Whether that’s on instagram following along as I share the garments I make and sell, or the way I re-wear the same pieces, forever exploring new ways of the same thing.

Perhaps you found me from a friend who shared my newsletter I’ve written and sent off monthly for about five years now.

As a person, as a creative, as a business owner - I am very slow to dip my toes into something new. I need to mull over the idea, probably write about it a heap, and then forget about it for a while before life has me remembering again. And so, the pattern has continued with this new offering I’m going to be brave about and share now!!!

It’s a pattern in itself. Wardrobe Intentions.

I often feel overwhelmed by capitalism and how I have found myself with a brand / a business, and a need contribute to promoting consumption in order to pay my rent and feed myself. A constant walking contradiction!

In 2025, I took a year off buying new things. I’ve spoken about it so much already, the craving to Work With What I’ve Got. I still feel it! I am not a big consumer of physical things myself, but I do love to create and that’s why I am trying to do HB Archive as a business. I just really like sewing.

So what is Wardrobe Intentions as an offering?

It is my version of being a stylist I guess! Although, I’m a little funny about wearing that hat, even if I have done my fair share of technically being one; working in clothing retail, putting together looks for HB photoshoots, playing dress ups with my clothes and sharing it on the internet, etc etc.

Wardrobe Intentions is an invitation for you and I to get to know your existing wardrobe together. With a focus on what you already have, not what you should buy.

This may be a good fit if -

+ There’s been some big life changes, (whether that is within your body, or lifestyle) and you’d like some help identifying your personal taste, what you feel good in, and what isn’t quite working anymore

+ You are keen to slot older, sentimental pieces back into your everyday wear

+ A trip is planned, and you struggle with knowing what to pack

+ You’d like to refine your everyday style, figuring out a daily “uniform” or some base outfits to build on

***

I’ve had a couple of gos at this now and it’s been really really fun noticing the patterns. I have good practice at noticing. Many substacks I’ve written are on this topic. Whether that’s reading between the lines of what someone is telling me, or the way they are pulling at a garment.

Anyway, I’m putting this here because maybe you’d like to book in a time with me or you have a friend or loved one who you think it’ll really help. Recommendations and sharing by word of mouth is seriously the best.

Ultimately, after lots of brainstorming the last few years about what i’m doing, and what I want to do - I just like helping people feel good, and being part of community and that’s my intention with Wardrobe Intentions.

Learn more about Wardrobe Intentions here!!

hello@hbarchive.com.au to chat more about it! I’m in Melbourne, but there might be a chance for Sydney or Auckland sometime soon <3

Thanks in advance for looking and sharing!

xx Holly

Ps. Here’s part of my messy wardrobe ^ a rotating rail of the most worn pieces <3

As a continuous believer of needing to forget so I can remember again, I recently thought about a newsletter I sent in the early years of regularly sending them.

It was over lockdown, and perhaps the first time I’d had found myself with a moment to spare. From memory, it was a list of nice things. I remember 2020, and 2021 as years that I began sharing more. Writing that was in-directly related to my business, I shared my friends businesses, and my little rituals of things that made me feel better.

Now, It seems like my social media feed is full of the “how to” suggested posts, there’s a sort of formula, I mistake accounts I don’t know, for those I do… and so reflecting over something I believed and wrote 5 years ago, ( I just realised the dates. literally 5 years ago !) that i’m remembering again, intuitively when i need it feels pretty special.

After spending a bit too long trying to remember my password, I’m logged into mailchimp and have managed to find the email i was looking for.

I’m going to edit out most of the lockdown stuff with more gentle language.

1:00 pm Friday 16th of July 2021

Checking In

Hello friends,

How are you faring?
I'm writing to you this afternoon, from the comfort of my bed.
I’m surrounded by pillows, with my favourite blanket and a nice hot cuppa tea.

Recently I’ve been thinking about the importance of looking after yourself.
It doesn’t have to be something you spend money on, or take a lot of time.

Some of my favourite treats to myself are having half an hour to drink that tea, and daydream gazing at things in my room that loved ones have gifted. Or delete Instagram off my phone for the day. Maybe go for a walk with a book, then end up lying on the wet grass in a big coat, looking straight up at the sky…

On Thursday afternoon I took an hour off Pre Order sewing, and repaired my favourite old bag.

It is the original Market Bag sample and made of the first roll of organic cotton canvas I ever bought. It holds so many memories over time, carrying vegetables, fabric and half my clothes around Europe.

Over years of love, it’s colouring has gone from cream with flecks, to off white from having a good Nappy San bath every now and then, yet covered in pen stains.
I cut off its frayed and broken handles, and replaced them with fresh cobalt drill. Every time I’ve used it since, I’ve felt so happy that we will be together for an even longer time.

The joy of loving and repairing your clothes is so special, and definitely ingrained in the way I like to run HB Archive. When I take time to resew on my coat buttons, I’m reminded of all the places I sewed them back on while travelling, how the thread colour changed depending on where I was and what I had left in my kit.

My favourite pants are the same black Chore Pants I pull on every day, most likely with the Raglan and a slightly crumpled Poet Shirt, thrown over the top. I always enjoy looking a little dishevelled, the fabric in my pants slightly faded now with a formed shaping at the knees.

