MEET THE BM TEAM!

First name: Aisha

Nickname: Eesh

What is your role at BlackMilk? My current role is Critical Path & Supplier Manager, which is a big career change for me! Previously I was in Product Development for 9 years, and before that I was Sewing and Cutting.

How long have you been working at BM? 11 years 

What does a typical day at work look like for you? Spreadsheets. Spreadsheets, spreadsheets!

I arrive at work just before 7:30am and start prepping for a work-in-progress meeting with the Product Development Manager, Product Manager and Buyers to check where our product team is at with developing the latest collections against the critical path. 

After that it’s a quick cup of tea at 9am while I check emails and action anything urgent, before checking in with our sample sewers to ensure the most urgent styles are prioritised and ready for fittings.  

At 10am I’m checking in on delivery dates of our stock and ensuring everything is arriving on time for releases, and if not, putting contingencies in place and notifying the teams on which products will need extended shipping timelines. 

Depending on which day of the week it is, for the rest of the day I am either: liaising with suppliers on future collections and on-time delivery, ensuring they have everything they need to get started; booking in meetings for future collections to be handed over to the Development teams to start sampling, or Marketing teams for photoshoot and marketing planning; checking on the progress of our local manufacturing and ensuring everything will be ready for release; checking and approving freight invoices; and updating critical path spreadsheets with timelines for future releases.

How did you get into fashion? My Grandma and Mum made a lot of my clothes as a child, which got me into sewing clothes for my Barbies from a young age. When I finished high school I went on to study photography, but in doing that I got more into the modelling side of things. Having had that sewing background it just made sense for me to then study an Advanced Diploma of Applied Fashion Design & Technology at TAFE. 

How did you start at BlackMilk? I applied over and over until I got a job. It took me three times over the course of one year to get a job here! Persistence pays off. 

What’s your fave thing about working at BM? Career progression and the amazing creative team I get to work alongside every day.

What BlackMilk work achievement are you most proud of? Collaborating with our founder James to create the Dungeon Chic Bodysuit, as well as the many crazy and controversial design challenge garments I’ve gotten to work on, and sometimes model for our social media – you might remember ALL of me from such posts as the green tiger print bodysuit and chaps bike pants – hehe. 

Also winning the Efficiency and Super Cool values awards at our end of year party as nominated by my peers! 

What advice do you have for people trying to get into fashion? Live it! Make your own clothes, watch all of the shows, and study! If you want to get into design it’s important to understand everything that comes after that. 

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Continuing in a management role at BlackMilk. 

What’s your fave BlackMilk piece? Iguana Be With You BBQ Shirt. I love it so much I got a colour variation for my 10 year work anniversary gift! 

Describe your style in three words: Holiday, pastel, sets.

What do you love to do in your spare time? Camping!

Fave food? Cheese, pineapple and mushroom pizza with a white sauce. 

Do you have a hidden talent? Folding / packing up pop-up tents. 

What can’t you live without? My family and friends. 

What are three items you’d take with you to a deserted island? My partner, my dog and cocktails! 

What book should people read? Silence Of The Lambs!

What was the last show you binge watched? Penny Dreadful.

What are you listening to at the moment? Orville Peck’s Pony album on repeat. 

If you could go anywhere on your next holiday, where would you go? Montenegro.

Anything else you want to add? I’ve worked at Blackmilk for almost a third of my life, and it has been such an experience, I wouldn’t be who I am today without it! It’s been a pleasure making and wearing our clothes! 

Just for fun, show us your pets!! This is Meelah, she is a 13-year-old Border Collie, Cattle Dog, Kelpie. She loves camping at the beach, playing soccer in the afternoons and lazy Sundays.