INTERVIEW with DIY Girlshed || Brisbane Fashion Month - Brisbane Designer Showcase 2025

SD: Hi Sandi, for my readers who don’t know you yet, can you please introduce yourself?

S: Hiya. I’m Sandi, a Brisbane and creative Artist who wears many different hats and loves to flip anything from furniture to frocks! I handpaint bold and vibrant streetwear with a sustainable focus upcycling using quality labelled circular pieces as my canvas.

SD: When did you first become interested in fashion design?

S: Coming from a country town back, I was a frequent thrift shopper with my mum from a young age. I’m sure my mum gave birth to me at Saint Vinnie’s in Lismore in the 70s. I grew up always doing the rounds salvaging at the local oppys and creating looks from tie-dying t-shirts & bleaching denim and chopping the arms and legs off pants. I owe it all to my Home Ec and Manual Arts teachers at high school who really thought where my passion and basic life skills for creative arts began.

Nothing was kind of out of bounds for me with embracing projects. I even up-cycled my old bridesmaids Apricot taffeta Dress to re-wear to my year 10 formal and paired it with some old Vinnies’ heels which I glued a multitude of glitter onto shine with my frock for my memorable milestone!

And it just continued from there.

SD: What kind of music do you like and how do you incorporate it into your fashion design?

S: I often use music to get motivated.

This year’s collection mood board is much like jungle beats and homegrown hits from the 80s which are always my pick me up. My streetwear upcycles are built so that every piece has its own kinda comfy rhythm, easy to move and intriguing to look at!

SD: What would be your dream fashion gig right now?

S: I kind of feel I’m living my dream gig right now just by being good enough really to be included in the Brisbane Fashion Month runway for my 3rd year. Especially with this year being a 10 year celebration this. This along with participating in meaningful charity work for various projects like: from upcycling the Pad Dress and Pad Tie for Share the Dignity; to cutting up blankets into ponchos for Brisbane homeless people. This year being included in assisting Beyond DV Dress to Express Day and also a lived experience mini runway & collaboration with University of Canberra and partnering with Tafe Qld - are big enough gigs for me. As long as I’m genuinely helping, giving back & supporting others and doing my little bit for the planet, I’m content to be honest, as I head into retirement.

SD: How was the brand name Diygirl shed created? What inspired it?

S: DIY Girlshed is rethinking the status quo of upcycling diverse upcycler and the quote which resonates with me: ‘Creative Edge with a Collective Soul’.

Was inspired by me simply spending a multitude of time in my shed studio…“just doing it myself “ from flipping furniture to fashion and anything in between, and wanting to inspire other women to do the same. “Collective soul” meaning, I collect things to use to later repurpose whilst making sure I don’t turn into a hoarder lol.

SD: Without giving too much details away, what should we expect from your collection for Brisbane Fashion Month this year?

Brisbane Fashion Month’s 10 years itself is a BIG inspiration.

Sustainable Quality not Quantity. 

Jungle hunted vibes are out there on Earth. Travelling lights & deconstructed designer bags and more.

Also you’ll see a lil peak of my continuation revamp of my old 90s capsule ceramic collections “Pots to Pants” emerging through my looks, too.

Tickets are going fast and only for $45. If you want to see DIY Girlshed on the runway, get your Brisbane Fashion Month 2025 tickets here

Brisbane Fashion Month Website: http://www.brisbanefashionmonth.com.au/
Brisbane Fashion Month Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/brisbanefashionmonth/
Brisbane Fashion Month Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/brisbanefashionmonth/

DIY Girlshed’s social media presence:

Website: https://www.diygirlshedshop.com.au/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diygirl.shedshop
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diygirl.shed/
Instagram: http://instagram.com/diygirl.shedshop/

Photo Credits:
Photography by Caroline Atwood