Style with a Cause
A local boutique owner has dedicated her life to working for a cause. From community and family support services to fashion that favours the planet. Carlie Wacker meets a stylish lady leading the local sustainable fashion movement.
Diana Schwarz has had an intrinsic drive to find work in areas of life that champion change, her foray into fashion is no different. Diana has had a diverse background in project management and preventive education for community legal centres, universities, prisons, sex workers, adolescents and many other industries. With a love for fashion Diana was a positive personal presentation role model for those she worked with. At a turning point in her career, she completed colour and design courses and quickly transitioned into a new cause – style that serves the planet.
Sustainable fashion is one of the most exciting new chapters for the clothing and textile industries as it forces us to be more discerning and unique in how we dress ourselves and decorate our homes.
After working casually with Virginie (the former owner of Ma Petite Boutique) Diana loved it so much she bought the business and has gone on to include preloved homewares.
“Since taking over Ma Petite at the beginning of the year, I have created a more modern look with fixtures and fittings and in keeping with the natural environment of Noosa,” Diana says.
Ma Petite is a preloved fashion and homewares boutique in Noosa Junction where clients can sell their used clothing and home décor and shoppers can pick up quality and brand-name goods at a fraction of what they would sell for new.
Diana goes on to share the importance of managing waste and how that affects climate change.
“The best bit about shopping preloved fashion is that you know you will be wearing something that is unique and not hanging on the rack of every second boutique,” she said. “Plus you are contributing to the reduction of the fast fashion industry that is damaging to the planet and people.”
It really is about buying quality and longevity and not participating in a throwaway society but reusing and repurposing items of quality.
The same can be said for preloved homewares, antiques, vintage home décor and furniture. That’s what we call SLOW HOME FASHION!
By seeking out quality preloved goods in every part of life, we are on the path to becoming more conscious consumers. It is a win for the people and the planet.
The same personal and home styling service exists in a preloved designer boutique and Diana has the style and expertise to guide you through the preloved buying and selling experience.
“My advice is to dress and decorate for your own style, know what colours suit you and your home and if you are unsure ask my advice because based on discussion with you, I will seek the pieces in our shop that I think may suit,” Diana adds.
If you have designer clothes taking precious space in your wardrobe, Diana encourages you to drop in with a small number of items. Your clothes are then on consignment and payment once sold, will be made at the end of each month.
“Currently I am looking for transeasonal pieces and shoes” says Diana. “Some funky one-off pieces are also good.”
What are you waiting for? See Diana at Ma Petite and make a positive difference by choosing pre-loved homewares or fashion or offering the treasures you no longer need to be loved by someone new.
