Meet Ana, founder of ‘blu cosmos’
Between two mountains in a beautiful Valley, lives a girl with a van, bursting with a collection of carefully curated treasures from the yesteryear.
A childhood spent rummaging markets and op-shops, while reimagining trinkets and oddities, evolved into a creative outlet. A love for clothing with stories to tell and a deep respect for the earth that sustains us.
From floaty maxi dresses that groove and flow, to dancing bell bottoms that scream of the 70’s. The blu cosmos, bohemian like collection will take you on a trip, that will make you want to burn your bra and dance in the rain.
Meet Ana, the festival hopping, earth adoring, creative dancer and artist behind ethical vintage brand, blu cosmos…
Tell us a little about yourself Ana…
My name is Ana, I’m based in the Hunter Valley NSW Australia, literally in a valley between two beautiful mountains. When I’m not in the valley I’m travelling around Australia with my whole stall in the back of my van, bringing my sweet finds to markets and music/arts festivals; as far north as Woodford Folk festival QLD all the way across to WOMAD in SA.
I have always loved op shopping (thrifting) for as long as I can remember. My parents took me to markets and op shops when I was a kid. I remember studying all the little trinkets, oddities, treasures and dreaming up how I could create with them or simply reuse the item.
I started op-shopping for clothes as a young teenager. I loved the thrill of the hunt, the potential to chance upon something no one else has, whilst simultaneously being aware of its low impact on the environment. I have been op-shopping for over ten years and still love it to this day.
Before blu cosmos became my focus, I spent most of my time as an actor, dancer and artist. I studied acting for 2.5 years, fine art and dance therapy for a year. Dancing was my first love. So when I’m not thrifting I love to dance and draw.
Creativity is the foundation of my life, it makes me tick. I honestly don’t think I’m built for anything else! blu cosmos is simply another facet of my creative expression, now shared with others.
Why did you start blu cosmos?
Around 2015 I was living in Melbourne studying dance movement therapy. I was also involved in independent performance art shows. While living and pursuing the performance life was exciting and fulfilling, I craved having financial independence and consistency, which was difficult to attain being a performer. I wanted to create something that was able to support me and my creative endeavours.
I moved back to the Hunter and picked up selling the excess of my personal collection, just casually at markets and soon realised that this hobby and eye for well-made clothing had the potential to become a business. A business that not only supported me, but contributes to a more environmentally friendly planet!
It’s a well-known fact that clothing going to landfill is the second biggest polluter on our planet. By starting blu cosmos, a major motivator was to advocate for change in the way we purchase our clothing. To offer a sustainable alternative, whilst still maintaining style. There is so much incredible clothing out there already, and generally better quality than the bulk of what’s produced today, hence why it’s still around; ready for another life.
So basically, blu cosmos grew by accident, from a casual love for thrifting to the business it is today. I’m very proud of how it’s grown and am grateful for the beautiful community of ethical clothing lovers it has attracted.
How would you describe the blu cosmos aesthetic?
The blu cosmos aesthetic tends to reflect my own personal taste, which is broad and ever evolving as I change and go through life. Sometimes I wonder whether it would benefit the label to be more niche, but the feedback I get from people is really positive; mainly that I have a good eye. So I think I’m on track with delivering the goods!
Generally speaking you will find carefree, bohemian 1970’s maxi dresses, 1990’s style neutral staples, loud 1960’s pieces, to global embroidered treasures from the likes of India and the Middle-East.
Wherever I travel I’m on the look-out for interesting vintage / preloved clothing. It’s so special to bring back a piece of a particular place and share that with others, even better if it comes with a fascinating story I can pass on. I’m really into the 1970’s/Woodstock era aesthetic at the moment but you will find anything that speaks to me from 60’s-90’s, alongside well-made preloved designer pieces. I’m mostly drawn to natural fabric where possible. It’s so much better for our environment and lets your skin breathe.
Where do you draw your inspiration from?
The co-creation of a better and more sustainable world! We are force-fed, told by society/mainstream media that to be successful, desirable humans, we must be up to date with the latest trends (in a nutshell) which is simply untrue and is only a mechanism to coax us into consuming way more than we need. Then comes the next season and last season’s clothes are now irrelevant. It’s unhealthy for the earth and for us. That's why preloved/vintage is so important, not only does it keep fashion in circulation and out of landfill, but it encourages personal uniqueness in style.
