ABBI TIPPETT TALKS WHISPER & WOLF

Behind the Coastline

You are reading an independently published interview-series published and carefully curated by Swedish pop-culture journalist Daniel John. Ever since its start in 2015, the core curiosity remains the same, surfing the creative currents of music, film, fashion and everything else on the pop-radar, catching the waves of culture as creative

Culture Coast TalksDaniel John

You are living in Australia now but you are originally from England so how did you end up “in the land down under”?

That's right! I am born and raised in the UK! My dad came travelling here as a teenager, and he fell in love with the place and the idea of Australia as his future home.

Have you always been a creative soul?

You see, growing up I had always been creative in whatever way it was, like collaging in books to making my own jewellery, pottery or tye-dying my t-shirts, and selling them in primary school, to now be where I am now, and starting my very own journey with an intimate label. I always wanted to be able to sew my own clothes but never had or found the patience to. Unfortunately that's a trait of an Aries, impatient!

I do believe any creative outlet will be a personal journey. Whether someone is writing a song or designing a lingerie set. To go from envisioning something, to creating it, it involves a lot. Where did Whisper & Wolf start?

I feel like people don't understand how much time, effort, love and dedication goes into one's piece, exactly like you said, it could be a song, painting or like in my circumstance, lingerie. I did struggle with body image and finding the comfortability of myself at a very young age, so I guess that played a massive role in why I chose to design lingerie. Being able to create a piece that helps comfort a woman in her beautiful figure is what brings me comfort. With Whisper & Wolf I want to create this community where women do not feel judged and where we can all empower each other as individuals and a community.

Aesthetically the attention to detail is just incredible, in a way that's rarely seen in lingerie, the 'Sienna' has this very tasteful, refined, gracefulness to it. It vibes off of old-school Hollywood in a way?

Well thank you! Yeah the 'Sienna' set really does have an old-school era vibe, that was my whole vibe inspired with this first piece. I envisioned women with silk gloves, pearls. Old cars. I'm sure you can get the envisionment! I just have this love for that particular style, that sixties-eighties classy but sexy underwear style.

What fabric did you use?

The ‘Sienna’ set is a polyester satin. Having started my brand at the age of eighteen years old and only working a casual working job I had to source the best possible fabric in my price range that worked so amazingly for the both of us, the ‘Sienna’ set fabric has such a beautiful shine through the fabric, providing elegance and class.

Did you go through a lot of samples before you got the set to be exactly how you wanted it to be?

As said before, I feel as if some people don't realise how much time and effort goes into one's art, so yes! Many samples! Whilst creating my first piece for the ‘Sienna’ set, I had around four or five different sample sets with different fabrics, shapes, straps, and cuts! 

Are those first samples still around somewhere?

I gave two of the samples away to friends, and I use the other ones for shoots, and things like that.

Do you have a favorite of the three colors available?

Honestly, I have been asked this so many times and I can never decide! I kinda switch up between the three of what color is my fave! (laughs) So its kinda a weekly thing.

Is the 'Sienna' set telling for the Whisper & Wolf-style going forward or will you keep exploring and draw inspiration from other, different things?

Whisper & Wolf has an angelic, fairy, y2k theme to it and i think that's definitely my vibe and I already have so many beautiful new samples yet to be released such as corsets, PJs, slip dresses, and so on!

Whether wearing a 'Sienna' set or any of the garments you will design in the future, what energy is it you want all the women wearing Whisper & Wolf to experience?

Whilst wearing one of my garments from Whisper & Wolf, I want to be able to create a safe, happy, sense of belonging, encouraging and empowering platform. At Whisper & Wolf it's in my best interest to help women feel as confident as they can feel in the things I create for them that hug their angelic figures. We are each unique individuals and we all carry so much beauty. Underwear plays a pretty big role in everyday life and I believe lingerie is the best way for a woman to feel sexy, elegant, fierce and not only that, but most importantly, comfort.