If you have a moment, pop on this playlist and take out your / your grandmother’s sewing kit. Don’t feel overwhelmed by getting out a pile of to-dos. Just start with one thing and maybe you’ll make your way through.

Some good tips to remember is there is no right and wrong with mending, you can’t get better without practice, and if you aren’t sure, check youtube. There’s so many good tutorials on there. Maybe call your mum or dad, or grandma. After all, my dad was the one who taught me to sew at age four(ish), repairing my favourite doll.

*

If you know me, you know how much I love porridge, you’ve also probably heard me in the last year go on about the recipe books I’ve been using.

So! Tying those two loves together, I collaborated on a special recipe with the absolutely wonderful and generous Clementine Day of Some Things I Like to Cook!
We worked on recipe cards at the 2021 Pop Up, but for now please enjoy these magical photos Jessie Webb took for us.

Clem released her first cookbook Coming Together, in 2021… It really is an absolute joy to read from cover to cover.

There’s a million more things I could say, but I think it’s time to put the kettle back on coz my cuppa is now cold, and make myself some porridge, or maybe even pancakes!

Look after yourself, and look after each other.

Lot’s o love,

HB x

6.12pm, Friday 31st of July 2026

Okay I’m back in present day. I wasn’t expecting a little lover letter to porridge in there. Which actually blends in nicely with a love letter - also to porridge - that I wrote a few mondays back…

8.40am Monday 20th of July

Porridge

There’s so much to tell about my love of porridge it’s hard to know where to begin.
Perhaps first, I will ground. Context.

I am lying in bed, hot water bottle to my belly, softening cramps. Three blankets, one big, two small (a blue moon), then a doona.

Most mornings of winter I will get up to flick on the kettle, I will fill up my hot water bottle, and a cup with hot water, and I’ll get back into bed. It’s a true pleasure to wake up before the sun is fully up, and to read for a while. (It doesn’t always happen, and that is why it is a pleasure)

Sometimes I’ll journal, although I’ve shifted this practice back to evenings often. Sometimes I will just think.

Once my cup is empty, and the sun is peeking under the blind I do my next ritual.
I open the blinds. To watch the light show. Each night I go to sleep excited about making porridge.

I’ve adopted the Scottish technique I learnt from The Golden Spurtle. Oats, on the stove, a little bit of salt once it starts bubbling, and that’s when you stir. A conversation over the weekend is what sparked this need to tell you about my porridge.

I found my way along - almost - the entire length of the main street to get a couple of hot water bottles. A beautiful day, and everyone seemed to be enjoying it. I say this because I ran into about ten friends along the way. Maybe even more, quite honestly.

Inside the small, and very full general store (full of things, and full of people) I look up and see my friend Izzi. She introduces me to her parents and we discuss in depth our methods for cooking porridge.

We look around for a spurtle and Jesse who works there tells us they will have more ordered and there’s a world wide shortage since the Golden Spurtle came out. Coincidentally Jesse also took photos for me for a porridge recipe card collaboration with Clem in 2021. The last few winters I’ve slipped the last of these porridge recipes into letter boxes of gardens I admire during my walks. On the envelope I’ve written “something to help keep you warm”.

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Blue Moon

Two full moons in may,
Three if counting the tarot card

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The tree is calling
I’m on my favourite bench, the sun is highlighting the width of it, the birds are chatty.

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The way I cook is similar to the way I wear an outfit; swapping things in and out depending on what’s handy and repeated, often.

Right now, I’m lying on my couch after finishing a big warming bowl of what I used to call soup, but I think could be described more as a curry or dahl, and so - I’ve decided I’d like to write the recipe (ish) out for you! I’m going to do it a little differently to a usual cookbook and not include the ingredients up top, just because there are many options.

Tonight’s iteration I started making around 4ish today. During winter I often like to chop everything up after lunch and have it simmering on a low heat as I sew. I chuck a 20 minute timer on my phone which repeats and repeats and repeats until it’s either yoga or dinner time. I find that the timer with this sorta multi tasking also helps me stay on task and not get distracted (for too long) with instagram or something else.

Okay here we goooo !

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Sitting on my bench I realise it’s not dissimilar to a runway show. I see the ‘models’ coming from both directions and manage to steal glances once they have passed.

A German Shepard on lead just sauntered past. Is that the word?
Elegant, almost a prowl. Head up, tongue out, happy and approachable.

Owner was in a navy shirt, tucked into pants, with open toed thongs. It’s 15 or so degrees right now and the shirt in seasons can be noticed within each outfit.
Singlets with pants and a jumper tied messily over shoulders, or a raincoat and sandals.

I very excitedly pulled on my denim Harvey’s, with a lilac singlet, then a yellow long sleeve, then a blue jumper - the long one. Silver merino socks and birks on my feet. Old favourites.

Frilly hat back on my head, it’s been a while. I often prefer it in cooler weather. It’s best the small window of time before i have to wear a scarf and coat too.
One of my pant legs is rolled higher than the other. From a previous time wearing on the bike I guess. Maybe even from Christmas.

A German Pointer drops a slobbery ball on my knee and grins at me. His owner smiles and says “he wants you to play ball”. I’m honoured because it’s our current dream dog.

Was just passed by a woman in a long floaty dress, black long sleeve underneath -there are those in between layers again.