I’m always inspired by women, from young to older who express themselves exactly how they want to, it’s about them expressing something from within and being true to themselves. There are no rules really, and that’s very liberating!
Style wise I’ve always loved the effortless beauty of Joni Mitchell, the clean casual cool of Jane Birken and the bold genderless unique world of David Bowie. I’m also inspired by the myriad of subcultures and individuals I come across on my travels, oh and my mum! She’s never been afraid to dress exactly how she feels. It’s never been about fashion for me, but rather timeless, personal expression.
Tell us about your most memorable ‘unicorn’ find on your thrifting adventures?
Oh, how to pick just one! There’s been so many exquisite pieces pass through my hands. I found some epic 90’s graphic Mambo overalls for a steal at a market once. Very rare to find these days. For those of you overseas, Mambo was an iconic Australian brand, popular in the mid 80’s and throughout the 90’s, known for their loud and unique graphics with a core team of around 15 artists. It has been said that Mambo was more of an art movement than a clothing brand. However they produced high quality super fun garments with great relaxed cuts.
Another piece that springs to mind was a beautiful 1980’s dusty pink lace and crochet shift dress, with drop shoulder sleeves, a regal Victorian-esque high neckline, falling into double layer tiers. Totally divine, likely made in heaven.
Nothing haunts us like the things we didn’t buy, tell us about the piece that ‘got away’?
I think in this business you have to become masterful in the art of restraint..and you know what, I think I’ve become much better at it than I used to be. There are so many beautiful pieces of clothing out there, but I tend to be pretty picky these days. I only pick what I feel truly suits me or a piece I know I’ll get a lot of wear out of. Having said that there’s definitely been a few regrets and moments of wishing I could travel back in time, to that moment and change my mind.
The hardest ones are when you’re travelling. There were a few beauties I found in the US a few years back that I would have loved to have squeezed into my suitcase. But alas, weight restrictions and lugging a beautiful coat around was just not a smart move. Specifically one of them would have to be this beautiful, 1960’s, emerald cotton, velvet dress found in a little vintage store in San Francisco.
What are your top tips for a successful day of thrifting?
If you haven’t delved into the art of thrifting before, a good place to start is by getting used to the idea that it’s a treasure hunt. Sometimes you can have wildly successful luck, then other times it can feel like you’ve been roaming through the desert thirsty for days with no oasis in sight.
The key is to find humble little op-shops in smaller towns. They’re less pretentious and generally have those wow-factor finds at reasonable prices. It’s also nice to support small initiatives.
My number one tip is pretty basic. Look through everything in the shop. You really have to scan everything to find something special, permitting it’s a small shop. If I’m short on time I usually just scan the racks from the outside, and over time you get pretty good at identifying quality fabrics and unique pieces, they just jump out at you.
What does the future hold for blu cosmos?
I’m not someone who’s ever really planned too far ahead, but I see some possibilities for exciting growth in the future. I’m also open to the unexpected twists and turns of life. As you grow as a person, so does the business. It teaches you a lot about yourself. How you manage life, how you deal with challenges, how you keep inspired and driven to move forward despite the testing times.
I’ll continue running my stall at music and art festivals around Australia, it’s really fulfilling/inspiring to be part of a wider community of artists. I’ll also continue running my stall at local markets as it’s important for me to have a real life shopping experience, as that’s how I prefer to shop. However, I’m also looking at expanding online so I can reach a broader audience and give those who aren’t geographically close, the opportunity to shop with me.
I have a few exciting photo shoots in the pipeline with some talented creatives. One for my next rare vintage collection and another for some silk duster jackets I designed and made here in Australia. I’m perpetually dreaming of sourcing magical unique pieces from overseas.
Other than that, keeping the wheel of sustainable fashion turning and I hope to continue to give people a sense of joy through clothing, encouraging their uniqueness through personal expression.
blu cosmos isn’t just a vintage shop, it’s an expression of creativity. A deep synchronicity and respect for the earth that can be recognised in each and every piece. So if effortlessly cool, bohemian vintage speaks to your soul, be sure to check out the beautiful, Australian vintage brand, that is blu cosmos.
You can follow Ana and blu cosmos on -
Instagram: @blu.cosmos
Website: blu cosmos