We know isolation can get a little lonely.

In honour of staying home, we’ve decided to take some time to chat (via the internet) to some of our favourite creatives to find out how they are dealing with this very new and strange state of being.

Meg Wilcher is the creative director, founder and one-woman operator of Après Studio, a Melbourne based, small scale fashion brand that prides itself on being independently run and operated since 2017. Known for its quirky designs and flirty silhouettes (my personal favourite being the Black Bow Dress), Après Studio has well and truly solidified itself as a ethical, innovative and fashion forward powerhouse.

I had the chance to speak to Meg to learn a little bit about the brand itself, how they operate and to find out how she’s been dealing with the trials and tribulations of social isolation.

Each of your pieces boasts a high quality and uniqueness that only comes from small batch production. Other than aesthetics, why does Après continue to release trans-seasonal limited collections?
I believe in quality over quantity. I am a one person owned and operated biz so it seems out of my reach to be developing large collections whilst still having a handle on quality and fit and the finer details that allow me to fall in love with clothing. I wanna make sure Après is always nailing that shit. Myself and so many others travel inter state and internationally (pre-COVID) in this modern day and age, so it was important to develop pieces we could wear in all weather.

You describe having a 'first-hand' friendship with your producers, can you explain this further?
I spend a lot of time overseas with my factories and makers. I am Melbourne based but spent 80% of 2019 overseas for work! It's very important for me to show face and work with my manufacturers on perfecting and executing the collections. I have worked with all of my makers for over 5 years now! Our loyalties to one another often extend beyond business and into some special friendships.

Recently, the industry had been turned on its head, how is Après adapted to the new market?
Sometimes I feel like I am a chameleon on a rollercoaster in this industry! Always adapting, changing, fitting in and experiencing high highs and low lows. One season can make or break you! We had a big sale to ease up some of the financial pressures that COVID has encouraged. I am defining and refining pieces to launch into the future and ensuring I am not over designing unnecessary bits that don't serve both purpose as well as aesthetic which riffs back to our promise to be as kind to the environment as we can.

“You only make a plan A to make way for a better plan B, right?”

Are you still designing at this time? If so, how is this process different to other collections?
Yeah, funnily enough I am feeling super creative. I'm pretty immersed in the design bubble right now. COVID has allowed me to spend more time designing as I don't feel like I am falling behind on other biz fronts due to the whole world slowing down. I am really immersing myself in new areas of my creative process that I haven't previously allowed time for in my design schedule like hand sketching prints myself instead of giving my graphic designer mates a funny whacked together brief to decipher! It’s been fun.

Walk us through your daily routine and how it’s changed.
I usually get up at 6AM. Instead of going to a physical class, I have been rotating between home workouts.I now rotate between Hustl (an online pilates Hiit style class), boxing in the park with my housemate or online yoga and meditation run by my beautiful sister!
I am lucky enough to still access my small office that I share with my beautiful friends Aimee Cherie intimates and Palm Swim! The girls are working from home so I have the office to myself. It is just a short stroll from my home in Fitzroy North. I am usually overseas working on other brands developments as well as my own, so it is so beautiful to get to know the city of Melbourne and create some healthy routines. It is really helping me facilitate some much needed consistencies and allowing me to properly immerse myself in Après design and development and give my first born baby the attention she deserves!
No matter where I am in the world, moving my body, eating good food, listening to music and creating things for others to enjoy are super important things for my sanity!

How have you been staying sane during isolation?
LOTS of exercise, trying to adapt to and create a new routine, reading, meditating, speaking with my beautiful sisters and parents and when I am feeling a little cooped up having a big giant walk with my best friend.

What does your ideal WFH outfit look like?
I have been living in our linen cotton jersey maxi dresses. They're soooo soft and loungy and great in all weather. If I wanna feel more biz I wear with a blazer and a boot or relaxing I wear with socks, slides and a big oversized hoodie! I am always wearing my Après pieces paired with some vintage denim or tees, some Nike activewear or some organic Nagnata pieces also! They're for sure my staples.

Give us your isolation recommendations; what have you been reading, watching, listening to, eating?
OOO good question.

READ: I’d recommend FLOW by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi -THE KEY TO UNLOCKING MEANING, CREATIVITY, PEAK PERFORMANCE, AND TRUE HAPPINESS. I’ve also been swapping books with a bestie via post and she sent me Operation Playboy by Kathryn Bonella.

WATCH: Sex Education on Netflix - an incredibly orchestrated, lighthearted and relatable series. Also the M.I.A documentary (MATANGI / MYA / MIA) about her journey from refugee immigrant to pop star.

LISTEN: I have a pretty eclectic music taste. My go to's when I need some new music are; Reverberation Radio, NTS radio and Hope St Radio.

EAT: I am a pretty healthy eater. I adore food almost more than clothing! Always cooking up some eggys and avo in the AM, some protein collagen banana shake with greens and nuts and heaps of coffee between during the day and some predominantly vegetable based dinner. I love cooking with strong flavours particularly Japanese and Indian influences. Food that makes me feel something, haha! I’m always going without sugar or gluten where possible but my biggest weakness is choccy!

What’s something you’ve learned during this time? This could be a new skill or simply something you’ve learned about yourself.
Always learning to be as soft and understanding with myself as I am with others. I don't often go slow or allow myself time to rest and properly do nothing. Trying to integrate some more pockets of doing nothing during COVID. Learned to tie dye and set using natural processes / things already in my home! Did some tie dye using avo seeds, tea and turmeric (baby pink, brown and mustard) and set it with salt and vinegar! I am always creating.

Find Meg’s design handiwork on Instagram @aprestudio or purchase your own Après Studio piece online here.

The Isolation Diaries: Meg Wilcher