Inspiration Photos: Summer Work in the Country

Like many country kids, my summer is spent back in the country in a bid to earn some money to fund my studies (and life) for the rest of the year.

Usually I spend my time in the town in which my parents live so I have the opportunity to work as well as spending time with them. Being so removed from the city/study/fashion life which consumes the majority of my year, working in the country also seems to give me an interesting perspective on the world. It also acts as a fantastic inspiration for my conceptual and design work.

Since I left school in 2009 I have worked in a factory making farm equipment, in an office and also in a delivery job driving a truck all over the country side. This year I traveled further away from the city to a different town to work on a Merino Sheep Stud, something which acted as a fantastic reflection to my graduate collection 'A Life in Wool'.

Over the holidays I experienced the annual harvest, Chaser Bin driving for the Harvester as well as having a go at the Harvester my self. I also had the task of tending to sheep, feeding out grain and minerals as well as needling and drenching while in the yards. On the flip side, I lent my hand to catering for 12 workers and shearers over sheering, which lasted 6 days. Furthermore I spent a lot of time mustering sheep with a few dogs and a motorbike.

All of these experiences, and simply being out on the land, not only provided further perspective to life on the land but also a huge amount of inspiration. This I tried to capture moments whenever I could...

For more images and to catch up what I'm up to with fashion, Check out my Instagram at INK361 or follow @I_CordeliaGibbs

Cordy xx

A Life in Wool; Graduate Collection

The air is full of dust, suffocating heat glaring from the land and the structures build within. The dogs bark and the men shout along with the regular buzz of engine and clatter of sheep. The space is dotted with wool, a pungent smell of lanoline and ammonia sweep the floors. The workers are a flight of activity, movements repetitive and precise, amidst the disarray of tin, machine, pipe and wood.

Sheer Wool Imprint Skirt, Weatherboard Jacquard Knit Dress,
 rusted and darted Short  Stockman's Jacket. 
Accessorised with Shearing Comb neckpiece

Weatherboard Jacquard Knit Skirt, Sheer Wool Imprint Singlet, 
Sheer Wool Stain Singlet. Accessorised with Leather and Cog 
shearing hardware neckpiece.

Men's Square Wool Shorts and Lace Knit Singlet. 
Accessorised with Leather Magnet Belt and Leather 
Held Shearing Cutter Neckpiece.

Women's Square Wool Shorts with rust inserts, Lace Knit Jumper 

and Cotton/Silk Rusted Singlet (under). Accessorised with Spring Neckpiece

Men's Wool Worker Pants, Weatherboard Jacquard Knit Singlet 

and Darted Cotton Shirt. Accessorised with Felt Wool Worker Pouch 

and Leather Belt.

Women's Wool Worker Pants with Wax Treatment Panels, 

Cream Rib knit Cami (under), Brown Sheer Cotton Singlet 

and Darted Wool Shirt with Wax Treatment. 

Long Rusted Wool Stockman's Jacket and Lace Knit Dress.