mostly my children's art work there's plenty of that flying around with 5 daughters who love to draw...oh and vintage story books which i collect.

Do you have any future plans for your work, could you describe them? I had a amazing trip to India in February to work with my manufacturers meet the workers and visit the farm where some of my cotton comes from. I was so inspired by my first visit to India and changed by the poverty in the slums, yet joy and beauty at the farm and their families. I'm working on plans to set up a small school near the slums that my factory workers live for their children and a seed exchange. Big plans motivates me more than designing and selling clothes.

Where are your favourite places on-line?uumm unfortunately I don't get much time to check out on line research except checking out what my friends are up to on Facebook.

What do you enjoy doing when you aren't busy making your wares? Walking on my favorite beaches on Waiheke Island where i live, getting togeather every Monday night with my friends for our Knit, Stitch and Bitch. Oh and going to the community cinema for my weekly dose of foreign films or doco's which is like being at your second home full of couches!