Latest news with #Glassons
Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Fit that flatters
Isabella Miscisco is drawing new threads of confidence through her fashion designs, Seren Stevens writes. To say Isabella Miscisco's art form is woven around people seems an obvious statement at first glance. Her pieces speak of the model and their beauty first, and the clothing second. The lengths of thread she uses can represent the wearer's self-consciousness; the wool itself is a nod to the people she has met along the way. Miscisco's life is an array of avocations, ranging from cherry picking to the gym, to volunteering and working in student-led governance. And while undertaking full-time study at the University of Otago, she is also in the midst of creating her own brand of sustainable, people-focused fashion. The clothes she designs are glamorous, bold, and feminine. And the unique hook is that they are all made from locally sourced wool, which Miscisco handspins herself and then crochets. On an unusually warm Friday afternoon, Miscisco makes time for an interview about her fashion line, Cisco Bella. She arrives wearing a Snoopy T-shirt she thrifted the night before at a university market, now part of a very colour co-ordinated outfit. She has tortoiseshell glasses that accentuate her hazel eyes and curly hair, underneath which is a cheeky smile. When asked why she began her brand, the designer doesn't hesitate — it's clear she is passionate about her work, and knows exactly why she does it. "A huge reason why I started creating my own clothes was because I just did not fit Glassons, or Cotton On, or any of the easy-access stuff we find in New Zealand. Either my thighs were too big, or my arms were too wide". With an ease that comes only from unfeigned individuality, she explains that although people wouldn't assume she faces that issue, it was an overwhelming factor in how she felt about herself. "I didn't feel like I could be someone who complained about that sort of stuff, but I was having that issue with all clothes." So, she began making her own clothes or altering items herself. "It just brought so much more confidence back into my life. Instead of going to the gym so that I could fit into clothes, I was going to the gym so that I could just have a good day afterwards." An early creation was her high school ball dress, which she crocheted entirely by hand. From there, her creations evolved into a fashion line, through which she has won several awards in fashion shows, including emerging designer and glamour categories at Wool On. Her work has also been accepted into several national fashion shows, Āhua Fashion Week a favourite. Miscisco knows the issue of ill-fitting clothes isn't new. Based on her own experience, she knows the importance of feeling as though your clothes are designed for you, not for the checkbox figures that bulldoze fast fashion forwards. She explains that the small, medium and large of fast fashion can't realistically cater for the range of body types and combinations of proportions that real people have. Despite being so young, Miscisco was never taken in by the deceiftul myth the fast fashion industry has fabricated; that you should alter your body to fit the clothes, rather than alter the clothes to fit your body. The designer knows this issue can be addressed. To create a positive change, Miscisco has the idea of "fit and flatter" woven into all of her work. "Less in the sense of size inclusive, but confidence invoking." She has already seen how much impact it can make, and how removing the labels and numerical measurements can entirely change someone's self-confidence and body image. "Recently, I was working with a friend to try to figure out how I could create without measurements. We came up with using yarn and just shaping it around the person; it wasn't numbers." Her hazel eyes are full of passion as she recounts the meaningfulness of the moment, her tone becoming more animated. "And when we actually laid out the pieces and looked at the different lengths of everything, her mindset about herself just changed. There's certain parts of herself that she wasn't so confident about, or that she would be really embarrassed about, and when she saw them laid out like this and not in numbers it changed the way she thought about it. And it was quite cool to see a little thing like that." Miscisco was raised in Cromwell, where her community has been a vital part of her work. After being taught to knit by her grandma, Miscisco reached out to women within her community to further her skills. "What I'm realising now is that wool is providing an avenue for me to connect with people. Sometimes when the wool stuff's not working as well as I want it to, I think of the connections with people that I'm making through it." After attempting to teach herself to spin wool for more than a year, she finally asked a Cromwell local who runs a wool-dyeing business, she explains. With her help, gradually Miscisco learned the art. "There are many people on the way from Cromwell to Dunedin that I'll stop in to see and have a chat and learn the tools and tricks, but also talk about older generation stuff and younger generation stuff." She speaks warmly of a blind woman in Cromwell who helped her finesse wool spinning, who she now catches up with often to show her work. The close-knit community