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We are so excited to welcome Hey Laidy to our maker profiles! Grab yourself a cuppa and a sweet little treat and get ready to meet Laidy Byrne....
Tell us about yourself and what you do at the Emu Plains Market
Hey Laidy is a brand built on the philosophy of quality over quantity. In a world dominated by fast fashion, Hey Laidy products aren’t influenced by trends. I create limited edition handcrafted guitar straps, camera straps, bag/purse straps and belts. The hero of these vintage inspired designs is the eco-friendly hemp webbing and beautiful vintage and modern jacquard ribbons. Uncompromising on comfort and style these environmentally conscious pieces are made in small batches in my home studio in Tyabb on theMornington Peninsula.
When did you first know you wanted to be creative?
I had my first market stall as a teenager in the 90s selling hand dyed petticoats which were all the rage. I also loved to turn my opp shop sourced trousers in to flares by modifying the legs with cool vintage materials. Since then I have never stopped collecting vintage materials and trims, always with great plans to one day turn them in to something fabulous. Needless to say I have a rather large collection of vintage materials waiting for their chance at a second life.
Describe your perfect day...
Give me a hot balmy day listening to great music with friends and enjoying an icy cold beer.
What is your best ever creative moment?
I am most proud of my Hey Laidy straps which evolved from a desire to do something creative and have some 'me' time after the birth of my daughter in 2014.
Describe a lesson you learnt from a creative failure...
I have made many mistakes with so many of my creative projects over the years. I guess the main thing I have learnt is if you enjoy doing something, making a mistake is no reason to give up. Learn from your mistakes and move on.
What's the scariest movie you have ever seen?
Oohh, this is a tough one! I love a good suspense thriller soI would probably have to go back to the horror movies I watched as a child.Something like Children Of The Corn or The Birds by Alfred Hitchcock.
What’s the best advice anyone ever gave you?
Buy the damn shoes!
What's your favourite tunes to get you in the creative mood?
I have a rather eclectic taste in music. So depending on my mood and the weather you could find me listening to The Band, Lenny Kravitz, Holly Golightly or Rancid!
What do you love most about the EPM/LB?
The venue is by far my favourite for an outdoor market and there is a wonderfully supportive community of stallholders that I have gotten to know over the years.
Where do you see your business in the next 5 years?
I am hoping to add another couple of items to my core range (watch this space!) and building a website is on the top of my to do list. In five years time I hope to have increased my retail sales to the point that I can rely on this as my full time gig.
Beautiful pics by Janis House Photography @janisalwayshashercamera
