A few years back an idea was born during a period of reflection in the hills of a lush Thai island. It was here that Melbournians, Lane and Adele Palmer, decided to create a range of beautiful non-temporal pieces, including clothing, bags and kaftans.
What came next was Lane Palmer Green.
Largely inspired by the effortless grace and laissez faire style of European women, LPG is not only functional and easy on the eye, but manages to fit the caper of being environmentally friendly, something that is of utmost importance to both Lane and Adele. “We’ve always had an interest in clothing, and a sustainable lifestyle. I had a dream of combining these two elements of my life into a business and yet it took quite a lot of research before we got it off the ground.”
But get it off the ground they did. Their range of bags and accessories accommodate busy lifestyles and are functional fashionable vessels. Their clothing consists of pieces that tend to compliment rather than define one’s individual style; “Everyday favourites, not seasonal fads,” claims Palmer.
A mere fad their current collection is most definitely not. Instead it can be described as a mixture of earthy, modern and glam. From the Kimono Dress in indigo zig-zag to the embroidered lounge jacket, to the dressier one shoulder tunic with black ivory detail, it is clear that LPG cater for every occasion. “The collection came from the idea of dressing all shapes of women in comfort and in style. There are a lot of dresses, it’s such a great, easy way to dress in summer”.
So whilst we relish in the abundant range of summer dresses from LPG, we can take note that it has often been Palmer’s summertime wanderings through Europe that have inspired the creation of the free-flowing, earthy pieces that have become synonymous with the brand. “I had always wanted to go to Salina, Sicily as it featured heavily in one of my favourite books, The Leopard. There was a real clarity to the light there; cobalt blue skies, white buildings, bougainvillea, cactus and grape vines. Very simple and energising.”
Travel musings aside, both agree that they also look to film, art and design to influence their work. Palmer says, “Adele and I begin sketching & making notes of the shapes/colours and themes we are interested in separately. We then meet and collaborate, often finding that we are on the same page. It’s a very organic and flexible process.”
Organic too, are the materials that are used; with their apparel collection hand dyed using natural leaves, bark and flowers so each item is as pure as can be. When it comes to their collection of bags and accessories it is all hemp, recycled PET bottles, organic cotton and non-bovine leathers. “We wanted to extend this ethos of ‘treading lightly on the earth’ to our work,” says Palmer, making it abundantly clear that the environment is considered in all aspects of the label, even the design process. This is none more evident than in the new collection’s tee shirt dress with detachable beaded sleeves. This was done so that the dress can be worn in two different ways but also so that the beading can be detached and the dress washed rather than dry-cleaned. About this Palmer says, “We are still learning how to best be green, and we don’t always get things 100%. However, we set out to create a brand that was different from the mass market and we are committed to this.”
Committed they are, and hard work and effort aside, the ladies at LPG seem to have pulled it off with aplomb. Being morally responsible and fashionably clad is a feat considered none to easy in a city as fashion conscious as Melbourne. Despite this however, they ask that when one commits to a piece from the LPG range, they subscribe to a feeling, rather than a fashion. So much so that when I ask what the LPG woman is like, I am told that she dresses for herself, not for others. Lane goes on to continue that the LPG woman is, “Of any age, but her mindset is timeless, her interest is in the beauty and practicality of individual pieces, rather than the latest trends and fads.” This concept has me captivated, as it seems dressing for others, for fashion or fad, is something that I, and undoubtedly many others, fall victim to, often in our lives.
Falling victim to fashion aside, it is clear that LPG are pushing on with their dream to create something a little different from the mass market. “We are currently researching new fabrics and dye methods and ways to streamline our process for minimal environmental impact. We are very excited that our winter range will include some 100% wool knits made in Australia from Australian wool.”
So as the ladies at LPG step into the future, gladiator hemp wedges in tow, it appears that their ethos, “We love fashion. We love function. We love green”, essentially says it all.
