A Q&A with Leuca from Melaleuca Rise

Hi Leuca! Tell us a little about yourself.

I was born in Scotland beneath grey skies and endless winters, which led me to travel to warmer climes, finally settling in Australia with a suitcase full of aspirations in 2011.

Now I live and work in Geegelup/Bridgetown in Western Australia, on the lands of the Pibelmen, Kaneang, and Wadandi peoples.

I am an artist-maker, a teacher of cloth, and a wanderer in the quiet lands that surround me.

What inspired you to start Melaleuca Rise?

Melaleuca Rise grew from a deep love of cloth and a desire to honour the stories and connections held within every garment. The name comes from a homestead we once lived in while based in Tasmania, surrounded by eucalypts. Melaleuca Rise serves as a reminder that humans don’t own nature; we co-exist within it.

In 2017, the brand officially came into being while I was studying Contemporary Fashion & Textiles at Edith Cowan University. I had the great privilege of being supported by Dr. Zuhal Kuvan-Mills and was given the opportunity to show my work as part of the very first Eco Fashion Week Australia event.

At my purpose-built studios, I design and create limited-edition and one-of-one garments and textile pieces, where each piece is filled with narrative and heritage through the process of mindful making.

I work with sustainable and reclaimed textiles, guided by slow fashion ethics, from hand-screen printing in our Print & Textiles Studio to the Rise Again collection of pre-loved pieces. Our garments are made for creative souls who value meaningful connection.

What is your typical workday like?

My day begins with light; the soft morning sunlight through my window, the whisper of an idea. I stroll through the garden, open up the greenhouse, greet the dye plants and veggie seedlings, and gather inspiration. Then I move to the textiles studio: cup of tea in hand, I flick through papers, glance over collages, and make notes in my journal.

Then I shift to working directly with cloth – printing, stitching, draping, reflecting – taking deep breaths as I submerge into the flow. Lunch is usually on the veranda with my Rottweiler for company. Then it’s back to the studio, where I might teach a workshop, mentor a student, or sit quietly with a garment in progress, listening for what it needs.

Evening finds me hand-stitching, mending, spinning or weaving – finished off with a cosy night on the settee, watching whatever has currently captured my attention.

What first drew you to work in the textile, clothing, and fashion industry?

I’ve always been interested in fashion — starting off my career working at Miss Selfridge back in the 1990s, but I was drawn to the treatment of workers, from retail assistants to textile makers overseas. I didn’t see myself as a designer until I was introduced to the concept of sustainable fashion at the Fairly Fashionable event in 2014. That moment revealed how fashion could be a force for positive impact — not just expression, but transformation.

Why is ethical and local manufacturing so important to you?

Manufacturing is hyper-local for Melaleuca Rise. It is in my hands that each piece of clothing is brought to life. I believe that clothes carry the memory of their creation — if they’re made with care and gentleness, that energy lives on within the threads.

I create not just to clothe bodies, but to clothe stories, to honour heritage skills and advocate for a world where what we wear truly matters.

What has been one of your biggest challenges, and how did you deal with it?

Time. I have more ideas than one lifetime could ever hold. Choosing what to focus on can be difficult for minds like mine – always weaving, imagining.

I’ve learned to embrace that the value of my work lies not in quantity, but in meaningful connection. When I feel torn between projects, I ask myself: Which one will deepen connection to people, place, or purpose? That is where I pour my energy.

What has been the most rewarding part of running Melaleuca Rise?

That moment when someone puts on a garment and I see recognition in their eyes – “Yes, this looks how I feel on the inside.”

And teaching. Teaching has always been one of my greatest joys. From my years as an art teacher in rural Scotland to now, guiding others in sustainable fashion. Seeing that spark when students create something authentic to themselves is a reward I’ll carry beyond this lifetime.

What achievement are you most proud of?

This year I had the absolute pleasure of showing my Whispers of Dùthchas collection at an international Eco Fashion event in Florence, Italy, and most recently my Tilleadh Dhachaigh collection at the inaugural Circular Fashion Festival here in WA.

Being a guest speaker at both events was such an honour and felt like a meaningful recognition of the consistent work I’ve poured into this craft over the past two decades.

Why did you decide to get accredited with Ethical Clothing Australia?

Because as a clothing brand, we don’t simply say we are ethical; we choose to be ethical. We invite accountability.

Accreditation with Ethical Clothing Australia anchors our promise in real standards. It signals to makers, wearers and the world that these garments are made with respect, transparency and care. It aligns perfectly with my belief that making clothes is inseparable from making meaning and creating change.

What is coming up next for Melaleuca Rise?

Having recently relocated to the rural southwest, we are still in what feels like a gentle state of transition, an in-between space. It feels as though something new is brewing, though the dye pot is still a little murky… who knows what colours will emerge next?

Learn more about Melaleuca Rise here and see their brand listing in the our directory.