Our Head of Design, Jane, grew up in country New South Wales where she attended a very small school with a total of 10 students! When Jane turned 18, she moved to Sydney for uni to study Fashion and Textile Design at the University of Technology.     When did you know you wanted to be a designer? As a young child. Living in a remote area inspired me to create my own designs (no shops at all). I was always creating outfits and designs with whatever I could get my hands on. My Mum and Grandma were amazing seamstresses and were always finding me fabrications and trims for me to experiment with. We made a lot of our own clothes. My Grandma also sent me and my sisters a stream of popular music and the latest fashion magazines that were a constant source of inspiration. How did you start your design career? University was the beginning of preparing me for the design industry. After graduating, I won the Nescafe Big Break Award for Design, which provided me with the funding and opportunity to start up my own business based on my design concept. Before embarking on my own venture, I wanted to get some industry experience. My first design role was with Hot Tuna, where I received the grounding and insight to take on bigger and broader design… They also taught me to ‘be brave’, take chances & to ‘keep it real’.   How do you approach designing for a new season? With an open mind, with a focus on the future, with a focus on exciting our customers and providing for their needs. Global trend research, teamed with a ‘simple Bonds twist', but most of all, it’s a team effort with a very simple and real approach to the design process. What tools do you use when you sketch? I still love using pencil… Very old school, for initial conceptual ideas, but most is designed in Adobe Illustrator.   Where do you draw inspiration from? Fashion, music, the street, blogs, art, interiors, the environment, technology, friends, the team… Keeping your eyes and mind open to anything. How do you identify trends to bring back to us? Understanding our Australian way of life, teamed with the Bonds’ brand DNA enables identifying the right trends for Bonds. There are so many trends happening at the same time, and if we had a go at all of them we would give a very messy message to our customers. Describe a typical day at your job. Developing and signing off design concepts with the team, working with R&D to achieve new unique fabrications and trims, viewing artwork, monitoring our deadlines… and of course there are the emails!   Fast Five Favourite food to eat while you’re designing? Snacking on almonds and chocolate. Currently reading? My 10yr old daughter Freja’s first illustrated novel, “Wish”. Currently listening? Summer holiday listening - Carla Bruni and Angus & Julia Stone. Currently cooking? Risotto with a large green salad – the whole family eats it. The summer holidays have meant a lot of barbecues, salads, roasted corn and avocado salsa. Your favourite Bonds product? I do have many but the Hipster Bikini and Boyleg are long standing favourites - especially with the addition of the Microfibre Hipsters! I couldn’t live without:

• My Hipsters and No Show undies
• My Tube Bra
• My Sloppy Joe & Hoodie
• My Skinny Trackies and Leggings
• My Stretchy Chestys
• My Easy-style Raglan Tees