Natalie Knoll of Bird & Knoll
Welcome to our Inspiring Women in Australian Fashion and Art Series, and our conversation with the talented Natalie Knoll, Co-Founder of the Australian resortwear label, BIRD & KNOLL.
Natalie Knoll is Co-Founder of the Australian label BIRD AND KNOLL. Founded together with Macayla Chapman, it is a beautiful Australian independent luxury label offering the mindful woman mood elevating resort wear that injects escapism and romantic sensibility for a beautifully unique vacation style.
The genesis of a love of travel, fashion and soft natural textiles saw Natalie, together with Macayla, launch their eponymous brand in 2014. Their first offerings included a signature line of luxury scarves using the softest cashmere, silks and cottons as the “canvas” for their artistic photographic narratives of global destinations.
A focus on quality natural fibres rendered into a relaxed flow of flattering silhouettes, the design duo draw on their antipodean lifestyles to create a colourful offering of sophisticated and wearable pieces that take the wearer effortlessly from balmy vacations to everyday. Their collections are designed to flow easily from the beach, to lunch with friends, to sunset cocktails and beyond – feminine luxury with multi-tasking functionality.
How did it all begin for BIRD & KNOLL? What is your proudest moment in shaping this Australian label?
Bird and Knoll started as an accessory brand. We would (and still do) translate our digital imagery of iconic and exotic locations onto a “canvas” of cashmere and silk blends. In 2016 we segued into resortwear, wanting to offer our clients more for their vacation edits. Getting picked up by major international department stores such as Harvey Nichols and Bergdorf Goodman has been quite surreal!
Tell us about the women you love to work and collaborate with?
We are very fortunate to work with a dream team of creative women – from our brand consultants who have nurtured us over the past couple of years to the fabulously talented Nicole Bentley and Sara Smith, the creative force behind our campaign shoots, to our in house design and marketing team who keep us on track and real. Working with each and every one of these women is a joy and privilege.
What do you feel makes Australian designers and our fashion unique?
There is a certain laissez faire attitude that brings a freshness and lightness to the Australian design aesthetic. We are so lucky to live in a part of the world where we can really appreciate resort wear for so many months of the year. There is a casual and yet edgy approach to dressing here that is definitely tempered by our relaxed lifestyle and unlike many parts of the northern hemisphere, there has always been a strong crossover between what we wear in our downtime time or on vacation and what we may reach for everyday.
Thank you Natalie for sharing your conversation with THE INSPIRED CO.