has also allowed Miscisco's work to transition naturally into a sustainable venture. Recently, her grandma went with her to a wool fibre festival where she bought locally sourced alpaca wool. The vendors each had information on their farm history and land, meaning you could trace the fibres back to their origins. "I could place it back to the exact alpaca. So, it's cool to think you know the thing that's making it, and the grass that's feeding it." However, the designer is well aware that "sustainability" means more than using locally sourced fibres. She focuses on creating pieces that are adaptable enough to be staples in a wardrobe even as fashions change. Additionally, she is constantly thinking about how handmade pieces can be affordable to "everyday Joes", especially in the context of personalised clothing. But, the other half of that balancing act is being careful not to exploit herself. "Lots of people who make their own stuff take away a lot of [the potential for] profit from themselves, or don't pay themselves, because they're just wanting to get their name out there. But that's not very sustainable." Over the next six months, Miscisco will spend her free time spinning, dyeing and crocheting wool for a new five-piece collection that will be showcased in December, in a KAM Models show in Auckland. Although the glittery and glamorous night is months away, Miscisco says the entire process is a highlight. "Applying for shows and finding out you can put your work in is a huge high. It's a cool dream and thread you get a chase." And yet, it's not the spotlight that motivates her. "Something I bond with my grandma about a lot is my fashion. So, I love telling her the next new thing, or show, that's a huge high in itself." Between the bright lights and excitement, there are a low points. Miscisco explains that balancing study, a part-time job and fashion is difficult in many ways; finding enough hours in the day is hard, but so is taking the risk of investing her time. "Societally, committing all to fashion isn't a safe route. So, I guess maybe the hardest part for me is maybe believing in myself that I can do it." However, despite being early in her career, Miscisco has already seen many opportunities come her way as a result of her dedication and passion. From winning awards against competitors who have been in the industry for years, to earning places in brand workshops and entrepreneur programmes, she is making her mark. In the future, she would "absolutely love" for Cisco Bella to expand and become a fulltime job. It's inspiring to see the seeds of change being sewn into the fashion industry, as the ubiquitous shroud of fast-fashion myth begins to fray. Young designers like Miscisco are reimagining how people can relate not only to fashion, but also to themselves. "If more little things like that keep happening," she says, "what will we see in the future?" Seren Stevens is a University of Otago humanities intern with The Weekend Mix.
Daily Mail
16-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
American woman stunned after being asked to pay $300 fee to import $125 order from popular Australian brand
A former Miss Houston competitor has slammed a popular Australian brand after she was charged $300 to import the package to the US after Donald Trump 's tariffs. Taylor Toftemark, 24, posted a TikTok on May 7 after she received an email telling her that her $125 order required a duty fee payment of US$193.51 (AUD$300). 'I ordered $80 worth of stuff from an Australian company. Today, I get an email saying I have to pay $200 to get it shipped here,' she said. 'What are you f***ing talking about. Why would I pay double what I paid? 'Why wouldn't you tell me this at checkout and I could have saved myself a hassle?' Ms Toftemark, who participated in Miss Houston 2024, said she initially thought it was a scam but, on further inspection, discovered it was legitimate. She captioned the rant 'fking orange man's tariffs', seeming to acknowledge the steep cost would have been a result of Donald Trump's global import tax. It comes just weeks after fellow American, Nani Franzitta, said she was hit with a US$1834 (AUD$2,851) import duty on her order from White Fox Boutique. @taylortoftemark I'm so mad and sad rn like wtf is this #tarrif #trump #dhl #shippingorders #australia ♬ original sound - TayTay Aussies were quick to defend Glassons after taking issue with Ms Toftemark's argument that the brand should have informed her of the fee. 'Why are you blaming Australia for American tariffs?' someone said. Another quipped: 'It is not the job of foreign companies to educate Americans about American taxes'. 'Welcome to what being an Aussie has always felt like! We don't order from America because it usually costs double or more to ship than the item,' a third said. On April 2, Donald Trump slapped Australia with 10 per cent tariffs on goods exports to America as part of a global policy, impacting online shopping orders. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Glassons for comment. In the FAQs section of its website, it answers the question: 'Can you ship to my country?' 'Please note that customs or import duties may be charged when the order reaches its destination country. These must be paid by the recipient. We have no control over these charges and cannot predict what they may be,' the brand states.
