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All Star stories: we picked the brains of 3 Melbourne creatives

Championing and supporting local creative talent.

Championing and supporting local creative talent is at the core of Converse’s brand philosophy.

We hung out with a few of our fave people, tried on the new Converse Chuck Taylor All Star II Knit Collection and chatted sneakers, career advice and guilty pleasures. 

Name: Zarnie Morcombe.
Job: creative director at Plastic Loaves and graphic designer at Fashion Journal.

How did you get into your career?
I’m still getting into my career, it’s all just been a continuation of doing different things.

What’s the best part about your job?
Creating things.

What’s the worst part about your job?
Being overwhelmed and sometimes lonely, I fantasize that my turtle will talk to me.

What does a typical day for you entail?
Working on my projects and creating new projects. I then break it up with meditating (two times), a run/walk, eating eggs, emailing, reading, painting, sewing, going to the Vinnies across the road, finding new music and thinking about who I want to hold hands with on the weekend.

What’s in your typical work wardrobe?
It depends who is visiting the studio that day and what activities I will be doing. For example I do dancing Thursdays, so I wear flexible clothes and when I have a meeting with someone who I really want to work with, I put on my lucky clothes.

Do you have any advice for someone considering your job?
It’s a lifestyle not a job. 

Quick fire questions:

Creativity is… make believe.
Heels or sneakers… I like them both.
The best meal of the day is… cheese.
My guilty pleasure is… I don’t have one.
Beyoncé or Rihanna… Rihanna is fun.
Favourite item of clothing… my wedding dress that Nan made me for the launch of Plastic Loaves, I got married to my career. I love the top I am wearing here too, Charlie Freedman made it for me <3
Favourite music to play when working… at the moment Vincent Gallo, Arthur Russel, Julian Horn, Madonna, Dream Chimney and Laurie Anderson. I just heard this great song by 380 Volt Electric Papa – ‘I Think You Are Boring’. 

plasticloaves.com 

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Name: Elaine Marshall.
Job: fashion stylist.

How did you get into your career?
I hustled so hard. I tried to turn every moment into a potential opportunity. I literally lived and breathed building my brand 24/7 for the first few years.

What’s the best part about your job?
The clothes!

What’s the worst part about your job?
Returning the clothes!

What does a typical day for you entail?
Wake up at around 5.30am. Exercise, emails, prep for a shoot, shoot, pack down, emails/admin, sleep.

What are the staples in your work wardrobe?
Black, leather, denim and sneakers are always on high rotation. Also currently obsessed with Réalisation Par.

Do you have any advice for someone considering your job?
Work hard, be kind, be inspired, be passionate and hustle. And assist lots! 

Quick fire questions:

Creativity is… my favourite colour.
Heels or sneakers… sneakers (especially as I get older).
The best meal of the day is… brunch.
My guilty pleasure is… reality television (#RHOBH).
Beyoncé or Rihanna… BadGalRiRi.
Favourite item of clothing… At the moment the Diane Navy Star dress (from Réalisation Par). I actually have to stop myself from wearing it every day.
Favourite music to play when working… Disclosure or Flume. 

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Name: Jade Rose Yuk Ting Leung.
Job: fashion stylist.

How did you get into your career?
I did a Visual Merchandising course at RMIT and happened to do work experience with a fashion stylist. We got along so she hired me as her full-time assistant, and I’ve been pretty much been working my ass off since.

What’s the best part about your job?
Every day brings a different set of challenges and requirements. I thrive on the unpredictability and rising to the challenge.

What’s the worst part about your job?
Probably the unstable nature of freelancing. When it rains it pours… but when it stops it can be a mother of a drought. Unfortunately I’ve never been good at saving for a rainy day!

What does a typical day for you entail?
Being a freelancer, you pretty much say goodbye to the luxury of ever having a typical day! Often I might start my day on emails and have all day to do back-end work, and it can change in an instant. I’ll find myself running and calling around like a headless chook to fill a brief that’s come in at the last minute for a shoot that’s the next day.

What’s in your work wardrobe?
Jeans. T-shirts. Cashmere knits. ALL OF THE jeans!!

Do you have any advice for someone considering your job?
I’d probably suggest that you do a lot of assisting if you want to be a stylist. It’s not rocket science. You learn a lot on the job that a course can’t teach you. It’s more than just putting clothes on a model. Also, it’s not glamorous! So be prepared to work hard. Play hard. And be respectful!

Quick fire questions:

Creativity is… the future.
Heels or sneakers… sneakers.
The best meal of the day is… Prosecco.
My guilty pleasure is… never feeling guilty.
Beyoncé or Rihanna… RIHANNA.
Justin Bieber or Zayn Malik… I BELIEB.
Favourite item of clothing… my Martin Margiela organza lined t-shirt dress.
Favourite music to play when working… Lykke Li. 

 

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