LAUNCHING SOON……..

This Bestowed collection came about in a very different way than most other collections I’ve created. Here’s a little background on how it evolved.
Amanda Rootsey has been the model for 9 previous Bestowed collections and has been an important part of the Bestowed label since its beginning. A couple of years ago she embarked on a new chapter of her life with her partner Davey. They decided to travel around Asia working remotely and enjoy a totally different lifestyle. Both Amanda and Davey visited before they left and topped up their wardrobe with their favourite Bestowed garments. I love that they both wear my clothes and it’s great to see what styles Davey wears to extend my selection of unisex options. I always said to them that I would love to do a photoshoot with both of them together and I hoped one day it would actually happen.

So…. in October I got an email from Amanda saying they were coming back to Brisbane for a few weeks in November and did I want to do a shoot while they were here. Well, the timing wasn’t great as I was doing the final prep for the RANT Synthesis collection and had the Pop Up launch event followed by the online launch all in the first week of November, but I really really wanted to do this shoot.

To make this happen I had to design, pattern make, sample, style and shoot a new collection in 10 days!

I had ideas in my head which I sketched and found an awesome fabric to make some pants from, but I had to totally complete the Synthesis collection before starting on a new project. I was thrashed after putting all my creative energy into the current collection but felt driven by the fact that I could finally do the shoot I had dreamed of for years!

Bestowed collections are usually not named by a theme but simply numbered, but while dreaming up this Amanda and Davey inspired collection I was inspired by a new playlist I had been listening to. I called the playlist ‘Dark Spaghetti’ as it had a western feel but not an American western feel, more of a Spaghetti Western feel, more Clint Eastwood than the lame John Wayne. I added a few darker moody songs which had a slight western feel to make sure it wasn’t too cheesy. 

On this playlist I had several songs by a local band Astronimo who has the most excellent drummer who happens to be our long time photographer friend Todd McGaw, so it was all falling into place. Todd is the guy on the left in the pic above. You can check out Astronimo on Spotify or Bandcamp. They describe themselves as "just your run of the mill Spaghetti Western/Psychedelic Surf Rock band".

I threw myself into the whole Dark Spaghetti vibe, I watched movies at night, listened to the playlist all day while creating, cutting and sewing. 

If you are interested in having a listen, we have linked our Dark Spaghetti Spotify playlist here.

Below pic is how I style for the photo shoots. Matching outfits with accessories and footwear. Everything has to be worked out ahead of time to ensure it runs smoothly and all new garments have at least 2 different outfits. 

When styling the collection I knew I could use my selection of cotton Tilley hats and I could add a checked band to a black one for Amanda but I was one hat short, I needed a great hat for Davey. We found an awesome ‘Cool hand Luke’ hat, inspired by the Cool Hand Luke movie with Paul Newman. I love it when you learn something new, I never knew this was a thing, a particular hat shape and it was exactly what I wanted. Our styling hat was big, dramatic and made from a laminated paper, made in Mexico, perfect in every way.

I created some oversized Bandanas from some checked fabrics as they’re very Western feeling and I found that adding these scarves to simple Bestowed outfits gave this collection a ‘Dark Spaghetti’ feel.

I had to keep the new additions minimal because we didn’t need to add lots of styles to an already full stockroom but adding a few key pieces was essential. One style piece had to be a long line vest, one that flows when you walk, something you can wear all year round and looks cool. I took the elements I love from the Facade Coat, added side seam pockets, made the yoke from a woven cotton fabric and the main part from our lightweight organic cotton jersey.

The Wanderer Vest was born.

It can be simply put on over anything and worn loose. It’s a perfect layer for all seasons and that makes a simple outfit totally awesome. If you prefer a more cinched in look, you can wrap over the front a secure with a belt like the stitch belt I used, or any belt or tie. There’s belt loops down the side seams to keep a belt/tie in place and they were also added to give the loose vest some structure as I know people are going to put phones and heavy things in the pockets.

