Samantha’s dossier is very extensive. After leaving Dumbleyung Primary School and continuing studies at Iona Presentation College in Perth, Samantha completed an Advanced Diploma of Fashion and Textile Design at NMT in Northbridge. Upon graduation, she was awarded the highest academic award, the Margo Award. During her studies she was working at Varga Girl alongside Leith Groves, who is one of the most respected people in the Perth fashion industry. This gave her a wealth of knowledge regarding buying, visual merchandising, sales and the business side of fashion. Throughout her studies she interned and worked for several Perth designers, including Garth Cook and Wild.Horses, and completed an internship with Serpent and the Swan in Sydney.
Later moving to London, Samantha interned for a year with avant-garde womenswear designer Micol Ragni, and accompanied her to the sales at Paris Fashion Week. At the same time, she worked for concept store MK2UK doing ecommerce, social media, buying/sourcing brands, managing, and attending Paris Fashion Week.
Outstandingly, Samantha launched her first mini capsule collection in 2017 for Varga Girl in Perth, which sold out! That was the beginning of developing her own brand. Slowly since late 2017, she started developing the womenswear label S-BA. The label demonstrates slow fashion, sustainability and no seasons, escaping the hype and pressure of the fashion industry. Samantha now has the label stocked in three small boutiques in London as well as a few select pieces in Varga Girl.
It’s a one woman show for Samantha. She does all the branding, social media, pattern cutting, design, and production. Samantha is looking to expand and grow her business over the next two years.
Further information regarding Samantha Balcombe’s designs can be found on the following sites:
Flanelle Magazine - http://flanellemag.com/lake-daze-by-matt-maurice-for-flanelle-magazine/
INSTAGRAM - @s_ba___
FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/sbalabel
WEBSITE (under construction) - www.sba-label.co