INTERVIEW with OLLYMACS || Island Haus Runway 2026 Designer

SD: Hi, Olga. For my readers who don’t know you yet, can you please introduce yourself again?

‍ ‍Olga: I’m Olga Blake-McKenzie, the designer and storyteller behind OLLYMACS — Storytelling Through Design.

I have been sewing and creating for more than 50 years, but OLLYMACS itself is a much newer chapter in my life. I created the label in 2022, at an age when many people might think about slowing down. I chose to begin something new.

My work sits somewhere between fashion, wearable art and storytelling. I create one-of-a-kind garments that are not simply designed to be worn; they are designed to say something. My inspiration comes from life, identity, nature, history, emotion and the experiences we carry with us.

Most recently, I had the privilege of showing at Darwin Fashion Week and bringing home the award for Most Creative Designer of the Year. That recognition was particularly meaningful to me because creativity and storytelling sit at the very heart of everything I do.

I believe clothing can be beautiful while still having meaning. Above all, I want my work to remind people that creativity has no age limit and that it is never too late to become more of who you are.

SD: What challenges did you face when you started your own label, and what advice would you give young aspiring designers?

Olga: One of my biggest challenges was learning to believe that there was a place for what I was creating.

I didn’t come into the industry as a young designer straight from fashion school. I came with decades of sewing experience, life experience and a very individual way of looking at design. I had to learn the business side, put myself out there, accept rejection and criticism, and most importantly, stop comparing my journey with somebody else’s.

My advice to young designers would be: learn your craft, but don’t lose yourself trying to fit into what you think the industry wants.

Trends will change. Your authentic voice is what will eventually distinguish you. Be willing to learn, work hard, make mistakes and start again. Success doesn’t always happen quickly, and sometimes the path you didn’t plan becomes the one that defines you.

SD: Does art in all its forms play a major part in your life?

Olga: Absolutely. I don’t think I separate art from life anymore.

I see art in fabric, music, architecture, nature, photography, history and even in objects that other people might throw away. Sometimes a piece of music gives me a feeling that becomes a garment. Sometimes it is a colour, a person, a memory or simply something I see lying on a table.

For me, creativity begins with feeling. I rarely start by thinking, “What outfit should I make?” I tend to think, “What story wants to be told?”

That is probably why my designs can be quite unexpected. Art gives me permission to imagine without boundaries.

SD: How do you select the materials that are used in the clothes?

Olga: Materials are a very important part of my storytelling. I love beautiful fabrics, textures and embellishments, but I also have a great passion for recycling, repurposing and giving discarded materials another life.

A large proportion of my work incorporates recycled or upcycled elements. I have created designs using everything from fabric remnants and discarded materials to blister packs and bubble wrap. What somebody else sees as waste, I may see as the beginning of a story.

I don’t necessarily choose a material because it is fashionable. I choose it because it belongs to the design and helps communicate what I am trying to say.

Sustainability, for me, isn’t about making every garment look sustainable. It is about showing that creativity can completely change the way we value something.

SD: What are your plans for the future, and what can we expect in the coming years?

Olga: I feel as though I am only beginning.

I want to continue developing OLLYMACS as a storytelling label, creating collections and runway experiences where the audience doesn’t just see clothing — they connect with the stories behind it.

Writing has also become an important extension of my design work. I am currently preparing to release the first book in my series, We Wear Our Stories. The first book, Timelines in Threads, is expected to be released in late September or early October. It brings together my designs, characters, and the stories and messages behind them, allowing the work to live beyond the runway.

And this is only the beginning of the series. I want to continue exploring how fashion, art and storytelling can come together through future books, collections and runway experiences.

Getting older has actually made me braver creatively. I don’t feel the same need to follow rules anymore. I would rather keep asking, “What haven’t I tried yet?”

SD: Without giving too much detail away, what should we expect from your collection for Island Haus Runway?

Olga: I think the audience should expect OLLYMACS — but perhaps not quite as they expect it.

There will be storytelling, individuality, texture and pieces that invite you to look a little closer. As always, each design will have its own identity and meaning rather than simply being another garment walking down the runway.

I don’t want to reveal too much because part of the magic is that moment when a design first appears.

What I can say is that this collection continues my belief that fashion can be beautiful, thought-provoking and deeply personal all at once.

And perhaps there may be a little unexpected OLLYMACS magic in there too.

Tickets are selling out fast. See OLLYMACS on the runway and buy your tickets HERE

Island Haus Runway:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/islandhausrunway/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586227610162
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@islandhausrunway

Olga Blake-McKenzie:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ollymac7591/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/olga.blakemckenzie

Photo Credits:
First Photo: Taken by AKP Photography