ETERNA COLLECTION 2024

The Story Behind the Collection

My mission is simple: to create exquisite, ethically-sourced wool garments, crafted with love by talented local artisans. I am so grateful to each of the truly talented people who helped bring this collection to life. Nan Bray from White Gum Wool and the artisans and craftspeople each understood what I was trying to achieve and collaborated to create this vision. 

Everything in the Eterna collection - from Farm to Fibre to Fashion - is made of superfine, angelically soft, Tasmanian Merino wool. This wool is ethical, sustainable and traceable and comes from White Gum Wool run by the visionary Nan Bray on her farm in Oatlands Tasmania. The farm is maintained on the principles of regeneration, biodiversity and abundance. The sheep are happy, non mulesed and graze on a diverse range of native weeds and grasses. 

It took 122, 794 stitches to create the dress featured in this image, which has been made in two colourways. Felicity Dawson, of Hobart professional textile artist and hand knitter, handmade ‘Elysia’ the white dress in the images featured. And Marilyn Theisel of Launceston also a professional hand knitter created ‘Seraphine’ the other dress in the collection.

The petite ‘Eterna’ handbag has been made by Hobart textile artist Lucy Ward who exceeded my expectations of what we could create. It took collaboration and workshopping, and I just love the two beautiful handbags which were handmade in the same colourways and wool as the dresses. 

Hanging from the handle of the handbag are small crochet versions of a tiny threatened species of orchid called the Grassland Greenwood. This little orchid is endemic to Tasmania and is occasionally found on Nan Bray’s farm in Oatlands. 

The special thing about the crochet orchids is that they are made of the same wool where these orchids are spotted. They also represent biodiversity, a very important topic in the current state of fashion. These beautiful orchids were created by a woman called Anne a crochet artist in Battery Point Hobart. She quickly and skilfully turned the image of the orchids into 3D. 

The Eterna collection debuted on the runway at the Porsche Tasmanian Fashion Festival on Saturday, September 9, 2023 at PW1 in Hobart, Tasmania. 

THE FARM

Lalita Lowe is working with the world famous Tasmanian wool producer, Nan Bray, of White Gum Wool. Nan Bray’s farm is well known for creating highly sought after ethical, traceable wool which relates to the genetics of the sheep, their nutrition, the ethics of their care and the cohesive social structure of the flock, all of which contribute to extraordinarily high quality merino wool.

THE FIBRE

Tasmania produces the finest wool compared to other Australian states and therefore has the highest average value per bale. Sustainable, Ethical and Superfine yarn - NewMerino® Chain of Custody is an independent audit system that certifies Nan Bray’s production system as sustainable, using holistic management guidelines, and also traces the journey of her yarn from the farm, through scouring by Canterbury Wool Scourers and milling by Design Spun.

THE FASHION

Lalita Lowe, a classically trained designer who launched her first range in 2022, designed the pieces to take into consideration the unique nature of the White Gum merino wool. In a world of fast fashion, Lalita Lowe is on a mission to produce high quality garments that are sustainable, with hand made qualities, that utilise skills of what can only be called true artisans.

The Impact

By choosing one of these pieces, you are purchasing more than just a garment or accessory; you are making a tangible difference in the lives of individuals and communities. Here's how your contribution will impact various stakeholders along the journey:

1. Farmers: Your support helps sustain ethical farming practices, ensuring fair compensation for farmers while promoting sustainable land management.

2. Sheep: By choosing ethical wool, we prioritize the welfare of the sheep. Your contribution supports better living conditions and proper care for these animals.

3. Artisans: Your contribution empowers local knitters and supports the preservation of traditional craftsmanship. It provides them with fair wages and dignified working conditions.

4. Local Communities: I believe in the power of community. By sourcing wool locally and collaborating with nearby artisans, we stimulate economic growth and foster a sense of pride in the communities we work with.

5. Environment: Sustainable fashion choices contribute to a healthier planet. By purchasing one of the pieces from this collectiion and supporting this campaign, you actively promote conscious consumption, reducing waste, and lowering the carbon footprint of the fashion industry.

purchase your limited edition piece from the eterna collection

Each piece in the collection is available to order and will be custom made from a palette in the White Gum Wool collection. By purchasing one of these exquisite pieces you become an advocate for sustainable, ethical, traceable fashion, encouraging others to follow suit.

Together, we can choose a considered approach to fashion and empower local artisans, protect animal welfare, and promote sustainable practices in the fashion industry. Let's rewind the pace of fashion, one stitch at a time.

With gratitude, Lalita Lowe