Sleeping Profit has been on my radar for a while, thanks to the now signature bleach butterfly hoodies (you need to see this custom one for a lamb) and really good printed swimwear (I adore my kikini top). 

Designer Siara Marx has quietly built a name with playful, ethereal garments crafted from new, upcycled and deadstock fabrics – each steeped in nostalgia and fantasy. Think of the ‘scrap corset’ worn by Lorde in a Viva shoot (styled by Ensemble contributing editor Dan Ahwa), corsetry, lace, pannelling, mini skirts, bubble hems and other one-off creations that are distinctly Sleeping Profit. It’s a brand with a clear and confident point of view and doesn't play into trend stereotypes – the industry needs more of that.

Last year Siara appeared as part of a group show at “underground fashion week” Te Wiki Āhua O Aotearoa, and returns with a solo presentation on August 23. Titled Material Girl, the presentation will explore imagination, fantasy and magic, and feature jewellery from friend Liv’s brand Babyhead. A great excuse to ask Siara to share five inspirations behind her brand and upcoming collection – which are as charming and whimsical as I hoped.

• The Material Girl show by Sleeping Profit, featuring Baby Head, at Te Wiki Āhua o Aotearoa is on Saturday August 23 at 8.30pm; buy tickets here.

My favourite dress

When I was five, my lovely mother made me this purple iridescent dress to wear to her friend’s wedding. It shimmered with light and changed colour depending on the angle and it essentially felt like pure magic. To this day it’s still my favourite garment I've ever worn, and if I stumble on a fabric that gives me a similar feeling to that dress, I know I'm on the right track.‍

Sleeping Beauty‍

A childhood favourite! This movie is a treasure trove of inspiration. The vivid colour palettes, Tchaikovsky’s score, Aurora’s sharp and structured yet dreamy and feminine dress, and even the jewel encrusted ornate book shown at the intro. The whole film is hauntingly beautiful and it's easy to see how some of the film’s magic has managed to seep into my label.‍

80s gowns

Lately I've been scouring the internet for prom photos and fashion films from the 80s as a source of inspiration. I love puff sleeves and ruffles and anything that shimmers. I’ll often find something I think is beautiful at an op shop and then a few minutes later wonder if it’s the most hideous thing I've ever seen. A nice mix of both is ideal.‍

Fish

I recently took myself on an artist date to Animates after feeling particularly inspired by looking at fish on Google Images. Maybe my brain has tunnel vision from working on the new collection, but instead of seeing fins and tails, it just looked to me like the fish were dancing around in pretty, colourful dresses.

‍Babyhead jewellery

The designer behind Babyhead, Liv, and I met when I asked her to model for the secondhand clothing business I was running in high school. After years of supporting each other's creative endeavours online, it feels very full circle to finally be working on a project together. I'm a huge fan of her handmade jewellery, so I'm honoured to have it featured at our upcoming runway show Material Girl.