T: Once again, really appreciate you taking the time to chat to us during such a crazy time of year! How is the Christmas season looking for Windfall Jewellery?
W: It’s pretty crazy and busy but I love it. Windfall has taken on some really cool projects and custom orders leading up to Christmas and I’m really flattered people are giving Windfall to their loved ones.
I’m not really sure where to start… I have always worked in fashion but always loved accessories and jewellery over apparel. I have always wanted to create my own clothing label but never really had the passion to design clothes. And I think its just an amalgamation of all of those things. My husband and I went to India and it was a real eye opener and made me realise I’m wasting a really cool opportunity living in Australia, to do what I want to do. And one day I just thought, fuck it; lets do this.
The journey has been amazing. It’s been so much fun and has forced me into taking some leaps I normally wouldn’t have dared do before and I’m so siked about it all.
How about the the idea for the name ‘Windfall’?
I love all things nautical so it was only fitting that my label had a nautical term.WINDFALL means: An unexpected stroke of good luck.
“A sudden unexpected rush of wind from a mountainous shore which allowed a ship more leeway. Some English landowners were prevented to either fall or sell timber as this was reserved for building ships for the Royal Navy. However, this did not apply to trees which were blown down. Hence, a windfall became a financial blessing”
Many of the pieces look like they would have been very fiddly and quite complex – do you have any particular metal-work skills or is it just pure talent?
Yeah some are pretty difficult , fiddly is the perfect word! I have done courses in Silver-smithing but I like to think it comes down to just pure natural talent haha.
How long does an average piece take to create from the initial idea to the final product?
It depends on the complexity. People have asked me this a few times and I really don’t know how to answer it because I have never really started one project from start to finish without having a few others on the go at the same time. I like to have a big work load at all times!
I find your tagline ‘Uptown elegance with a downtown edge’ really interesting and based on the collections; appropriate.. Do you draw inspiration from any specific areas or does it just come fluidly?
I don’t think there is anything specific that I get inspiration from, its just everything around my life I suppose. Melbourne is a pretty rad place to keep your creative juices flowing. But I suppose the meaning behind that tagline is pretty self explanatory, I like creating high quality jewellery with a street feel to it.
Do you have any particular marketing methods or do you just rely on your own steam?
I have no marketing methods haha. I haven’t invested any money into marketing, everything has just happened from me pushing my brand and how passionate I am about it. I have made the brand come this far because I love it not because I have put money into marketing. Having said that, 2012 is going to be a big year for Windfall and I am probably going to have to develop a marketing strategy. Maybe.
What tools are required for creating a piece/What does your work desk look like?
Tools: I couldn’t live without my craft knife, drill and sand paper!
My desks look like: One wooden drawing desk, one long, wooden trestle work bench and one wooden pedestal table
What is in store next for Windfall?
We are shooting a fashion shoot for the Rattlebones Collection and we will drop our 2nd collection in early 2012. It’s going to be a rad year for Windfall.
And a couple of not-so-formal questions…
Which celebrity/icon’s style do you really appreciate and why?
None. I don’t really follow that stuff.
What was the last book you purchased?
Life by Keith Richards
Where is the last place you traveled and what for?
Malaysia, India and Thailand in April. For fun.
What does an average day entail for Lani Williams?
Hang out in my studio. Walk my bulldogs. Hang out with my husband. In that order.
What are the last five web pages in your browser history?
Facebook, Google: Dog Breeds, Dogue de Bordeaux, Facebook, Wikipedia. How boring.
Solid Tooth Pendant or the PMA Ring.
See you in 2012.
Pieces featured from the top: Positive Mental Attitude Ring with packaging, Riblet Pendant, Rams Head Street Range, Scrap Metal Rings.
See more of the collections and the upcoming range on Windfall Jewellery’s Facebook, Big Cartel and Etsy. You can also see it in store at Designers Boutique, 416 Oxford Street, Paddington, Sydney.
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