The Story So Far

Hi there! My name is Briar, creator of SKUNT. My idea for the business was established in 2024 in Sunshine Coast, QLD. I’ve always been fascinated by fashion and its way of self-expression.

Before the Brand

I’ve gone through a journey of finding my own niche- my friends can tell the tale all too well of my “phases” of style before I really found what I loved to wear and felt truly confident and my most “me” in…

Briar Fleming Skunt

Finding my Fit

From the phase of only wearing tight flared high waisted pants with bright coloured florals marble prints and pairing with bright or glittery cropped collared t-shirts…yeah, that was cute…but I don’t think I’d wear such outfits these days.

Cinematic Obsession

To my waistcoats and ties with trench coats- cosplaying a student of Hogwarts after bingeing all harry potter movies with one of my best friends.

The Turning Point

I didn’t find my true style until I started my Fashion Design and Merchandising course at TAFE in 2023. Here I learnt so much about the evolution of fashion and studied different styles and silhouettes from the 1900’s-present day. I also of-course learnt how to sew, manipulate fabrics and create garments. Added benefits included: learnt how style myself properly by use of accessories etc and following ‘profiles’ like “what would SHE (the alter-ego) wear with this”.

Second Hand Shape Shifter

Since before learning all of this however, I was always extremely passionate about op-shopping and sustainability. The confidence and happiness that it brings me to re-wear unwanted garments and give them a new life has always influenced my style and is absolutely why I was and still am diverse in my ‘aesthetics’. From Y2K baddie with low rise bootleg jeans and a graphic barbie baby-tee and heels one day, to a flowey boho skirt paired with a beaded belt and floppy suede boots and macrame vest the next, or oversized black shirt layered with a striped long sleeve underneath and baggy jeans paired with chunky DC sneakers. Op-shops and vintage shops really give me the freedom to be whoever I feel like being day in and day out.

Accidental Icon

One day I came across a pair of ‘Real-tree’ camouflage jeans at Salvation Army whilst on an op-shop day with my friends. They were far too big for me, but I loved the fabric and bought them in hopes of using my new TAFE sewing skills and design knowledge to re-purpose the fabric. Months passed, my sewing room was a collection of projects. An idea of using them in combination with a pair of “baggy” jeans i’d ordered online (one of very few purchases that were not from an op shop)- that turned out not to be baggy at all *sigh*. I thought, hmm I could try to make these jeans baggier and cooler by putting these two together- and so Idid.

Very pleased with my new jeans, I wore them all the time, as I worked at a big retail store at the local plaza- they got A LOT of compliments and attention from my co-workers and customers. Wow, I thought…I could really turn this into a business.

Skunt Jeans Melbourne

Reclaiming the Name

Hence the birth of my sustainable brand, later named SKUNT (so-kunt). The describing word “cunt” has evolved from an offensive, misogynistic slur into a term of high praise in drag culture. It originated in the 1970s and 1980s New York City underground ballroom scene. Black trans women and drag queens adopted and reclaimed it to denote feminine superiority, ultimate confidence, and flawless fashion. I found the word Skunt to be a perfect representation of my brand and the feel I wanted to portray. Strong, confident and a funny play on words.

Finding the Tribe

However; Sunshine coast, QLD, was not the type of market or target audience for SKUNT. There were some baddies and fashionistas around, but I often found myself feeling like I was “over-dressed” and “stood out like a sore thumb” when I’d go out to clubs or parties with friends. A Lot of people were ‘clean-girls’ or ‘universal store mannequin’ men. I needed to make a change, I wanted to be inspired and also needed a better audience to see and want to buy SKUNT. So naturally I moved to Melbourne and here I do markets and meet others who have that shared love of fashion and self-expression.