Tell us about yourself and how Margot Design began.
The concept took shape while I was living in Melbourne, overseeing the design direction of Warwick Fabrics. I was spending a huge amount of time travelling to manufacturers and other countries for trend research. What struck me was that Australia has its own distinct aesthetic and lifestyle needs — I wanted to design specifically for our antipodean way of life, not follow what other countries were doing. I wanted Margot Design to express who we are as Australians: our lifestyle, our relationship to this country and its history. I began working on my first collection before moving back to Sydney, desperately missing the city, its colours, its warmth, its summers.
Where does your creative inspiration come from, and what drives each collection?
I come from a family of embroiderers, knitters and textile lovers. My grandmother, mother and aunt were all enormously talented and taught me everything — textiles have always been my creative language. Every design has something it wants to express about being Australian: a sense of place, a season, a feeling, a design period. That thread runs through everything I make. At the moment I'm also diving into the life of my great-grandmother, an early Australian ceramicist whose work is full of native flora and fauna motifs — she's become an incredible source of inspiration.
How has your background in art history shaped your approach to design?
It has given me an instinct to always seek out references and links between art and broader history, along with a deep appreciation for how art and design capture the spirit of a place and a moment in time. I'm constantly looking for those connections.
Sustainability and ethical production are central to your practice. How do these values show up in your work?
They're paramount in every decision I make — who I work with and how I do it. I've spent a great deal of time researching the right partners, people and makers who truly align with my values. It matters deeply to me.
Was there a defining moment that pushed you to start your own label?
Returning to Sydney after five years away. I was so excited to be home, back in this city I love so much, and I felt a real desire to share that with the world. To celebrate who we are as Australians through design.
What does being part of the Opera House Uncovered program mean to you?
I feel genuinely honoured. To have an institution like the Opera House in my home city actively supporting designers and artists is something to be treasured. I loved the Opera House before, but I love it even more now.
