Meet Melody Delatorre, the creative soul behind Soften Studio.
I studied fashion in 2013 and designed ready-to-wear garments. After moving from Brisbane to Adelaide in 2020, I took a break, and with the help of my husband, Chris, we started a YouTube channel called Soften Studio to share the things I was making for myself. When people began asking for patterns of the clothes I made, we decided to create the Soften Studio patterns, launching our first one in late 2021.
I love designing patterns and creating visual elements for the business, thanks to my graphic design background. However, the best part is seeing others use the patterns and make them their own. It’s amazing to see how my designs resonate with so many different people.
Wearing many different hats can be exhausting and there’s always a long running to-do list. We do try to have one full day off every week but sometimes it can be hard to switch the mind off.
I wear all my patterns frequently, but the Clo Bias Skirt is probably my most worn and loved design in my wardrobe and others.
I have a special love for The Fabric Store in New Zealand and Australia, where I worked for three years. They focus on natural and dead stock fabrics, leading to unique finds. I also enjoy Tessuti, Drapers Fabrics, and browsing Etsy for beautiful fabrics. I exclusively sew with natural fibres, so I seek out stores that focus on them.
There are so many! I admire Merchant and Mills for their timeless designs and Birgitta Helmersson for her clever zero-waste patterns.
Embrace your unique style and perspective. Create what you love and what you have personal experience in, and you’ll attract like-minded people. We all have preferences in what we personally like to wear. Find what sets you apart and lean into it. You don’t need to appeal to everyone.
I have many dreams for Soften Studio! Right now, we are eagerly expecting our first baby any day, and I'm looking forward to some time off. Once I'm back, I hope to expand our product offerings, and this new season of motherhood is inspiring me to potentially create children’s patterns too.
Congratulations Melody and thank you for your time!