I wonder how it will go this year, if I’ll resort back to black over the winter. It is easier; my sewing uniform.

Over the weekend at a friends gig, I was complimented for looking “ethereal”. Cream Daise dress with cream drill CBS. Yellow scrunchie in my hair.

The next day as I often do, I wore a similar thing. A mix of clothes packed to be appropriate for a 30 minute cycle, an hour car ride, a 2 year old birthday party in a park where it would be 5 or so degrees cooler, and finally! a walk in nature.

Lightweight Jimmys, a yellow long sleeve, a yellow short sleeve, a raincoat, navy jumper and my cream frill CBS got me through. Merino socks, Felo and Vessel Cap as always. 6 separate pieces that I managed to swap and wear together and apart across the day. Decided quickly, and complimented for “wearing colour”.

I wonder how I can carry through the lighter calm colours. It’s probably through making a pair of Harvey’s in Natural (again.) and if I can find a silver or light blue jumper, preferably merino.

Soft colours feel good.

Perhaps it’s introducing a few jackets into the rotation. It will be fun seeing how the wardrobe needs to transform to be appropriate on the bike over winter.

A woman passes for the second time, she’s all in red. A worn raincoat, old trackies, well-used bag, crossed over body. Her clothes look part of her, so I appreciate it, even when I’m craving a more calming shade.

It is a little gloomy… and so maybe I just dress for the weather, the FEELING of the weather, more so than the rain that is threatening.

voice to text
10.31am Saturday 7th of March

“Walking to the gardens and all I’ve been thinking about this morning is how I can use my offcuts to create new things.

I realise when I did a pocket conversation with Julia… well actually, she realised that if you look at it a certain way, the garments I make are technically the offcuts because The actual offcuts from the garments are often the parts that I want to work with first. But I have to cut the garment in order to have smaller offcuts ready to do the fun intricate potential waste management stuff.

In yoga this morning I had the idea to make a giant cube. Drawings pixelated, translated and patch-worked back together (with offcuts).

** hello! thanks so much for reading so far! if you aren’t already you may like to become a paying subscriber which helps support my writing. If you already are, thank you so much for everything and hope you enjoy the rest of the article xx **

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Grouping within different themes; these digital collages have been inspired and made during a two week free trial of the app Canva. Experimenting with how many ways I can show versatility, similarity, and contrast within the pieces I own and wear already.

Over the years of running my tiny business, filing garments into TOP, BOTH, BOTTOM, and NEITHER has been a satisfying way to order my website, stock sheets, garment racks, and the process of getting dressed.

For part 1; focusing on garments I’ve made for myself, and worn the most, I’ve grouped together pieces from the BOTTOM category. I’ve joked in the past that HB Archive is a “bottoms” brand, and a with quick mental stocktake of what I make to sell, and also make within my own wardrobe this rings true.

I am very very particular with what shapes and details I wear on my lower half. Bodies are so different and in the past I found it hard to find a comfortably fitting pant or skirt that sat in the right places, wasn’t too fitted or hugging, and could adjust and shift throughout the day.

All bases (bums) are covered in this I think, looking at versions of the Harvey, three lengths of Cross Back Skirt plus a bonus LIMIT play iteration.

When I lump all the Bottom pieces that I make together, I am proud to say that 4 of the 5 types are created from the same Jimmy Pant cardboard block. I love that everything I make has come from something else I’ve made.

Before I get into it, a reminder that I share my outfits for inspo and to highlight that the garments are designed, made and chosen carefully to wear well over years, adapting and evolving with personal style - so I won’t be including buying links or anything like that, although you will find Archive iterations on my website :)

*

Starting off with the Harvey Pant. I made this pair in a LIMIT Denim I sourced when I was in NZ for a pop up. I carried it back to my friends studio where I was staying in my arms, and made the jeans of my dreams, finally understanding what all the fuss was about. This was in May 2024 and I wore them basically every day of winter, spring, then a lot of summer too, carrying onto 2025 it was pretty much the same deal.

Above I’ve curated wearing between seasons / during summer if you are in melbourne. I really love wearing them as an all navy look with my cotton jumper and a t-shirt underneath. I coined this outfit combo the “hot boy outfit”, because I’ve admired mens style at coffee shops; wearing slouchy round neck jumpers, and a pair of straight jeans. Often I would realise half way home I was also wearing that.

Sometime in 2024 I think I finally made some bright iterations of Raglan Tee and also began sampling the Twist L.S Tee pattern. I was excited to work with a bright orange terry towelling I’d gotten years earlier. I have worn said Raglan Tee so so much recently!

Below are some ways I wore my denim Harvey’s over the cooler months. Often layering sample iterations of the Twist L.S and Raglan Tee together.

It’s fun realising I wore more colour over the cooler months to what I sometimes get in the habit to do. I really like the pairing of the soft red jumper and cream sneakers, and also the kinda wild offsetting that the slime Twist and Raglans give.

I think it’s easy in winter to stick to softer, autumn-y tones so noting for my future self that hopefully I’ll keep wearing those bright bright colours for 2026!

Next up is my Cross Back Skirt going in order of length!

