Sara Leonardi-McGrath's new creative space

Sara is a former gallery owner and Interior designer. She married her retired cricketing husband Glenn 11 years ago and has now opened her own very unique business in the Sutherland Shire.

She started her wearable art label called IT'S A FAD in April last year as an experiment that began with her tie-dying in her kitchen That experiment rapidly evolved into a full clothing label focusing on street-wear, with a seasonal focus on lounge and resort specific clothing.

Everything in fashion is just a fad and Sara said she single-handedly ice dye's each garment that she sells.

"On average, each piece takes about four days to make as the dyeing process is slow and can't be rushed or mass-produced.

"l produce locally and in India but only by small women-owned manufacturing businesses and I don't use any synthetics," Mrs Leonardi-McGrath said.

"I also have a range of bespoke Italian leather clothing, each piece uniquely embroidered and lined with my ice dye fabric design made here in Sydney and all my leather is sourced from the NSW leather co."

Mrs Leonardi-McGrath started selling her products at the trendy Bondi Markets last year and grew a loyal community of customers both locally and abroad.

When the COVID pandemic conditions became untenable, the markets closed but fortunately, Beck Clarke from Zeuss Hair asked her if she wanted to use her shutdown nail salon as a pop-up shop and bring her happy and colourful designs to the little Burraneer Bay rd strip of shops.

"The pop up lasted three weeks and I sold out of hoodies and the smile my clothing brought to the shire made me realise the IT'S A FAD. LAB space needed to be near our Cronulla home," she said.

"The overwhelming local support humbled me but also reinforced that we belong in here the Shire-you don't have to be in the Eastern suburbs.

"I conceived the 'LAB' part of the brand to be a nice collaborative space to experience the expression and development of creativity through fashion and the arts.

"The IT'S A FAD. LAB is a vibrant space that allows me to permanently showcase my work and collections but also invite a local artist to showcase their work and collaborate with me on projects that are both socially relevant and are bespoke creating wearable art.

"I also showcase a series of unique jewellery pieces and ceramics that are all hand made by Australian women and many of these artists are local to the shire."

Sara's fashion has been featured in Stellar Magazine and Home beautiful and the ITS A FAD.LAB is situated at unit 8 16-18 Northumberland Rd Caringbah (at the back of a factory complex) Opening hours are Wednesday to Saturday 10-6pm. See-itsafad.com-for more information.