Designer, book keeper, and mother of five Renee Johnstone is not afraid of hard work.
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Raising a family in Mount Isa, Renee started selling hand made children’s clothes locally and online.
The initials of her then four children made up her company name, DDHQ, which Renee says was unexpectedly popular.
“It was going really well, and I couldn’t keep up with the demand, I was finding myself sewing through the night and on the weekends,” Renee said.
The arrival of baby Marli meant a name change was due, and Sage Designs and Co. was launched in November 2016.
To save time Renee decided to outsource the sewing to Indonesia, freeing herself up to work on designs.
“It’s great because it takes the pressure of me, having to sew everything,” she said.
The website, www.sagedesigns.com.au, features a range of baby bloomers, screen printed tops, and wraparound skirts with hand painted designs.
Renee is already working on summer 2018’s collection.
“I come up with the concepts, this t-shirt came about one day when I was doodling on our grocery list,” Renee said.
“I screenshot it and sent it off to the graphic artist, then sent the image over to Indonesia and they screen-printed it onto the fabric,” she said.
Sage Designs have been modelled by Mount Isa Bonds baby winner Mila Huntley.