Ethical clothing advocate Deeandra Bulner 

Diminutive  Deeandra Bulner has a flair for creating quirky jewellery, clothing and various other adornments in an ethical and sustainable manner. Each of Deeandra’s creations are designed to make a statement. A huge fan of upcycling what others see as waste Deeandra sees it as potential to develop into various items of jewellery or other accessories which she sells under her brand name of Minnie.

Almost all her designs are one offs as the brand is all about designing and creating bespoke quirky yet fashionable merchandise. The products also incorporate the use of local crafts and local fabrics. A brand that is completely homemade and handmade, Minnie is a great example of how one woman’s vision can turn various  materials in to wearable creations of beauty.

What is the concept behind Minnie?

Minnie is a tiny project that I gifted to myself and it escalated from there. The concept behind Minnie is to design and create whatever I like and whatever I can and have people appreciate it.

Where do source your inspiration from?

Unfortunately, I'm not easily inspired and I don't look to source it from anywhere, if and when it happens I am well pleased. But mainly, I think it's the ability to create something out of nothing that inspires me. I have a knack for seeing potential in the strangest faces and materials. When I shop, I hardly ever buy something to wear it as it is. I sort of foresee what it could be and then run home and rip it up and create my own version of how it should be.

What makes your brand different from other brands?

I think it's the fact that everything I make are just one off pieces. If someone purchases something that person is the only who will ever have it. Thus, it has a touch of exclusivity to it. Plus it's handmade, affordable and the unusual materials it has been fashioned out of gives it a fresh look.

How do you retail your products?

Currently it is all done through my Facebook page and it's proved to be fairly successful. All the products are online. However, I always use any opportunity I get to take park in the design market or at pop-up-stores. It's always better for the consumer to look at the products, try them on, and have me assist them through the pick and choose stage of shopping.

How do you maintain your competitive edge?

In general, I am very competitive but I think with any form of art or design I immerse myself in, I tend to lose fragments of that trait. Making sure that 'Minnie' generates greater sales and margins or retains more customers than my competitors is really not something I put all my focus into. However, I think that using unusual materials to create wearable art is my forte and the fact that my creations are one off pieces forms the basis of my competitive edge.

Where do you find your “raw materials” from?

I don't have a particular place I go to. I just roam about, hunting them down one shop at a time.

What is your creative process when fashioning new items?

I've qualified as a professional procrastinator, so my process is fairly long. However, when I get started I have a good look and feel at the materials lying in front of me and it just comes together. I try to improvise and devise new techniques before I decide on the final look of it. Everything is an experiment and a guessing game.

How does designing with recycled items influence your aesthetic?

I think it makes a positive contribution to it. It appeals to the more socially conscious person. Not everything I make is made out of recycled items but I make attempts to do what I can. I think any one who is creating anything needs to try to incorporate elements of ethical trade and design. I think people get confused when they get into ethical design, they go out of their way to make it look very rough and tough, mismatching various materials which is irritating to look at.I try really hard not to make it look like its been recycled or upcycled and compromise the  design. I'm not sure if that's the way to go but that's how I do it.

What are the future plans for your label?

I would love to literally design and make everything from furniture to soaps to socks (I have too large a list to mention here). I think the practical plan would be to have a store but let's see. My mind is ever-changing so lets see what the future holds.

By Tina Edward Gunawardhana
Photographs by Nisal Baduge