First is the Length 0 (10cm shorter than Length 1) in Natural Canvas. I think I made this one in late 2024, but found I wasn’t reaching for it being a new piece, and slightly shorter in length to what I’d been wearing. I packed it for a trip to Adelaide early in 2025, wore it heaps! and then washed it and the crumple made it feel like home.

I love all the variations of styling with this. I got really into layering sheer silk tops, and cotton tanks on top of t-shirts, and also like it with a pair of Jimmy’s under.

I also like that the lighter tone on bottom lifts the entire outfit. This was my first pair of Natural coloured bottoms since I sold my original Harvey’s (they’d shrunk after soaking attempting / failing to get a pen stain out).

Every outfit here feels effortless and makes me feel like myself <3

A bit after my Denim Harvey’s I used the rest of the fabric to make a Cross Back Skirt in Length 1. I made this nearing the end of winter in 2024. Making this skirt transformed and unlocked so many new iterations of outfit recipes. I also got a pair of knee high merino socks to trial before popping them on the web a little while after, and so I had a lot of fun playing with winter-fying my otherwise summer outfits.

Looking at these outfits now, the layering of tanks / cardigan / jumper is really fun. I wore the outfit second from the left to my friends hens, 4th from the left is cool -layering my Harvey’s of the same fabric under, and the far right I wore to walk over to brunswick to visit my friend Anna (Francie) when she was in town. I always love when Anna organises a catch up because it’s a table of her friends in the most beautiful knitwear.

Next is a combo of two Cross Back Skirts in Length 3; one is Archive black drill, and an early sample of the piece I now sell, the other is a lightweight denim which I think I stopped wearing for a little while, when I made the shorter length (^), but it’s back in the rotation now, yay!

I like seeing all the colour I’m wearing with this. Since last spring, I’ve been really inspired by flowers, and I think you can tell with all the colour pairings that are there.

Bonus of a couple of LIMIT Frill CBS’s I made last year inspired by; flowers, the hats I made for my record player, cream seersucker, and the most incredibly silver silk taffeta that I designed the panels to use every part of the fabric including the selvedge which was butter yellow.

Both of these I used two toned stitching, a theme of 2025 stretching across garments and bags.

I’ve spent the early months of 2026 making up some iterations of Frill that are now on my website -Ready to Send as of this morning!!! This is a piece that I guarantee you’ll thoroughly enjoying wearing, dancing in, and admiring.

Originally written 1st of January, 2026 and updated 27th of March.

1. Aqua loose linen shorts
Straight fit, finishing on the knee
“I like your shorts!!” I couldn’t help but tell her. She laughed and seemed surprised. I think she had a white shirt on top half

2. holiday mode: ON
Red tshirt with small white text
I think her pants were 3/4 and white

3. across the road
Peach patterned shirt, white pants (again?), soft read sweater tied over shoulders. Similar toned cap

4. tshirt and cargo pants, that classic style older gents wear. Tshirt printed. Cap on head. Cotton scarf with tassels around neck. Sun protection!

12.29pm -

Okay, I’ve decided I think I like light / colours / neutrals over black. I say this while wearing a black tank, black long sleeve tshirt, and black shorts so taking my own statement w a grain of salt… or pepper.

The older gen locals have it sorted. Light for summer and dark for winter.

I have been drawn to hot pink, and Aqua recently (and also years). I always feel like wearing hot pink on New Year’s Eve.

Something in my 30s shifted and I worked out how I o wear bright colours in a not so childish way… actually I’m not sure if that’s true seeing as my main inspiration was from a 3 year olds unicorn themed birthday party.

Well then, maybe it’s balance. And slowly curating a sense of personal style that these bright pieces slot into. Same thing I’m always saying.

10.34am 13th of January

Grandmother on the bus to st kilda -
Soft red fine knit boat neck top, long sleeve. chinos, cropped in a warm toned sand. Marigold yellow pumas, with socks. Her bag was beside her big, soft fabric, slouchy a couple of toned lighter than the knitted jumper. I wonder like noticing the colours people are drawn to.

Girl who got on and sat in front of me -
white cotton dress, sleeveless with lots of ties, asymmetric for vertical placement of horizontal gathers. Maybe I should make the summer dress in a white poplin? She had two handbags one larger in cobalt nylon, the other structured and leopard print. White socks and black shiny runners, with flowers on them and gaps on the sides. Cecile Bhansen.

11.03am Saturday 17th of January

Under a tree in the gardens after yoga -

Have been thinking about what I want to wear this afternoon to a festival. Right now, I’ve got on the usual ‘uniform’ for a Saturday morning. Yoga Paras, singlet, Poet Shirt.

I thought last night about wearing my cream seersucker / blue binding shirt to class but forgot about it by morning.

This one I have on, navy fine stripe has been with me for a lot of things. I noticed in yoga; my mat’s bag and my shirt both had the old brand label. Vertical rectangle, HB taken from my own handwriting.

When I had been looking through last year’s outfits this recipe I have on was the most common. I guess it’s obvious that the clothes I can do anything in are the ones I’ll be wearing.

I wore what I’m wearing now - top half exact, just a different pair of Paras (black seersucker) for a 3 day hike. When I was back home and my clothes were washed I wanted to pull them back on again. Over and over.

My shirt is beginning to wear and fray at the edges and I’m trying to work out which cotton offcuts to mend it with. I like the idea that over time it’ll be a patchwork of memories with different stripes I’ve worked with.

