Company spotlight
Copyright The Steampunk Company, used with permission
The Steampunk Company is an Australian steampunk clothing company, set up in 2011 by Lisa Townsend. She sees steampunk as “the future that never happened, but still could” and with that kind of inspirational outlook on life, she designs her clothing to be able to be worn as everyday wear and not just for events or weekends out with fellow steampunks.
“The Steampunk Company aspires to help the new future happen here and now. Perhaps this future will consist of nothing but big showy parties – I sincerely hope at least part of it does – but in this world we also go to work, deal with aliens, plan world domination and have adventures. We need clothes for those moments too.”
Lisa Townsend, Steampunk Company owner. Copyright The Steampunk Company, used with permission
Lisa takes as much pride in the ethic of her company as she does in her designs. The clothes are made by a seamstress who is paid a proper wage and works in the Australian rainforest from a location that is 100% Solar power.
The aim of the company is to make clothing that will last: “Everything is designed to serve and enhance you for a lifetime, thereby reducing waste and landfill. It also gives you spare finances for fabulous accoutrements, which we also commission from local steampunk makers.”
Copyright The Steampunk Company, used with permission
Copyright The Steampunk Company, used with permission
In fact, everything that Lisa uses – even down to the models for her interesting steampunk shoots – is locally sourced. “Our beautiful models are local girls and they love steampunk too. We’re located at the heart of a triangle that covers Byron Bay (the bohemian capital of Oz), Nimbin (the hippy capital of Oz) and the Gold Coast, which is home of the beach girls. In between these influences is an Art Deco town of 7000 with a beautiful river, a magic mountain covered in rainforest and some of the best beaches in Australia.”
Lisa sees her biggest inspiration as Lily Langtry; “She managed to conquer London and win the heart of a King with only one black dress. Duchesses would stand on chairs to catch a glimpse her.” Although she admits that she has a soft spot for our very own friend of the Journal; Professor Elemental.
For more information on The Steampunk Company, you can visit their Facebook page here: The Steampunk Company Facebook page
Filed under: Articles - Company Spotlight Tagged: Art, Arts, Arts and Entertainment, Australia, Clothing, Goggle, gold coast, H. G. Wells, hg Wells, Invention, Jules Verne, Literature, Photography, rainforest, Recreation, sci-fi, science fiction, Steampunk, victorian, Victorian era, victorian science fiction, victoriana
