A killer pair of jeans is the one item in your wardrobe that is truly timeless and wear and tear only makes them better...
Just ask One Teaspoon founder Jamie Blakey, who started her fashion brand 16 years ago and has since seen her denim cuts on celebrities such as Fergie and Beyoncé. The brand is now stocked in over 30 countries worldwide. The effortlessly cool Blakey lives on Sydney’s northern beaches with her husband Ronnie and their children Eddie, 10, Mickey, 4, and Minnie, 2. It was her own mother who taught her how to sew as a child and helped to nurture her love of fashion. After spending a few years working in the fashion industry, Blakey felt uninspired by what she saw in the market, so decided to design her own collection. “I wanted it to be more a reflection of my own style and a departure from what was available at the time,” she says. Over 90 collections later, and the brand is now the go-to label for many stylish women around the world (on last count, how many women did you see in One Teaspoon denim shorts today?).“I’m a tragic for denim shorts, I can’t resist a good top hat and I can never go past a good tuxedo shirt. Oh, and I can’t seem to resist ripping stuff up. I love evolving and doing things differently each season to see the unique results it brings,” says Blakey. Her newly renovated beachside abode feels just like her label: understated and cool. We caught up with Blakey at home to talk denim and life by the beach… Photography: Vincent Fahey
I wake to a “MUUUMMM!” yelling through the house…
I end the day with a few cheeky glasses of something.
Our home is like a jungle tree house…
I love waking up to all the white and the giant plants.
I love living by the beach…
The smell of the salty air. Damn it feels good.
Motherhood has taught me to be super quick and efficient at everything I do...
There’s no time for procrastinating anymore. I think any mum would agree to that. You can do things at the speed of lightening once you’ve got a few of the little rats running around the place.
To new mothers…
I think the main thing is to do what comes naturally to you and your baby and to not read too much into what “should” be done and stick to that so the baby doesn’t get confused while you’re figuring out your style. Also babies evolve so quickly and mums like to stick with what’s working, but what works when your child is six weeks old probably isn’t going to fly when they are six months old. Being adaptable is a big one too. Vibeing what the baby needs, but without being a pushover.
Like most working mums I get up early and go to bed late-ish…
You just make it happen.
My wardrobe is filled with…
Denim, denim and denim. Plus loads of tees and mens’ shirts.
Success is living your dream…
Lots of people don’t get to realise their dreams, so if we’re doing that then it’s a success!
I’ve always been around clothes…
My mum taught me to sew when I was eight. From there I always made my own clothes… she was super strict with following the “traditional way” of doing things to the point that I’d be pinning and re-pinning a pattern to the fabric for hours until it was exactly right. I continued making my own clothes from then and when I was 21 and thought I needed to make my clothes for other people too. That’s when it all started.
My approach to health and wellbeing is balance…
Everything in moderation and doing whatever exercise feels right, when it feels right.
The last meal I ate was a chicken and salad wrap…
Exciting stuff.
My kids are in a relaxed routine…
They have their bed time which we’re pretty strict with during the week unless we’re away or out for the night… the rest falls into place. There’s a loose routine.
I don’t really notice the sleep deprivation...
I don’t feel like my body needs that much sleep and when I do sleep, I sleep hard so I make up for it. It all catches up in the end.
When it comes to my children’s future careers…
I just think if the parents are happy and following their dreams and doing what they want, it will be instilled in the kids to do that too. They won’t see any other way.
I love everything about where we live...
It has such a holiday vibe, but everyone is doing their thing, workin’ hard, having fun and just generally loving life.
Honestly I can’t think of anything that really challenges us…
We take it all as it comes and get through it.
Running your own business is all a bit challenging but that’s what makes it fun…
Although rules and red tape with certain things really kill my vibe.
The One Teaspoon woman is…
An effortless, sophisticated, risk taking, funny, fun loving life lover.
Jamie’s little list of loves:
Coffee Red wine Massages 80s rock ‘n’ roll Top hats Crowns Fine jewellery Denim Making clothes Life in general.
[…] I love the profiles from The Grace Tales. This one come out this month on One Teaspoon founder Jamie and her beautiful kids. […]