I’m thinking of the green stripe, the fabric I made a shirt for Zoe with. That colour my eyes’ been drawn to lately, when I see others wear it.

** hello! thanks so much for reading so far! if you aren’t already you may like to become a paying subscriber which helps support my research and writing. If you already are, thank you so much for everything and hope you enjoy the rest of the article xx **

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Happy New Year <3

Firstly, I wanted to say a wild, big thank you for reading and being part of my year of weekly musings. I really enjoyed the simultaneous challenge and freedom of carving out time to form, reflect and edit my thoughts each week without necessarily needing to link it all back to my website.

I’m going to take a couple of weeks off posting so I can recharge and figure out what I need and want to say. Thanks for being here, hope you have a rest-full start to 2026. The twenty six sounds crazy but good, i think.

Oh and PS if you are missing me, I will have some things queued up on my web journal, including an interview I very VERY much enjoyed having.

Chat to you on the other side! x

I found this list of hot tips while searching for a different one. Written in 2022. I’ve kept editing to a minimum, just crossed out businesses that have sadly closed down in the years since, and added a couple of updates in italics!

5.05pm 8th of January 2022

Here’s some hot tips for some nice (mostly) local businesses. ~
Love from me while in isolation and you via story replies <3

Good quality T-shirts / Singlets for home and not at home:

Bassike is the most loved and worn brand in my wardrobe other than HB. Pieces are timeless, and made in Australia. I remember first spending the money on a couple of tshirts six or so years ago, and thinking it was a lot, but I still reach and wear those pieces on a regular basis so it’s totally worth it.

Vege Threads is my other go to. I’ve rotating my hemp singlets throughout this week in isolation. I wear a good mix of VT for yoga and exercise.

Arnsdorf have a really great selection of ribbed tops. Effortless, comfortable and chic!

Rachel Mills are made in NZ and work on a made to order pre sale basis. I recently got a singlet from there, and the cut is really nice.

[2025 Update! Kow Tow make a very nice selection of t-shirts, which I actually wrote about in my first substack article!]

Undies / Swimwear / Socks:

Again, Rachel Mills . I’ve been slowly replenishing my knicker drawer, and bought a new bra and some undies from RM. The cuts are unique, but super comfortable. Late last year they also released a line of swimwear.

Nu Swim – Yes, they are expensive but the cuts, and fit is really good, you’ll be excited to reach for them every summer. You can also try on at Shifting Worlds.

** hello! thanks so much for reading so far! if you aren’t already you may like to become a paying subscriber which helps support my research and writing. If you already are, thank you so much for everything and hope you enjoy the rest of the article xx **

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Repeating a colour or piece

Reminds me of a worm hole I went down of Kaia Gerber and her relaxed outfits, often a repeated hat or bag (a rich green leather bag from memory). Just saw this post by Danielle Goldberg of Ayo.

This style is so beautiful!!! I love when a stylist is able to keep the essence of the wearer.

I actually thought it was the same person who styled Kaia. Both use a lot of the Row. But no, Dani Michelle I think has worked with Kaia, Hayley Bieber and Kendal Jenner. In my opinion it’s the best Kendal ever looks, less fuss. She’s also been put in Flore Flore which I think is a great sign although they make a very simple t-shirt or tank, the subtle details are very easy to spot (once you notice what they are).

I worry about the fast fashion brands that may start to make worse- cheaper quality versions…

Anyway, after a scroll I see that Danielle Goldberg also dressed Solange, and Zoe Kravitz too. I mean, these two have enough style themselves so cool to see them work with a stylist. I’d love to be a fly on the wall for the process they go through together.

[ hi if you are enjoying this article you might like to become a paying subscriber to support my thinking and writing a little. There’s also some instagram posts i’ve saved that are a nice lil bit-a inspo. if you already are a paid subscriber, thank you for being here - it means a lot! enjoy the rest of my thoughts xx ]

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What is good style?

Clothes that transcend time and place

I read somewhere that it really is a matter of “taste”

To curate slowly and wear often

Being inspired by the world around

Throwing something on

Effortlessness

Subjective and / or objective (I mix up these words)

When a piece can be worn in multiple ways

Craving wearing the same clothes for multiple days in a row

Taken out of the washing basket and worn again

Wearing together and apart

[ hi if you are enjoying this article you might like to become a paying subscriber to support my thinking and writing a little. if you already are a paid subscriber, thank you for being here - it means a lot! enjoy the rest of my thoughts xx ]

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I found this in my notes app. Something I’d written years ago when things now past were new, growing familiar. It’s interesting to me because before re-discovering this I had written a Wardrobe Tour explaining how I organise my clothes and what goes where in my current home.

A more in depth 2025 retrospective edition to come perhaps another time, or maybe it’s already been. For now please enjoy the same thoughts and feelings but from a younger me!

11.03am 8th of January 2021

I do a lot of thinking about my clothes. I can’t call myself a minimalist or say that I have a capsule wardrobe.

In fact - I have a lot of clothes. Mainly different versions of the same thing. I have 4 variations of the chore pant, 3 chore jackets and about 6 different poet shirts.

