Our story
Joyful living
Inspired by three remarkable women, we use fashion as a vehicle to start conversation and spread joy.
Madeleine Simmons and Emma Bond
About your designer
Emma Bond’s educational background and extensive work experience formed a launchpad for her foray into the fashion industry. She grew up on a farm in northern New South Wales, with her mother, grandmothers and great-grandmother all being role models.
Emma’s credentials are impressive; not only has she studied fashion design, but she has also ventured into education, which has led to a successful teaching career. As well as Fashion industry skills she holds a Bachelor of Fine Art and Bachelor of Education (Secondary) from The University of Newcastle. Studying, travelling, meeting clothing manufacturers and teaching fashion design helped her acquire foundational knowledge of garment construction prior to starting her label. Emma delivers courses in fashion and liaises with local Gold Coast schools to write their fashion programs, which she sees as a constant learning opportunity.
Emma teaching Fashion Illustration at The Calile, Brisbane.
Madi & Pip
Emma’s family members, love for fashion and research motivated her to start Madi & Pip. She noticed that there is a lack of elegant crafted clothing that is designed for usability, and minimal garments designed to be inclusive to people of a range of abilities. Emma set out to create beautiful, fashionable pieces; highlighting that inclusive design is good for everyone. She discerned the products that were already in the marketplace, as well as price points and quality. An article by the CEO of Startup Prep (test prep and admissions counselling boutique) asserts that a business idea comes from recognizing and resolving a consumer challenge or realizing one can fill a void (O’Connor 2013). Most female entrepreneurs start their own business to follow their passion and find meaning to life (Castrillon 2019).
Our Madi & Pip
Emma loved to sew as a child and was inspired by her mother, Madeleine, and grandmother, Philomena’s resilience, kindness & creativity growing up on their farm. Both her mother, and grandmother are able to craft their own garments, and Philomena is skilled at spinning and knitting merino wool (usually from her own flock). Madeleine had the creativity to visualise and create Emma’s ridiculous ideas growing up, creating her a truly outrageous wardrobe and array of dance costumes! Philomena has crafted a great many dresses for herself, and her seven daughters, all of which are superb! Each is so elegant and beautifully crafted, when worn by Emma’s aunties today they still look so chic and relevant; despite having been crafted decades earlier! Emma always has a big love of Philomena's colourful cotton day dresses; which is why she applies vast attention to detail to both her evening and day garments- as it is often a favourite cotton dress that will become the wardrobe favourite and epitome of elegance.
Madeleine Simmons, our “Madi”
Philomena Simmons at centre, surrounded by four of her children. Philomena is the “Pip” of our label.
The second Madi that inspired the label was Emma’s great-grandmother Madeleine Jondeau, who worked at the House of Worth, (known for its haute couture fashion) before arriving in Sydney.
Madeleine Jondeau
“Ladies who admire the influence of the French art in the domain of dress - and their number is legion - will appreciate the announcement that Mademoiselle Jondeau, formerly with well-known House of Paquin and Worth, London and Paris has joined the staff at Farmer and Company Limited, Pitt Street, Sydney, as a French fitter in their made-to-order dress department. ”
The opening of this text is an excerpt from Soma Kochak’s report Fashion Entrepreneur. Read the full report here.
Soma Kochak
Living on the Gold Coast since childhood, Soma studied a Bachelor of Business with a marketing major at Griffith University. She is currently completing a Master of Fashion (Entrepreneurship) at RMIT University and will specialise in marketing and public relations. Soma volunteered at Gold Coast Fashion Week and the upcoming Ravishing Fashionistas Fashion Show in August. She loves reading, music, animals and of course, fashion.
