Limoni is the Australian label embodying a European summer aesthetic
IMAGE VIA @LIMONITHELABEL/INSTAGRAM
WORDS BY IZZY WIGHT
“Handcrafted pieces that transport you to the romance of a holiday.”
For 24-year-old Victorian designer Caterina Monea, eating lemon gelato at the Trevi Fountain is a core memory. Her slow fashion label, Limoni is inspired by that palpable European summer feeling – sun-drenched days punctuated only by cold drinks, long conversations and trips in and out of art gallery aircon.
Coming from an Italian background, it was her nonna who initially taught her how to sew. “She’d help me make my designs into a reality, a concept that sparked my fascination with garment construction,” Caterina explains.
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Starting with a simple halterneck swimsuit, Limoni has expanded to a small collection of made-to-order garments, designed to “transport you to the romance of a holiday”. Below, Caterina tells the story of her label so far.
Tell us about you. What’s your fashion background?
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I’m Caterina Monea, a 24-year-old designer from Victoria and the creator of Limoni the Label. I come from an Italian background which has heavily influenced my style from a young age, especially after having visited Italy as a child.
I found my love for fashion through my nonna who taught me to sew. She’d help me make my designs into a reality, a concept that sparked my fascination with garment construction. I went on to do my Diploma in Fashion Design and Merchandising which lead to custom dressmaking for a number of years. After spending time developing my personal style, Limoni was born.
How did the label get started? Talk us through the process and the challenges.
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During the COVID lockdowns, I found myself having a lot of spare time on my hands, which I… spent sewing. Whether it was for myself or my friends, I loved creating pieces and for the first time ever, I had no deadlines to follow (a creative’s dream).
One of these pieces that I created was a lined, ivory halterneck swimsuit that doubled as a bodysuit. I was obsessed with its classic, timeless silhouette and after showing some friends, realised that it was a staple piece that many people are missing from their wardrobe.
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I had been going through this never-ending phase of loving all things Euro summer, something that would translate… to how I dressed… even if it was the middle of winter. So I decided to build a brand where… [people] could go to find all of their euro summer staples.
I designed my first collection surrounding that ivory swimsuit, which I named the In The Clouds One Piece, and [it] is still available to purchase to this day.
What were you trying to achieve from the project at the time? How has this evolved and what are you trying to communicate through the brand now?
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My aim was to create well-made pieces that would instantly transport you to Portofino, Tropea or the holiday destination of your choice. I’ve always loved dressing myself on holiday. It felt as though I could almost reinvent my style and the pieces I wore would become iconic pieces of my wardrobe that would take me back to the vacation place. This is the feeling I wanted to replicate with Limoni.
… I want people when they wear Limoni to feel like they’re walking on air. Head In the clouds. You’re on holiday, it’s sunny and you’ve nothing to worry about. Even your outfits just come together so seamlessly because you don’t care what anyone thinks.
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You only care about how you feel. And you feel divine. You’re wearing sandals, you’re reciting the monologue from Eat, Pray, Love and eating gelato like it’s nobody’s business.
How would you describe your label to someone who’s never seen it before?
Handcrafted pieces that transport you to the romance of a holiday.
Where did the name come from?
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Plain and simple, Limoni is ‘lemons’ in Italian. But for me, Limoni in particular reminds me of Italian summer. I vividly remember my nonno buying me lemon gelato at the Trevi Fountain.
When I think about that lemon gelato it genuinely takes me back to that day – it was warm and sunny, and the vibes were high – a feeling like no other. Lemons make me think of that, and it’s the feeling I hope Limoni pieces bring to others.
What are you most proud of in your work on your label?
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I’m most proud of my commitment to using my brand as a platform to share my values of sustainability and… female empowerment. The majority of the pieces I release are made by me in my home studio. Fabrics are carefully sourced and scraps are always put aside for a potential project I might have in mind.
I’m currently in the middle of creating some fabric roses from offcuts from my Lucia tops. I also only make-to-order in an effort to eliminate any potential deadstock. I spent a lot of time sourcing manufacturers who have ethical work processes for the pieces that aren’t made by myself.
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At the beginning of 2021, I proudly released a silk scarf… 100 per cent of the profits are directly donated to One Girl, a charity that provides quality education to girls in Sierra Leone and Uganda to drive positive change within their communities.
What do you wish you knew when you started?
Just do it! I’m such an overthinker and always really struggled to share my work unless I thought it was perfect. But I think a lot of the times I’ve succeeded have been when I didn’t doubt myself and went with my gut, something that has taken me a long time to learn.
What about the Australian fashion industry needs to change?
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It’s been said before and it’ll be said again, but I strongly believe that we need to keep fighting against fast fashion and the unethical production processes that go alongside it. It can be expensive to be ethical and sustainable in the fashion industry, which is why it frustrates me to see the biggest companies continue to exploit the system.
Dream Australian collaborators?
An Ambra Limoncello collab, obviously
How can we buy one of your pieces?
I currently sell exclusively through my online store.
You can follow Limoni for more here.
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