It’s taken a long time to accept that I may always have more clothes than others. But I wear 90% weekly and I put time and thought into designing and curating to ensure that I can pair all my tops with all my bottoms in all weather, any season.

If you have seen me recently I’ve probably told you that I just moved house. From a place with lots of in built storage to one with none. (but man, wooden floor boards are nice!)

This has me thinking even more! about my clothes... where will they go? I bought some beautiful dressers but how can I still rotate everything if I can’t always see it, will it still smell fresh or go musty ? (This last thing had me wiping every drawer down with essential oil, popping any extra soap in the drawers and making dried lavender bundles (from Jenna’s Mum’s garden!)

I have such a connection with things I wear that if I forget about it I feel guilty.

This is where story selling has come in handy ~ once a sample has served its purpose and I’ve washed it, worn it, seen the fabric settle, checked the pockets. If I’m not reaching for it weekly or (at all in one season) then I love for it to get a new home with someone who will.

I think my whole mentality on all of this seeps into my practice. I want to create season-less pieces that you love. that are your clothes for best but also work for lying around your home or going to the pool. Multipurpose, ultimate comfort.

9.22am, Monday 17th of February 2025

Back to today. Isn’t this cool to reflect on?

The same themes and ideas. Chore Pants now updated to the Harvey’s, all my Chore pieces sold via my stories on instagram in what I coined “Story Selling”. A pun on Story Telling, where each of my own worn pieces sold had a sentimental story included in their listing. A nod back to the entire meaning behind name and concept of my brand.

“Archive”

A word I had never found paired with clothing when I started. To find my business’s name, I looked up synonyms to Library ~ as the pieces I worked on were always an extension of my own worn and love wardrobe. Evolving over time. History and memories.

Even the *capsule wardrobe* thinking! During our Auckland Pop Up (in May 24), Anna and I chatted over what we actually considered one, and then I wrote a newsletter on it over Spring diving deeper.

Last year, I managed to find a copy of a book from the 80’s by the designer who coined the term.

I hope to do a review (of sorts) or maybe an essay on it sometime.

Lots of thoughts in the park this morning! Went phoneless because it was dead and I also have been craving leaving it at home more.

Hopefully I can remember all the things I wanted to write down…

1. Recreating outfits from my memories ~

These can be outfits I’ve seen on the street, or ones that friends have worn over the years and then recreating them using the garments in my wardrobe. I could think of 5 or so from the top of my head, which I will list in a sec.

The beauty of outfits coming from a memory, and not a photo or something written down in the moment is there is room for my imagination. I guess twice over. Imagination in the remembering, and then imagination in using what I’ve got to make something new.

Good outfits:

• Mara when we were in sydney together a few years ago. She was wearing a big oversized tshirt, work pants, with an orange silk wrap skirt on top. The skirt was a taffeta, crinkled maybe from time, maybe from washing and had silver sequins sewn on in flower patterns. it may have been from Zoe’s dress up box ? there was a frilly hat on her head, (i got mine after this) and thinking now how Mara is always cold, maybe her brown hoodie, although I can’t remember exactly…

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Quite a few years ago now, maybe even close to 10 I made a decision to pause giving gifts for birthdays and christmas. My reasoning was to do with consumption, if realistically I didn’t need anything it was easier to let people know I wouldn’t be giving them something so they didn’t feel obligated to reciprocate.

I relaxed a little on that sentiment during 2020, when I remembered how much I loved finding, or making something thoughtful for those I loved. I’ve proudly been the *ideas gal* for group gifts for birthdays / baby showers / weddings, and all those special moments for a while now.

It’s also an excuse for me to get to share and support local businesses and friends who I may not otherwise be able to support in a -voting with my wallet- sort of way.

So I’d like to share some things that I’ve received and given to myself and loved ones …

Taking a look around me there is much to talk through!

Right now I’m lying on the couch, under my handmade blanket, made of offcuts. I’ve got a little table next to me that has a scrap patchwork placemat, a coaster I was given from my old job that was re-worked from a local furniture maker’s offcuts, and another hand woven coaster that I bought during a story sale Sundance was having.

On my patchwork placemat is a cup of coffee, it’s painted with flowers and is my new favourite thing. I traded it and a matching teapot with Zoe Isaacs with a Felo Bag and Merino Twist Long Sleeve and we’ve been sharing stories enjoying each other’s pieces since.

I sent one of my patchwork coasters with an order to Clem Day a month or so ago and when tagged me in a photo of the coaster, with the floral teapot on top. How serendipitous! (BTW I saw Clem’s also working on a new cook book!!! her first one I loved giving friends.)

There’s a some lavender oil sitting on the handwoven Sundance coaster. I am a sucker for essential oils and smells, they help me feel calm, and in the right place and time. This bottle is still in this room from when Zoe stayed with me a few weeks ago. When I stayed with her in sydney once she left a bottle by my own make-shift bedside to help me feel at home and so I always do the same.

When I came home from camping a few weekends back and Zoe had gone back to Sydney, she’d left me a beautiful handwritten note and bunch of poppies on the table. I felt so lucky. My friend Caitlyn had done the same the week before - with giant flowers with blue and purple insides that I hadn’t seen before. Their colours reminded me of the unicorn tones I’ve been inspired by.

