Meet Rikki-lee | Ziji The Label Creative Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rikki-lee and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rikki-lee, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Ziji emerged after I experienced my first Rainbow Serpent Festival in Melbourne. I was both awe-struck and inspired by this adult playground of radical expression and deep human connection. I was soon attending any ‘bush doof’ I could get to and creating costumes with any and every leopard print item I could get my paws on.

I noticed a real gap in the market for feminine and petite bum bags. I wanted something that was not only functional and kept my hands free whilst I danced all day long, but also a bag that was sleek and fashionable to match my outfits. So when on holidays in Bali, I decided to have a couple of belt bags made for myself by a tailor whose work I admired. He planted the seed that these were unique and that I should make more and sell them in Australia. I was studying Psychology at the time and initially thought ‘no, I can’t do that’. But this comment (albeit a clever business move of his) turned out to change the trajectory of my career.

Each product that has since been added to the Ziji range has also been one that I initially wanted for my personal wardrobe. Each piece has been thoughtfully designed and tried and tested on many dance floors. Second on my wish list was comfortable, high quality, sparkly festival wear. Designing these first pieces and seeing them come to life was one of the most empowering experiences I have had, and really stoked the fire of my creativity.

Spotting customers on dance floors rocking Ziji, and witnessing the transformative power of wearing these kind of pieces, then became the main motivator behind my brand (and birthed our main slogan ‘Dress to Express’). I love seeing how wearing these kind of pieces allows people to be wild and expressive in a way that they wouldn’t be able to in normal life. We’re so hardened by society and rules and all of this ‘mind stuff’ that we forget our true nature is this creative expression. Seeing people in this space of wild expressive freedom is so infectious and expansive. I just love the opportunity to be a part of this process.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I’m really proud of building a label that supports small family run businesses in Bali and the model that my business is built on. I work closely with my small team of tailors and adore our relationships. Ziji’s ordering is done in small batches, which I’m fortunate to be able to do with my Bali tailors (unlike China production), to eliminate waste. We provide jobs to support the families of our small team, who are less fortunate than us. Our production process is slow due to quality and our customers reflect how well our pieces are made. Each piece is hand made and built to last. Our sequin pieces are individually hand sewn and beaded, which is such a long and thoughtful process. They really are wearable pieces of art. This is our tailors speciality and I’m so grateful to have them and their skills a part of my team. Our leather pieces are also hand crafted at a quality I’m so proud of. The hand leather stitching that is seen on our belt bags is also this tailors specialty. I am passionate about creating high quality timeless pieces that will be used and enjoyed for many magical seasons, not disposed of after one wear.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
As Ziji was based in Byron, we have our special places in this region. One that we would always recommend is a cafe called Lilium Love Cafe in Upper Wilsons Creek. An off grid cafe in the most beautiful tranquil forest setting, with delicious and nutritious meals, medicinal drinks and naughty but nice treats. I love having solo dates here and sitting with my book, my diary or my oracle cards whilst sipping one of their warm potions and delighting all of the senses with the surrounding forest. The drive to the cafe is a beautiful adventure in itself. The road was damaged in the recent floods, but Lilium is open again and needs our support more than ever.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Ziji is what it is because of the beautiful humans that surround me, who have believed in my vision (and my products) and supported my journey. One of the women who has played a significant role in my journey is an incredible photographer and graphic designer, Flip Crilley.

I met this woman at a Rainbow Serpent Festival and we instantly connected. We were soon drinking chai in the ‘real world’ and getting excited about how we could fuse our offerings to create something special. Ziji’s first two photoshoots were with Flip and have been some of the most fun, empowering and inspiring days I have experienced. The synergy that we share when shooting is something I haven’t experienced since. The way that she captured my products allowed me to see them in such a professional and unique light. These shots remain some of my favourites for my label.

Beyond this, Flip was one of the most encouraging people for me to continue designing products and creating a brand early in my journey. She is a woman who empowers women and believes in the ethos ‘we rise by lifting others’. Thanks for bursting into my life, Flip.

Website: www.zijithelabel.com

Instagram: @zijithelabel

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zijithelabel

Other: TIKTOK: @zijithelabel

Image Credits
Flip Crilley Yelena Galstyan Juzzy Kane Liam Sieker