From a personal Instagram selling knitwear to friends and family to what is now an established clothing brand, Natalie Robb is rising to be a crocheting maestro.
Robb was hooked from the get-go, finding calmness and pleasure in providing a unique piece of knitwear to a friend. Quickly, the chatter grew within her circle, and all her friends wanted one. As the social media presence grew, people, far and wide, were reaching out, resulting in Robb going public with it.
The inspiration for Amelie was Robb's close-knit friends and family, who remain supportive in all her endeavours.
"I've been able to work with quite a few friends and family. They're such a big inspiration for me. I constantly get sent ideas to try, and I love it," said Robb.
Having spent around ten years in the sustainability sector as a day job, Robb ensures to invest in quality yarn that produces timeless and durable pieces.
Alongside this comes creating the right image for the right piece. It involves taking photos that give it justice, ensuring Robb is thrilled with the look, and reflecting the brand ideology of inclusivity.
As an idea for the future, Robb intends to broaden her clothing range to include pieces that can be worn and appreciated by people of different ages, genders, and sizes.
After spending time overseas in Berlin, Robb has returned with an added source of inspiration alongside a suitcase full of yarn.
Exposure to various yarns from different countries provides another layer of creativity for the designer, enabling her to produce unique pieces.
"I love to look around me and be inspired by people, colours, my environment. I've noticed recently how much of an influence a change of environment has had on my creativity since moving home to Aotearoa from Berlin," said Robb.
Robb has treasured her time in the fashion world and finds joy in meeting people from various backgrounds, creating a widened support network and a plethora of opportunities.
Moving forward, Robb intends to reserve more time to work on new ideas and create complete transparency in her supply chain by learning to spin her yarn.
Robb passionately said, "I also want to work on the inclusivity of my brand, showing it is accessible to all ages, genders, and sizes."
