SPOTLIGHT X FRANKIEmade with
(family-sized) love
FOR POBBY, PHOEBE AND KATE – MOTHER,
DAUGHTER AND GREAT-NIECE – CRAFTING
TOGETHER MEANS SEWING LESSONS, GIN
AND A WHOLE LOT OF JUMPSUITS.
Words Luke Ryan Photo Bri Hammond
Phoebe Baker and Kate McCracken of Melbourne jumpsuit specialists UNC.
reckon their favourite garment doesn’t get the respect it deserves. “You feel
like you can do anything while you’re wearing a jumpsuit,” Phoebe says.
“No need to worry about shirts coming untucked or skirts flying up. Zip it up
and you’re done.” As the frontwoman of indie pop band Alpine, Phoebe loves
harking back to the jumpsuit’s golden age – Bowie, Grace Jones, Charlie’s
Angels. “It’s literally the only thing I’ll wear on stage. I put one on and I feel
like I’m strapping on a suit of armour.”
Much of this is thanks to the handiwork of her mum, Pobby – an “incredible
sewer” in the words of both Phoebe and Kate – who’s made the majority of
Phoebe’s personal collection. “I don’t know if she loves jumpsuits herself,”
Phoebe laughs, “but she certainly loves sewing and making them. She
loves making costumes.”
The idea for UNC. came at a younger cousin’s 21st birthday, when Phoebe
and Kate rocked up in identical jumpsuits. As Kate tells it, “We got a bit drunk
and just came up with this ridiculous idea to start a fashion label that only sold
jumpsuits.” When they ran it past Pobby, she told them to go for it – and that
she was keen to help. “Phoebe’s mum is a real doer,” Kate explains. “She’s
one of those people who just thinks of doing something and then does it.”
Setting up shop in the garden behind Pobby’s house, the trio began designing
and sewing their dream jumpsuit. “I don’t even think we seriously thought
about selling them to begin with,” Kate remembers. “We just wanted to make
something that we’d love to wear.”
Fortunately they had Pobby to show them the way. “I love teaching the girls
to sew,” she says. “They had a natural interest growing up, but now we get
to make it a priority.” Pobby’s sewing expertise goes back to the days when
she dreamed of being a seamstress for the National Theatre in London.
“But family got in the way and she never had the chance,” Phoebe says.
“Now I feel like she’s finally getting to act that out a little bit.”
With her decades of experience, Pobby usually takes lead on the sewing,
while Phoebe and Kate spend more time on the fine detailing and marketing.
Despite a growing profile, they’re not taking things too seriously. “When we
started we were adamant we’d only do it so long as it was fun,” Kate says.
“We’ve all got our own work and other things going on, so UNC. is almost
a haven to come back to at the end of it all.” Phoebe chimes in: “I love that it’s
at the family house and people can drop in and out. Just having a gin and tonic
and chatting and sewing and dreaming up new ideas is the best part.”
All through March, Spotlight National Craft
Month celebrates its special 2018 theme:
Crafting Together. Grab some buddies and
loved ones and find out more in store, or
at spotlightstores.com. For more UNC.
goodness, head to unclabel.com, and keep
your eyes on frankie.com.au during March
for an exclusive studio visit and extra-good
Spotlight National Craft Month DIY.