Looking up and out the window I have a pile of rocks assembled in patterns sitting on the sill. Some are from Sasha’s trip to Greece last year, with holes in them I could use incense with. There’s one from Zoe and her trip to Greece a few years before that. She told me she thought of me because it had a seam running through it. It is a milky colour and smooth.

At the end of my feet sitting on the arm of the couch is a mohair blanket. I guess it’s called a “lap blanket” or maybe even a baby’s one. My friend gave it to me during lockdown. We used to meet on walks and swap things we’d found that made us think of each other. In the years since I’ve measured it, using the dimensions as a guide for patchworking offcuts to make blankets for friends’ babies.

On the floor is one of my bolsters. This one for myself I managed to squeeze in the stuffing from two of my old pillows. The bolster is a wonderful gift. (hopefully more on that to come in my Dec newsletter!) I often give one out to friends when they are pregnant, if someone is going through something that could be in need of comfort, or it just would slot nicely into their space. Every time I send a bolster, I roll a line of essential oil along the inner pillow.

I’ve been lucky with essential oils this year. One of my favourite blends went a bit weird and so I went to the store to find a replacement. The girl working ended up giving me a handful of bottles that they couldn’t sell. I kept them in my pantry (it seemed like the place they’d be safest) until I could give them to a few friends who’d who’d enjoy.

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Sat myself down on the grass between favourite bench 1 and favourite bench 2.

To my left, slow and tranquil Rachel the chocolate lab walks past on lead.
Her owner says to her “Rachel, Rachel what are you thinking ?”
I’m always looking at gentle chocolate labs and hoping they are Maple, the sweetheart my friend dog sits sometimes.

It’s feels so long since I’ve sat in the gardens, I missed the Tuesday ritual this week and can’t remember when I last did the Saturday ritual start to finish.

I’m now lying on my back, head on jumper admiring the trees. Lenny runs towards me, a little shaggy thing but he’s gone before I can tell what!

On my walk over I do my Op Shop browse - looking along the wall of mugs and cups and glasses, piecing together stories of who left them and why.

There’s also a reminder of overconsumption which frightens me a little -so many Father’s Day / Easter / Christmas / identifying as a ‘woman’ or puns to do with ‘coffee’.

A way to reflect capitalism for a moment, but not try to linger in that for too long.

Before I went into the op shop found myself heading into an outlet store an Australian designed label. Lemon yellow T-shirts and cashmere sweaters drew me in.

I didn’t realise but there was a sale for over 60% off. 100% cashmere sweaters for $120. Made in China and originally $220.

Okay, another moment of putting myself in this thought process of consumerism in order to pop my little happy bubble a little.

Comparing my initial thoughts to what I imagine the general publics’ would be…

For me -

• Isn’t yellow just starting to come into the mainstream?

• Surely the brand could keep it going a little longer

• I wonder how fast and often they bring out new collections

• Wow the amount of work to churn it out

• This stuff seems really simple, and of natural fibres, I can see myself in some of it

• Seeing the racks of uniformed pieces makes it feel a little cheaper to me

• I’d love to see this stuff washed and worn. It’d look better.

• Check the label - oh made in China

• I should look up their ethos because if it’s ….

Thought process interrupted by Charlie the ‘bit stinky’ golden retriever saying hello, and then by a tiny tiny little dog that looked like it could be scary if she was 4 x the size but let me pat her too!

Back to it - I saw myself slipping into what someone’s frame of mind could be if they were on a shopping trip. The way this store was set out I could imagine it be a trap of impulse purchasing. But I also can imagine someone thoughtfully admiring the pieces if a fan of the brand and waiting to go on sale like I think Kowtow customers will do.

Okay so I am now thinking - if this was one business working in this way, having a regular store on one main Street, and discount store on the other then it wouldn’t begin to make me feel gross but I can think of a few others that do similar. And these are all Australian designed / led businesses!

I’m afraid to zoom out even larger scale.

Is it all just me ??? I didn’t even buy anything but I am lying here, and feeling guilty.

I don’t know where to go or what to do with this trail of thinking. Luckily I’m off to Before March’s 8th birthday this evening so I can shift the thinking back to one of curation and thoughtful slowly and gentle consumption a little more.

Time to focus on touching grass !!!

I had a thought the other night I couldn’t shake - that at some point (if it hasn’t already happened at a large scale) there is a good chance a HB Archive piece is being copied and mass produced for a fraction of the price for me to work on it, and a fraction of the time it took me to develop it.

I was called an emerging brand in an article the other day. What makes it emerging?
If it’s time I think I am probably established.
If it’s followers I think maybe it’s a word someone with 10 times the following would call me.

There’s been a few conversations with friends about how the work we put on Instagram we no longer own.

Being an online business I try to share clear imagery of details so my customers know what they are getting.

This information is no longer mine.

If someone can look at my website and figure out through details how something is made. Someone can also take my image for free, edit then call it their work.

What are the rules if the rules (to most) aren’t clear?

A few times I’ve had customers tell me they’re looking for a ‘dupe’ of something I make.

if this is being written to me - what is being typed into Google or screenshot then worked out quietly?

What am I actually selling???
This question I would really like to figure out, but I worry it’ll go into ‘what is my worth’ territory. So maybe it’s something to sit with.

There is a difference between copying and being inspired.