Buzz Feed
07-02-2025
- Lifestyle
- Buzz Feed
Glasson's New Campaign Tells Us Exactly Who Is And Isn't Allowed In Their Store
Warning: This article deals with an account of an eating disorder and mentions of body image that could be triggering for some readers. At age eight, I remember the humiliation of telling my aunt, who had taken me shopping, that the third pair of jeans I had tried on didn't fit. She was kind and loving, merely grabbing a larger size and handing it to me. But looking at the people in the store, the thought that a size that had once fit now didn't, slowly made me hate shopping for clothes. I'm 22 now, and my relationship with in-person shopping has waxed and waned over the years. I can give you several reasons for my complicated relationship with shopping for clothes and, in particular, shopping for them at the big fast-fashion retailers like Glassons, Supré and Cotton On — my eating disorder Sohan Judge / BuzzFeed I've been healing from it for over a decade, navigating comments from people close to me about my body and general diet culture. I can also look up what kind of campaigns these retailers have been running for decades. The impact of those posters, those thin, white beautiful women with flat stomachs and the 'oh so desirable' thigh gap, made me hate my brown skin, my belly fat and made me question whether any of the clothes in that store were meant for me. In the past 4 years, my shopping experience has changed, not because these stores have changed, but because I simply don't shop there anymore. Depop and thrift stores are my go-to stores. While sustainability is a key factor in my decision, the reality is that even as a straight-sized woman, every time I'm in one of those stores, even just for a friend, I feel like an outcast. You see, adding a few people of colour or mid and plus-size people in ads cannot mask the fact that these brands do not care about inclusivity. @glassons Getting our steps in at our Bondi Junction store in NEW IN Active 👟 Shop online and in store now #glassons ♬ WHO IS VICTORIA - the golden era models Via These feelings were reaffirmed last week when the TikTok of Glasson's new activewear campaign appeared on my feed. The TikTok features two straight-sized models on a walking pad outside Glasson's store in Bondi Junction. It features a Victoria's Secret audio and is captioned 'Getting our steps in at our Bondi Junction store in NEW IN Active.' TikTok @glassons / Via Watching this felt like I was 13 again — like I was being sold the idea that we could like the women on the cover, the standards of beauty, if we wore the same clothes, if we ate the same food, if we exercised the same way. Comments under the TikTok reflect similar sentiments of disappointment and fear of regressing to the past, with one saying, 'Love your clothes, but it's really reentering the early 2000's thinspo. Fine line queens, let's be conscious x.' Maggie Zhou posted a TikTok saying that by showcasing these models on the walking pad, Glassons is signalling to its customers that "fit equals thin." @maggie_zhou #stitch with @Glassons trust fast fashion brands when they show you who they are 🫢 #fastfashion #glassons #australianfashion #fashiontok #fastfashionsucks ♬ original sound - Maggie Zhou Zhou is a slow fashion advocate discussing the importance of inclusivity and sustainability in the fashion industry. In the TikTok, she states, "This is why fast fashion always leaves you wanting more, it's about comparison, about having the newest thing..." @maggie_zhou "Like think about it, are they trying to sell you their plastic clothes, they're trying to sell you on aspiration." The comments on TikTok are in full agreement, with one user saying, 'Maybe it's nice for them to say it with their chest – Glassons only ever have XS/S on the floor — they only want skinny girls wearing their clothes.' When I chatted with Zhou, she said, 'Glassons' activewear campaign felt like an out-of-touch byproduct of diet culture." "Straight-sized models were made to walk on treadmills outside their store — what message does that send? To me, showcasing one body type suggests that this is who they think fitness is for, and this is how you should look in their activewear.' I asked April Hélène-Horton, aka Bodzilla about her thoughts on Glassons' campaign and marketing from similar retailers. Instagram @thebodzilla @popsugarau / Via Hélène-Horton was the first plus-size bikini model to appear on Australian billboards. She is a queer woman-of-colour, advocating for body acceptance and fat positivity. 