I recently had the chance to catch up with the ever inspiring Chantelle Cox, beauty and brains behind Haut Boheme and her love child label, F A R R O N.
We chatted personal style icons, social media, and what it’s like fostering a new label while chasing your dreams to an island paradise.
||
TJP: I’ve read that you want to empower women through their clothing… How does the way you dress influence the way you feel?
CC: For me, my clothing & accessories are more like an armour I get to put on each day to go to battle with the big bad world. (haha) F A R R O N is an extension of how I want clothes to make me feel (a modern day warrior) STRONG! Being able to extend that feeling onto others is what it’s all about.
TJP: In relation, how do you think your designs and personal style influence others?
CC: The easiest way to describe how it influences my style & how I dress is like the feeling you get when you put on your highest heels. You stand taller, you walk stronger and you feel like you can take on anything that’s thrown your way.
TJP: What I loved most about the shop front itself (and the pop up store) were the natural elements included in the decor, and the texture of the fabrics featured in the garments stocked. (I’m a sucker for textured designs)
The two complemented each other so effortlessly… How did the garments inspire the shop space?
CC: Thank you!! I am the BIGGEST sucker for texture! For the interior of both spaces I wanted to create a visual expression of what Haut Boheme means to me. Natural elements were always going to be a must but with touches of opulence & luxe that would impress a tribal Queen. Hints of gold, sand, and shell (the jewels of the sea!).
It was so important to make the house of F A R R O N feel like a home, not only for the brand itself but also a haven for our customers. Putting my blood sweat & tears into both elements allowed my customers to really feel the brand’s identity.
TJP: You mentioned you’d be interested in doing interior/ lifestyle products sometime down the track? (I’ve got my fingers crossed!)
CC: YESS!! Working on a few small things at the moment but definitely intend on making home wares a massive part of Haut Boheme.
TJP: What kind of bits and pieces could we expect?
CC: The question should be “what shouldn’t you expect to see?!” B E . A F R A I D. Planning on taking over your wardrobes and your homes eventually… (haha)
TJP: I’m sure it was very hard to say goodbye to your store space in Winn Lane… How did you feel moving on from your first space?
CC: (haha) Oh God! I was so emotional! It was this battle of happy one minute & so excited for the new venture… next minute I was standing in the middle of the store crying my eyes out. In all honesty though it was like the universe was on my side the entire way, the lease was up at Winn, I was offered James St so got to be apart of the buzz down there for the Christmas trade. That led me to make the decision for my move overseas to focus all my attention on my love child and the baby of my two worlds F A R R O N this year.
TJP: Do you plan to open another boutique some time in the future? (And, in the meantime can we still shop your gorgeous F A R R O N pieces elsewhere/ online?)
CC: The next 12 months is really about nurturing the growth of F A R R O N and giving it everything a one year old label needs to grow and succeed in this industry. More stores are a definite, but for now a Brisbane & Sydney Pop up are being planned for June.
TJP: After F A R R O N came about, you opened (and closed) Haut Boheme, celebrated it’s first birthday and now you’re about to move to an island paradise?
CC: (haha) I’m not one to do things in halves! This year has been an adventure but I’m writing to you from my Island Paradise, as I type & life could not be better!
TJP: Was this your goal from the get go? Or do you prefer rolling with the punches along the way?
CC: It’s something I said I was always going to do, but never knew it would be so soon. I’m just walking my path in the direction that feels right to me.
TJP: Has the progression been as easy as it may have looked from the outside in? As, you mentioned, you’re certainly not one for half measures?
CC: (haha) No! But I knew what I wanted and so I chose to just wing it & see where it took me. I’m a one man band so working 7 days in store / & 7 nights living & breathing F A R R O N | Haut Boheme & trying to manage my social life in between…
TJP: Where do you think your passionate attitude came from?
CC: As cliché as this may sound, my Mumma. From as young as I can remember she told me I could have the world if I was willing to work hard enough to get it, so I’m just doing what I’ve always known and getting rewarded with my dreams becoming my reality.
TJP: I’m sure, as expected, there were probably a few hiccups along the way… What kept you going through those and what keeps you moving forward now?
CC: If there weren’t bumps in the road than it wouldn’t be real would it? I would be lying if I said that there hadn’t been times where I’ve thought, “What the F#@K are you doing Chantelle?” But my theory is you can sink or swim, so I choose to just keep swimming.
TJP: Most small businesses struggle in their first year, but Haut Boheme and F A R R O N went from strength to strength.
Apart from the obvious hard work and incredible love you have for your work, what else do you think you did differently in creating your success?
CC: Oh, there has been struggle! But I made a promise to myself at the start to stay true to my vision. I just feel so blessed to have had the support that I have had. Haut Boheme & F A R R O N wouldn’t be where they are today without our beautiful customers. It is because of them that I can continue to go to work every day & do something I LOVE and I can never thank them enough for that.
TJP: Your Instagram (and Tumblr) is a constant source of inspiration for me personally! You always post the most incredibly dreamy pictures…
How do you think instagram (and social media) influences the path of your business?
CC: My accounts are like my personal visual diary (Tumblr more so) for all to see a snippet / insight into my world & what makes my heart tick.
Ahh the power of social media! I still, am constantly shocked at its strength. A MASSIVE THANK YOU GOES TO INSTAGRAM! It is because of instagram, that my small but growing label is now on the backs of babes all over the world. Mexico, Greece, USA, Spain & Italy are just a few places that some of our pieces have been given new homes!
TJP: What are your favourite instagram accounts to follow?
CC: @wolfcubwolfcub
Are probably the accounts I repost from the most!
TJP: Who do you look to for style/ fashion advice?
CC: My ultimate style crushes easily go to Carine Roitfeld, Emmanuelle Alt & Christine Centenera. Power force women with wardrobes to envy!
a d v i c e- just because it fits doesn’t mean it looks good!… always dress for YOUR body.
TJP: And, of course, what does the near (and far) future hold for you, Haut Boheme and
F A R R O N?
CC: I wish I knew the answers to that!
For me – To always put my happiness over anything, we only have one life and I want the stories for my gran babies to be stellar.
For Haut boheme | F A R R O N – Knowing that success doesn’t come to you, you go to it! So I’ll continue to keep reminding myself why I started, so I never stop fighting for it.
– coming to somewhere around the world near you soon –
xx
Visit F A R R O N + Haut Boheme on facebook | instagram | tumblr
T x
The Bedlamite Times 