I see on tiktok creators comparing the real thing to the cheap knock off. I saw an Instagram post of the Babaa imagery taken from the website and edited into tiles sharing what indie knitting patterns can be used to make a knock off of those (incredibly special) knits. I noticed comments were turned off for this so I wonder if there were a few people that felt like I do.

I finished my silver silk skirt and wore it over the weekend. I am afraid to share it online. I am protective to keep something for myself.

I am protective not to share my style too much either. People message me “what’s the shoes” then don’t say thank you when I take time to give them the details.

I worry that the fast - I need it now - mentality misses the point of craftsmanship. It’s the details I love so much. Sometimes I cave and re produce something that is uniquely my own so I can pay my rent but I also feel so protective over my process and keeping something special for myself. If I have to figure out a price for it, it loses its sparkle.

To be inspired isn’t to capture and take the thing from someone else.

I am grateful I’ve learnt to notice what inspires me (if I see it on someone) to sit with it, be patient, and let the idea morph into my own.

Memory shifts and so does time.
What is mine - is not online.

My process to get dressed felt like an interesting one this morning.

I wonder if I always start in the same place ?
I thought - I want to wear my lilac t-shirt but then I pulled out a purple bra and then pink socks.

Remembering my lilac t-shirt I’d usually put one of the other colours back but decided to lean into the unicorn 3rd birthday theme yet again.

Then I realised id wanted to wear my brown linen dress as I was pulling on mahogany Harvey ’s I’d worn the other day.

“Are they new?”
My dentist had asked when I was lying in the chair with my mouth open.

“No they’re just a lighter fabric, I think I’m wearing my denim pair usually “

She complimented my socks too - cobalt that day.

So now I have on everything but the purple t-shirt. Layered on top it goes. It looks a little funny and it’s cold outside so I put on my caramel knitted jumper, and pour my coffee into a cup of the same colour.

Frilly hat and tabi sneakers are on and I am ready to sit on the bench and listen to the birds.

What inspired this outfit recipe this morning?

I’d been going through my camera roll and curating together every outfit I’d worn this year. 1212 photos… some variations of the same day, some customer pre orders.

I had the idea to choose an item, separating outfits into seasons, then sharing some examples of versatility and how they’ve aged and how they are loved.

I want to spread the word further that wearing clothes more than once should be the whole point of buying something.

A lovely and gloomy morning. I managed to miss the showers three times –
to yoga, to café, to home.

During the class I was thinking as I was moving about the clothes I was wearing. How it actually felt when one leg was lifted and I’d roll the front waist over or pull up one side of the leg, allowing more extension through the body.

Friction between body and garment, trust between them too.

Recently the topic of active wear has come up a lot both between friends, and also social media, I’m even getting targeted sponsored ads so there must truly be something in the air.

More and more I realise that I am a very sensory person. I talk about it often within the actual design of the pieces I make so I must have always known it, but maybe it’s only now comparing to alternative options and also through conversations with my customers – often sending their appreciation with what I’ve made for them <3

Yesterday my friend Guy and I were talking about elastane being used with most workout clothes. I have a few crop tops that are mostly cotton but have a percentage of elastane within and I find them SO hot! I can feel the heat radiating, bouncing between my chest and the internal layer of my top. It’s too much!

Currently, as the seasons are shifting, I’ve been rotating between my drill Jimmy’s for gentler classes and Para Shorts for hotter flows. Sometimes a pair in jersey I made their sole purpose for yoga (but just want to always wear) and when they are in the wash, I’ve been wearing my pair in black seersucker.

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In the gardens looking at my favourite bench.
My socks are yellow, my shoes still new, I have a hot pink knotted bag with loaf of bread inside!

There’s good dog action today. Two tiny friends jumper up and shared the bench with me for a moment, a choc lab walked by named Rachel, and I saw a very happy golden retriever rolling around before his owner sat him in front of some daffodils for a photograph on phone, in landscape and portrait.

I meant to write yesterday about the certain energy and entertainment in outfit that happens on the corner of Smith and Johnston Streets.

Specifically, at lunchtime on a day during the week. For me, I’m usually there on a Thursday or Friday, when I’ve finished yoga, running to the post, and doing errands.

You won’t get the same ease of dressing on a weekend there, at least not often I don’t think. By the time it’s lunch time on a Saturday i think people have woken up enough to plan what they want to wear.

But yes, my thought for this specific time and day and place I’ve had before. I can tell who’s spent a bit of time online, and how it may have seeped into their sense of style. A snap shot.

There’s a couple of other things I was thinking but I have to run… so I’ll dot point them quickly and hopefully expand another time.

I’ve seen a similar feeling in a few places.
Hobart markets, Carriageworks on a Saturday morning, some of my favourite cafes here too.

I often see a garment or outfit and think for a split second it could be mine.

It’s only happened twice in the wild but imagine a small bubble of alternate universe / eco system where every one has on thoughtfully made small and local businesses.

I guess it would happen in a certain place; customers visiting a store, or a wedding where everyone has found suits from their friends’ local consignment store.

My friendship group often there’s 2-3 of us are wearing the same pants (Harvey’s <3). 4 pairs of socks in a row the other day too.

My friends joking I’m their sock dealer.

Okay gotta go, it’s cloudy and rain is threatening