'To be completely honest I wouldn't even step foot into these stores — between my pursuit of ethical and sustainable consumption and feeling totally unwanted, I can't see a reason to give them my money,' she said. And if you thought their marketing was bad, even going to the store as a straight-sized person vs. a plus-sized person can make a vast difference in how the staff treats you. The feeling of being 'unwanted' mentioned by Hélène-Horton is something many customers have said. A TikTok by user SerenaJavaid3 states, "POV: Ur struggling to fit into the biggest size at Glassons they start playing this song to remain inclusive." @serenajavaid3 Do they really love big girls though 🤨 #glassons ♬ original sound - Serena Via Of course, Glassons is not the only issue. For years, several fast-fashion retailers in Australia have been called out for years for their lack of size inclusivity. Instagram @sohanjudge / Via In the article, Judge says, 'Even though I don't represent the entire "plus-size" identity as a size 14/16, my experience of shopping in-store has been deeply dehumanising.' Sohan Judge / BuzzFeed 'But what really got me was when I was in General Pants recently and realised that the issue went beyond brands not making larger will actually refuse to stock them, even if the brand is already making them.' When I asked Judge whether she had noticed any changes from when she wrote that piece in 2022 to now, in 2025, she said that she has 'noticed more stores (including Glassons) stocking up to a size 16.' BuzzFeed However, she once again noted that these sizes are 'usually only available online.' 'Last time I went to the shopping centre, I was told (at Cotton On) that they did stock larger sizes but had none in-store (even though it was a HUGE store with plenty of stock).' BuzzFeed/Angeline Barion 'That leaves us to go online to shop, which defeats the purpose of being able to try the clothes on.' 'Generally, it feels like stores will be ever-so-slightly more size-inclusive to tick a box, but it's so performative because they'll either have low stock or no stock.' BuzzFeed In her experience of reaching out to brands regarding their limited size range, Judge has been told it is due to a lack of demand. However, Judge notes that she has still not seen genuine size inclusivity in marketing. Instagram: @sohanjudge 'We've progressed a little bit, but it's so minimal that in all honesty, I've given up on in real life shopping — I stick to buying online or slower small brands that are way more size-inclusive and approachable.' Zhou echoed the same sentiment regarding the increased barriers plus-size people face when shopping in stores, saying, 'Often their sizes aren't available on the shop floor, and they aren't reflected in e-commerce and marketing imagery.' So how do we move forward? Our consumption habits ultimately influence market demand, so the more of us shift to such brands and second-hand shopping, the more of a signal we send to these retailers that inclusion and sustainability are priorities for us. Instagram: @faytlabel Understandably, it can be difficult to find hope in a fast fashion economy that prioritises profits over people. But there are some great stores out there that are championing inclusivity. Bodzilla says 'If I was buying something new, I'd shop STAX and Mama Movement — in the past have also liked pieces from DK Active and Active Truth as well.' All those brands stock sizes 6-24. Sohan's current favourite brands, which she finds fit her well as a size 16, are Katharina Lou (sizes 6 to XXXL), Dyspnea (sizes 6 to 24, with custom sizing available), and Apres Studio (6 to 16 but state they 'offer extended sizing and fit customisations on most styles). Instagram: @katharinalouu Zhou recommends browsing A Plus Market, which is a plus-size fashion market. Other brands include Warp + Weft (sizes 00 to 24) and Kuwaii (sizes 6 to 22). It takes one second to pause before you are at that checkout, or before you even enter the store to consider whether they represent the values of inclusivity and consideration that I know are important to many of us. Next time you're freshening up your wardrobe, think about who you're supporting and whether or not they're supporting you and your community. And if you know of any other Aussie brands who champion size inclusivity, drop them in the comments below.