I love adding pockets to almost all the garments I make but you have to think of how they are going to used and if that use will put too much stress on the fabric. Adding the wide cotton ribbon belt loops to the Wanderer vest solved that possible future issue but when I gave my first sample of the Echo pants a test run, I realised that the outside point of the pockets had a stress point when you put your hands in the pockets. I cut the Echo pants without a side seam to make it simpler to keep the checks  matched, but I usually insert these types pockets into side seams which then add fabric thickness therefore strength.

My solution was to add structure to the area by stitching a fused fabric patch under the corner of the pocket. And while stitching this patch on, it would look great being random cross cross patterns with at least one star ⭐️ per patch.

The Echo pants are limited edition from a bold yard dyed Japanese made cotton and I know they’ll be pretty out there for some people, but for those of us who totally get this style, they’re the best. I like them oversized, drawcorded in at the hips with either one side or both legs tied up, or simply worn long and loose.

The Sundown pants (pictured above) are taken from our Dayvan pants shape but the hem panel has been cut on the bias. I knew this bold check had to be cut on the bias for these pants to give the checks that diagonal line. The main fabric is also a Japanese cotton, a beautiful Supima cotton.

I chose this Japanese Supima fabric as I love the quality and feel so much and as we only make such small quantities these days it works out best to have fabrics that can be used over several styles. It’s the same fabric I use in the RANT Botanist pants, lightweight yet densely woven which makes the perfect summer pant.

Using the same base as the Sundown pants, we created the mini check hem version of the classic Dayvan pants (pictured above). I love the Dayvan pants as a great layering style under tunics and dresses and also simply with a summer top.

My older Dayvan pants become my new PJ’s and I sell quite a few of them for sleepwear as they’re a perfect option.

The Epoch Top is the only heavier garment in this collection. It can thrown in over anything to keep you cosy. This second version of the Epoch top uses the same fabric and shape as the original but it has a right side pocket added to the side panel. I cut these pockets from the last few metres of a printed pinstriped cotton fabric that I used for the first ever Helen pants and Carrie vests. I love the memories these special fabrics have.

This oversized top has a cosy cowl neck but version 2 has less volume in the cowl. I found my original Epoch top was fantastic in cooler weather but I wanted one that I could wear for more months in Brisbane.

Amanda and Davey loved these tops so much that I couldn’t NOT give them the samples they were wearing at the shoot to take on their flight the following day. 😉

The whole shoot had such a fun feel. Most of our shoots are fun, but this was a little different. The connection between Amanda and Davey could be clearly seen and showed through in all the pics. They also both knew how to wear Bestowed as they have been wearing it personally for over a decade and they were both on board with the ‘Dark Spaghetti’ theme.

I was like a coffee hyped little kid on shoot day, super excited about what I was seeing, and how the crazy past 10 days were ending up looking.

That night I could stop and breathe.

The hard slog had been done and the opportunity had been taken while it was there.

Usually the garments in the photoshoot are almost made and ready to go, however this collection wasn’t needed straight away. From 2025 we are only creating two collections a year, previously we did 3-5 per year. So this 22nd Bestowed collection was to be a March delivery but all the sampling and photos were already done before December.

At Xmas time I got to actually take two full weeks off and relax. Those who know me know I never totally cut off 😆, I’m always working on a couple of projects at once. But with these pics sitting there and a collection ready to make over the next couple of months, I could relax.

If you have read all the way to the end of this rather long instalment, then I want to say thanks very much. We not only are producing less and half the number of collections, but also limiting our Journal stories and newsletters. Slow Fashion is about taking the time to really consider what you are creating, making only what is needed, what will bring me joy and therefore I want to share those moments, writing about the things that make this collection different to others I have designed. 

And thanks of course to the team on photoshoot day,

Todd Hunter McGaw - photographer and contributor to the playlist.
Hair and MakeUp - Gemma Elaine
Amanda Rootsey & Davey Rafter - Models
Dakotah Garrett - assistant to everything I do. 

Cheers

Sarah