The Face Behind Fabrik - An Interview with Sarah Hardie

With hand-dyed botanical prints and an ethical ethos, Fabrik founder Sarah Hardie takes slow fashion to a loving and humble place. Based on the South Coast, and extending its production to a sustainable studio in Bali, Fabrik is a brand built on the foundations of transparency in the fashion industry. Sarah reveals a little bit about her inspiration and how she is finding a sense of calm in mundane tasks while we are in isolation.

Please tell us a little about yourself!

I’m Sarah, founder and chief dreamer at Fabrik. I live with my little family on the Coal Coast.

What did you have in mind when launching Fabrik?

When creating my label I had a set of priorities that I was determined to adhere to - I wanted to created a beautiful, timeless range of clothes of only natural fibres; like cotton, linen and hemp, and I wanted them to be made by a group of seamstresses that were well paid and actually enjoyed their work.

You partner with a sustainable studio in Bali, can you tell us more about it?

Beyond the tourist hub of Kuta and its nearby beaches is a deeply spiritual country that values art and creativity and it’s here that I discovered the ideal manufacturing studio and have loved working with ever since. The studio employs and trains men and women from the local area and are paid a living wage.

"We each have a part to play in making changes in how we consume and run our households and businesses so we tread more lightly on our earth. I'm constantly learning there are better ways of doings things and implementing them both in business and at home."

What do you enjoy the most about the process of botanical dyeing?

I love the subtle earthy colours that can be achieved by mixing just 5 indigenous plants from Bali.

You’re passionate about advocating change through your business, tell us more about this!

We each have a part to play in making changes in how we consume and run our households and businesses so we tread more lightly on our earth. I’m constantly learning there are better ways of doing things and implementing them. Both in business and at home. Both little things and big things.

The 3 areas I focus on in business are:

Ethical Fashion - the way all our supply are treated

Sustainable Fashion - making best choices for the environment

Slow Fashion - making timeless pieces of clothing as opposed to fast fashion

What advice do you have for those who are looking to shop slow and sustainable?

Ask questions and do your own research! Also…..if a t-shirt costs less than a coffee there is something wrong.

Why do you believe transparency is so important when it comes to the slow fashion industry?

Transparency is what is going to make the change to protect our plant from toxins at the beginning of the supply chain with fabric and as it moves through to people as they are protected with being provided a living wage.

"Transparency is what is going to make the change to protect our planet from toxins at the beginning of the supply chain with fabric and as it moves through to people as they are protected with being provided a living wage."

What inspires Fabrik prints?

I'm a bit of a bowerbird and have a serious collection of vintage prints handed down to me and gifted from people who know me well.

What do you hope your audience takes away from Fabrik?

I hope for little parcels of joy that give them years of good quality, timeless pieces.

You have just started an exciting new blog series, tell us a little about the concept behind it and how it works?

Being at home more and finding a sense of calm in the most mundane of tasks got me thinking other people must be feeling the same. I’ve stated a little blog series on decluttering your wardrobe, giving some new life to some pieces in your wardrobe etc.

What exciting ventures have you got coming up this year?

Everything has changed with COVID-19. Hugging my Mum and Dad and going for coffee with friends is what seems most important now.

This interview was originally posted by Noel & Gladys, you can find it here.