Private: Designer Spotlight – Phoebe Paradise

We all know the love-hate feeling a Brisbane summer can cause. It is a unique steaminess and we spend our time trying to escape the sun as it gatecrashes our periphery – most fling themselves into the sea for some respite, while others seem to enjoy an overdose of our subtropical paradise. The city blooms this time of year and highlights all the little things that make up our culture.

One of these highlights is local artist, musician and designer, Phoebe Sheehy. Her label, Phoebe Paradise, draws inspiration from flora and fauna, Australian debauchery and everyday items that often go unnoticed.

Our own Luke Zahnleiter caught up with local designer Phoebe Paradise to discuss her new summer line and how to keep creative while slowly melting.

Firstly, tell me a little about yourself and Phoebe Paradise.

Well, my name is Phoebe Sheehy and I am the maker behind local fashion label Phoebe Paradise. All of our apparel is based on illustrations and textile designs hand drawn by myself. I also play in Brisbane based band Pleasure Symbols and operate my personal art practice.

How long has Phoebe Paradise been operating?

I’ve been drawing since forever – but only started taking it seriously outside of people telling me I should make t-shirts or whatever from about 2010. It was about that time that I started making posters and art for bands, which is 100% my favourite thing in the world to do. The fashion label as a separate entity officially launched early 2014 after I started making a few hand-drawn tees and found myself with about 45 orders from friends and strangers and just thought, what the hell, I should start printing these or else my hand is going to fall off. It just kind of took off from there! 

Is there anything in particular your designs aim to represent?

BRISBANE! My influences come from where I am situated. Last year I was making illustrations based off of the valley where I lived, and Murrarie where I worked, so it was a mixture of polluted riverside mangroves and inner city familiarity. This new summer collection, it’s connecting a little more with the suburban roots, now that I am living in Windsor which is just like, land of the classic Queenslander home and all that comes with it. I’m really inspired by the way that Bris is equal parts sub-tropical paradise and struggling metropolis. Everyone says it’s a small country town dressed up as a big city… and it’s true. The culture surrounding creative people in Bris is a small and supportive community – people who operate in circles like the Brisbane Collective are doing great work supporting emerging artists.

I agree. To me it feels like Brisbane has a more supportive and less competitive creative circle than bigger cities like Sydney and Melbourne. Are there any local artists that you stand out to you?

Artists in/from Brisbane who are objectively good in my opinion- Sam McKenzie, Nikki Tea, Jonathan McBurnie (expat but my new fave artist), Phillip Dearest and Adrianna Mammino. I could name a hundred more but these guys are all great and good people too. Brisbane also has a great music scene and with bands like 100%, Workshop, Corporate Vibes, The Occults, YOU and Keep on Dancins’ creating amazing stuff. But again, I could name so many more.

What would you recommend one do on a typical sunny day in Brisbane?

Now that I’m living on this side of town (Windsor) my favourite 2 hot-weather things to do has been taking my dog for a walk to The Low Road cafe for delicious smoothies or a taco-flavoured beer – the guys that run the Low Road are angels. I’m also really loving the Downey Park markets every Sunday, which is just down the road from my house. It’s pretty hard to beat just hanging out with pals and drinking one million beers at home though – everyone interstate I know has commented on how much people in Brisbane open their homes up to friends and strangers for hanging out/drinking as opposed to going out – this might have something to do with how gross and heavy the summer can get here – the outside world can really punish you in this town haha.

Tell me a bit more about the new collection out this summer. What can we expect?

The HOME collection is an illustrative reflection of the domestic side to Brisbane. It’s all Queenslanders, Pets, Wheelie bins, summer bugs, crushed tinnies and a pile of durries. The line includes a bunch of new colourfully illustrated t-shirts, enamel pins, totes, socks and cute AF summerdresses – a bit of something for everyone in another bloody Brisbane summer.

Phoebe Paradise products are available online and at Junky Comics and Violent Green in the Brisbane CBD.

www.phoebeparadise.com – www.phoebeparadise.tumblr.com

insty : @phoebe.paradise

[email protected] for commissions