Photographer: Matthew Webb

Makeup: Pieta Gregory for MAC

Hair: Emma Hill for Label-M

Photographers Assistant: Gary Gee

Makeup Assistant: Anja

Models: Amanda, Eve, Eliza and Lindsay @ Priscilla’s

Since a young age, Sydney designer Emilie Cacace has felt compelled to design. As a girl she’d stand in front of the mirror twisting and knotting her towel around her body, a prelude to her work as a designer years later. After spending four years designing prints for her mother’s company, Think Positive Designer Prints, Emilie’s launched her own label, Andéol. Her specialty is beautiful digitally printed scarves, which she describes using three words: “Colourful, psychedelic, fun!”

We ask what inspires her love of design, and after some thought she answers. “Difference. Discovering new things and new places, meeting and learning to understand new people and new ways of being.” Indeed, the thrill of the hunt is a driving force for Emilie. She loves antique and vintage stores, and gets her kicks from finding one-off pieces that compliment her style. It comes down to the feeling of being so “lucky to have found something before anyone else.”

Last year, Emilie’s innate urge to discover and explore the world took her all the way to the lush tropical rainforests of Guatemala. “It was more that I could have ever envisioned. It was beautiful, rustic, sophisticated, so different and so full of love,” she describes. “I also photographed my current collection on the local people I met there. It was special to be able to photograph my highly digital printed silk scarves on the people, which were contrasted by their traditional clothing.”

We ask Emilie about the highlights of her journey, and she describes a life-changing trip to Lake Atitlán. “It was a long day trip on the bus, which should have taken three or so hours, but ended up taking all day due to landslides.”

While many would have felt frustrated, Emilie found herself inspired by the scenery around her. “While stopped for four hours, we took photos of the scarves in the jungle along the way. At the time, I named the jungle Fern Gully as it was so exotic, wild and green. The locals came running down selling deliciously roasted, grated coconut sweet treats in brown sugar and fresh fruit mini pies. Lake Atitlán was magical and the boat ride across the lake was one of my best moments. The small village on the lake where we stayed was the most peaceful natural place I have ever experienced.”

The trip had a powerful effect on Emilie. Being away from the modern world allowed her to clear her mind and tap into her creative reserves. “It was such a peaceful and beautiful place that all my worries and fears just drifted away,” she tells pages. “I was left with nothing but creative freedom and complete freedom in myself.”

Emilie envisages Andéol expanding beyond just scarves. Right now, she’s working on a range of print leggings, is collaborating with her father (a leather manufacturer), and is even working on an online store. “I dream of Andéol being a philanthropic global organisation, sourcing traditional techniques such as embroidery, beading and sewing in disadvantaged and poorer communities all around the world, where each range is dedicated to a particular community. It is so sad to see the craft industries in poorer countries dying.  I would love to see Andéol play a part in keeping those industries alive!”

Considering her talent, drive, compassion and general joie de vivre, we look forward to seeing Emilie achieve her goals.