Sara’s passion for fashion on show – Bundaberg Now

Bundaberg-based designer and former RAAF member Sara Carney will be showcasing her ethical wear, Desert Lily Vintage, at this year’s Brisbane Fashion Festival.

After 14 years of military service, Sara started a family and then took up sewing to restore her physical and mental health, which led her to create Desert Lily Vintage.

Saras’ collection focuses on vintage florals with 10 different styles made from quality fabrics that he collects in the Bundaberg Region and then recycles to reduce waste.

Desert Lily Vintage’s sustainable and ethical approach to fashion has earned her attention and recognition, including an invitation to showcase her collection at Queensland’s premier fashion event, the 2023 Brisbane Fashion Show.

I will be featuring 10 different looks for the show, consisting of dresses and two-piece sets that can be switched from day to night, says Sara.

The Desert Lily Vintages collection features timeless, high-quality clothing made from recycled fabrics, including 100 percent linen blends, vintage bed sheets, and recycled vintage fabrics, with limited fabrics and styles per collection.

(This) will be my first time presenting my designs at such a prestigious event and I am honored to appear as a new designer.

I feel very nervous and excited but try to only focus on one day at a time, otherwise it gets really overwhelming.

Sara’s relationship with the Bundaberg community, her demand for quality, and her social and environmental principles of sustainability are the driving forces behind the brand, with every piece of clothing coming to life in her home studio in Innes Park.

It’s incredibly intimate, and minimizes the possibility of waste and oversupply, while ensuring customers get the perfect fit, he says.

Clothing is designed to last, becoming a preferred staple for seasons to come.

From the air force to fashion parties

Serving in the military Sara has seen firsthand the impact of clothing waste abroad and through Desert Lily Vintage she is focused on creating a more ethical way of producing and consuming fashion.

After having kids and leaving the air force, I really struggled with my physical and mental health so as a 30th birthday present, my husband bought me a sewing machine to help give me creative outlets while I was in the trenches raising two baby boys. -boy, Sara said.

Several years later, and with help from the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), I was able to complete further studies in business and fashion design, taking my love of tailoring and fashion to the next level.

Through Desert Lily Vintage, Sara aims to educate and inspire others to take a more sustainable and ethical approach to fashion, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable and ethical future for the industry.

I joined the RAAF when I was 17 looking for a bit of adventure and a way to leave my hometown of Mandurah, Western Australia, he says.

During a 14 year career as medical assistant reaching the rank of corporal, I have participated in national and international aeromedical evacuation, military training in Australia and overseas with postings in Sydney, Newcastle and Perth.

I served in operations in Afghanistan in 2008 in a NATO hospital intensive care unit with an Australian Specialist Medical team, and in 2012 I served in the Middle East Area of ​​Operations as a senior medical assistant in an air base medical practice.

I think it’s important to know not only how and where our clothes are made, but also how you can reduce your environmental footprint by buying clothes made from natural fibers or recycled materials that would otherwise end up in landfill.

Brisbane Fashion Festival is held between August 21-25.

To find out more about Desert Lily Vintage Click here.