Commas
You have a day job in property development, and in interest in architecture. What architects inspire you and how does property development inform your work?
Well, architecture is really about the spaces we live in, making them beautiful and functional in the cleverest way possible, so that we can naturally live our best lives within them. I think the same principles are applied across the board for design. You know, for me, I absolutely respect the artistry and expression in incredible couture and conceptual fashion, and I think it can convey meaningful messages, but I personally am more interested in fashion as it applies to our everyday lives. Sure, there’s an element of romanticism in the Commas aesthetic — the beautiful landscapes in our imagery, the escapism, the water, the sun, etc. — but it’s used to sell something that’s inherently functional.
Commas’ clothes are designed to look good, because looking good makes us feel good and confident and all of those things, but they’re also designed with function in mind — to be comfortable, to last whether you’re wearing them in the sun and surf or every day to work, to be trans-seasonal to an extent, and also to be classic enough that you could throw your white collared shirt over your shoulders when you get out of the water and then button it up before a meeting. As for property valuation, what I will miss most is being able to see behind closed doors into people’s inspiring living spaces. I loved meeting people, whose choice in furnishings could transport you somewhere whether it be their art collections hanging on their walls or ornaments from remote travel destinations.
A beach lifestyle is so prevalent here in Sydney and this part of the world especially. How does Commas translate to cities that are less preoccupied with the ocean?
Well, everyone takes a holiday now and then, and of course you can wear our swimwear in pools, too! But more importantly we’ve designed all of our clothes so that they’re not just about being in the water — I wear my linen robe when I get out of the shower and I wear the white cotton shirts to work (and actually I’ve had a lot of women buying them for work and holidays, too). I wear the flowing trousers around the house on Sunday, the tanks and shorts everywhere I go pretty much, and so on. They’re really clothes that are designed to be lived in and to make you feel good every day.
I like that a comma is a pause, and then a continuation of movement, and I feel like that describes the lifestyle of Commas well, a nod to a relaxed lifestyle but functional and athletic too. Is this what you had in mind for the name?
That’s exactly what I had in mind when I was conceptualising Commas and what the brand would mean, how it would be unique, what it would offer the world. Our lives get so busy these days — I personally would feel bombarded with emails, text messages, calls, meetings, etc. every day. And I missed my earlier years, when a whole day could revolve around a trip to the beach, you know? So, with Commas, I wanted something that effortlessly fit into the rest of my life, but also served as a reminder to drop by the beach on my way to work, or to turn my phone off on Sunday, or to sit in the sun for an hour. I hope that’s what Commas offers others, too.
Tell us about the ethos behind Commas, how it began and came to fruition.
I’d been studying a Master’s of Property Development in the design precinct of UTS, but I always found myself pulled to the university library where I’d pour over the architecture, fashion and art journals. I still wound up working in property valuation of course — you know, I have to pay my bills! — but I decided then and there that I was going to create something special, something that gave me the future I wanted and was actually important to me, and hopefully to others too. I spent what feels like forever researching, talking to people, writing notes, drawing designs, collecting reference images for the brand’s overall vision and for the design of particular garments, and eventually I felt ready to launch Commas.
The idea behind Commas really is to have this swim- and resortwear collection that we’re constantly evolving, to make it more beautiful and more functional, so that we’re eventually offering a complete wardrobe for every day of your life. We started with swimwear because what really drove me to start Commas was that I wanted to be the same person day-to-day that I was at the beach, or on holidays, and I couldn’t find menswear that reflected that idea. Ultimately, it’s a reminder to pause and catch your breath, to enjoy what sunshine you can, to get to the water whenever you can. As corny as it sounds — to stop and smell the roses…. And look decent while you’re doing it!
Are there particular moments in your life or elements of your background that really pushed you to create the label?
I’ve always been drawn to the beach. From a young age I was surfing and swimming pretty much every day I could, so it was important for me when creating Commas that it really feel authentic and capture the energy of the beach and that coastal lifestyle that I’ve grown up in and always felt inspired by. But then also to feel that energy when you’re running around in everyday life, so that you can always feel a bit rejuvenated, even if it’s just when you’re walking down the street and you’re wearing a great, light, comfortable cotton shirt.
My dad used to fill our homes with flowers from the local market every Sunday too, so I feel that the attraction to aestheticism — and filling your life with things that make you feel good — has really been instilled in me from a young age. There’s nothing like fresh flowers in the house, just like there’s nothing like putting something on that feels good, or conjures a memory of the beach, or that you feel great in whether you’re going to lunch by the beach on a sunny Sunday or heading to a meeting. I guess a lot of it comes down to feeling authentic, and in order to do that I’ve really had to draw on my own life experiences with confidence that others will connect with it.