Melbourne label Liv-ie creates versatile knitwear, but not as you know it
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES FAGAN
WORDS BY MAGGIE ZHOU
Zero-waste knitwear made in Melbourne.
I must admit, when a couple of Liv-ie‘s pieces rocked up at my door a year ago, I was a bit perplexed by them. Here were these ultra-soft, woollen bits of material with pops of sparkly colour cut in unconventional shapes. I didn’t even know if I was holding them the right way around, let alone wearing them how they were intended to be worn.
That’s when I realised it’s the whole point of Liv-ie. The baby fashion label out of Melbourne currently only has three items for sale – but all of them are adjustable in some capacity. Liv-ie’s pieces are adaptable and versatile; you can wear pieces back to front, inside out and tie its straps as you see fit.
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Created by Olivia Fagen, Liv-ie is a fresh take on classic fabrics. Its pieces are, by definition, knitwear – but stylistically, there’s a whole lot more to them. Below, we catch up with Olivia and learn more about her label.
Tell us about you. What’s your fashion background?
I grew up fortunate enough to be immersed in a creative household. I always loved art, design, fashion and being creative. I studied at RMIT for four years in the Bachelor of Fashion (Design) program with one-year honours. I completed my honours year at the start of COVID-19 in 2020, where I ended up having to produce an entire honours collection from my bedroom. Now I run Liv-ie, my small, sustainable fashion label, all made and designed in Melbourne.
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How did the label get started? Talk us through the process and the challenges.
I started working on the label about 12 months before I launched… in the middle of 2022. I think the [idea to] start my own label has always been there. During my 2020 honours year, I immersed myself in knitwear and [created] an entire collection that was made out of my bedroom on my old vintage knitting machine.
After that, I realised the power of knitwear – the ability to turn a thread into a beautiful [and] wearable garment within a matter of hours or days. The label began with my honours year collection and continues to evolve. I think I also saw a gap in the market when it came to the unique way I approach knitwear. I often had people asking when they would be able to get their hands on a garment I’d made. The rest is history.
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Where did the name come from?
My name is Olivia and I get a heap of different abbreviations, like Liv and Livie, so it’s a play on my name.
How would you describe your brand to someone who’s never seen it before?
To describe Liv-ie in one short sentence would be this: A sustainable, Australian-made knitwear label that focuses on colour and simple shapes on the body. I make to order or make in very small quantities. Most of my garments are made with little to no waste at all and I use a mixture of vintage wool and Australian wool and cotton.
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What do you wish you had known when you started?
It’s going to be hard. Starting a business is never easy. It takes persistence and a whole lot of patience and flexibility. So much of the time, things don’t go to plan. But sometimes th[e] things that don’t go to plan end up being the best things that could have happened to you.
What are you most proud of in your work on your brand?
I’m definitely most proud of the fact I’m producing everything for Liv-ie here in Australia. Keeping my brand true to my beliefs of being as ethical and sustainable as I can be, and with zero-to-no-waste in the production of everything I make, is absolutely a priority. I do this by supporting the Australian makers and creators who are full of talent and ingenuity, that live locally here in Melbourne and across Australia. The patternmakers, machinists, knitters, dyeing houses, photographers [and] stylists are what enable me to proudly make and create on home soil.
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Who is most exciting in the Australian and New Zealand fashion scene right now?
I think there are so many exciting up-and-coming brands both here and across New Zealand. Xanthe Ficarra [makes] jewellery from vintage and repurposed jewellery [and] Olivia Rowan has some incredible sculptural pieces, she has just released the Cone Corset. Alexander from QuietAnder has some beautiful tailoring and finally, Hom Sted – Amy and Kristen are both incredible makers and their products are so unique.
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How can we buy one of your pieces?
My website or send me a DM on Instagram or email me at info@liv-ie.com! At the moment everything is made to order, so the turnaround is four-to-six weeks.
Step into the world of Liv-ie here.
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