Macayla Chapman, designer and owner of Bird & Knoll.
Scarves are a passion of Macayla Chapman’s and she’s turned it into a thriving business, Bird & Knoll, with business partner Natalie Knoll. Since founding their label in 2013 they’ve been creating their signature luxurious over-sized scarves which have rapidly gained a strong following. Macayla had worked in fashion before at Workshop & Helen Cherry, but running her own label is a new step and one that perfectly combines her’s and Natalie’s love of travel and natural fabrics.
We caught up with Macayla to find out more about her brand, what inspires her and what you would never catch her wearing!
Tell us about your latest collection?
Per Tutti (italian meaning for all) celebrates the wonder of travel – experiencing the journey through the eyes of the locals. We share our European travel experiences from 2015 in the new collection – an artistic narrative through the camera lens and onto the “canvas” of our signature luxurious scarves.
Per Tutti is ‘for all’ to enjoy – sun loungers in Amalfi, pastel coloured laundry in Vernazza, umbrellas in Rome, secluded coves in Greece, rooftops across Paris and drifting boats on the canals of Venice – pockets of colour and local flavour that play to everyone’s desire for travel, adventure and wanderlust. This collection also sees the addition of the perfect complement to the scarves and the Bird and Knoll brand and a welcome addition to any packing list – simple and chic cotton beach cover-ups. The kaftans and ponchos in on-trend block colours are effortless and versatile, just like the Bird and Knoll ethos.
Look from Bird and Knoll’s A/W 2016 collection.
What made you become a designer?
In many ways Bird and Knoll is the product of a friendship. Nat (co-founder) and I met poolside at our children’s swimming lessons in 2011 whilst we were living in Sydney. Right there and then, a lifelong friendship was formed. We hit it off straight away and are so similar in so many ways but then so completely opposite in others, very yin and yang. Several years later I moved back to NZ and Nat called me one day following a trip to Hawaii she had with her family with the idea of using her archive of divine travel images and printing them onto scarves. The rest is history and we have merged our skills and strengths (and learnt quite a bit along the way!!!). My background is quite diverse from an intensive care nurse to the fashion and beauty editor at Crème Magazine to the Sales and Marketing Manager for Workshop & Helen Cherry. I have always had a love of fashion and a really creative side that was never tapped into when I was at school – luckily as I have moved through life this diversity has allowed for a bit of everything.
What inspires you?
The little things that surround us daily and when travelling, different cultures, light, colour texture … early morning light is my favourite, oh just so beautiful it makes everything look so perfect! I am so not a morning person so it makes it a lot easier to wake up when I look outside.
Describe your personal style and how it influences your products and brand?
I think my personal style is quite classic and feminine – I like to wear things that I can dress up and down really easily, like a dress that can be worn with leather sandals and a hat to the beach or dressed up with heels and some jewellery for night. Natural fabrics are a big must for me – I don’t like wearing anything scratchy or stiff or something that doesn’t breathe. This is also of HUGE importance to Bird & Knoll, we spend so much time sourcing our fabrics because a scarf is so close to your face it must be luxuriously soft but wearable, able to be hand washed if you need to and not crease too much because you want to be able to just pop it in your bag until you need it.
What is your all-time favourite purchase?
That is tough to answer. I can’t narrow it down to one thing, I wear a lot of dresses so might have to say some of my many amazing Zimmermann dresses – some that are quite old but I still wear all the time and always get so many comments. The cuts are very clever and timeless and always make me feel feminine and fashionable. By adding a blazer, jewellery or scarf it completely changes the look.
Look from Bird and Knoll’s A/W 2016 collection.
What wardrobe item should every woman invest in?
A scarf of course – the final edit to any outfit and an absolute must-have for any packing list! Our scarves are so versatile they can be used as a sarong on the beach or poolside, a wrap around your shoulders for cool autumn evenings, a blanket on the plane, scarf for your neck or many other things. We have a few how to styling videos on our website that show you step by step how to wear your Bird & Knoll scarf.
Do you have a style rule you always obey?
Less is more … then add a scarf!
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Collaborating with Qantas has been an absolute delight. But really I just love seeing a stylish woman walk past me in the street wearing one of my scarves, it is just the best feeling ever!!!
What can’t you live without?
Scarves ha ha…but no really my family. They’re amazing.
Finish this sentence – You would never catch me wearing…
A suit – It’s just not my thing, mind you I have not yet had a job that requires me to wear one …. who knows maybe that will be next ??!!
Images supplied.