Pick up and fittings by appointment
Address
Reservoir, Victoria
What do we do?
Rachel Gedye
Designer
To go North and Down is to visit the underworld. To travel “norður og niður” to the ninth realm, Helheim.
Here we create clothing to honor the underworld; the upper world; and our world, Midgard.
North and Down brings the past into the present and invokes an empathy for the earth that only our ancestors knew. We are drawn to the simplicity of old times, and inspired by the strength of the people who lived through harder ages. This project honors our ancestors and offers contemporary interpretations of bygone eras.
We also aim to honor you. Our intention for you, the wearer, is a sense of both comfort and confidence. We want you to feel ready to take on the world, even if it is just one cosy book and one warm cup of tea at a time. We will prepare you for the adventure that is your life, whatever that is for you. Our clothing is our exploration of our own fantasy world, and we want to share that with you.
Our garments are made for and by Jörð, the Norse goddess of nature and earth. We prioritize natural fibers, specialise in hand production when we can and all of our garments are one of a kind pieces made locally in Naarm, Australia. This land on which we operate, draw inspiration from, and are continually humbled by is not our own, we acknowledge Wurundjeri country as stolen land; pay respect to elders past, present and emerging; and recognize the rich history, culture and connection with the earth of the Kulin Nation.
XS - M: arms 58cm, chest 78-90cm
M - XXL: arms 68cm, chest 90-125cm
Waistbands: S 75cm, M 85cm, L 95cm, XL 105cm, XXL 125cm
These garments are lovingly hand crafted for you in a work from home environment where I loving live with my pets. We do our best to minimize contact in the environment but some remnants of these loved ones may have worked their way into your garment.
All fabrics have been pre-washed to reduce shrinkage, but wool needs to be loved and cared for for the duration of it's life as your favourite garment.
Washing: Hand wash your woollen garments in lukewarm water with a Woolmark approved soft wool detergent. If you must use a washing machine ensure it is set to a wool cycle or a lukewarm gentle cycle. Rinse your garment gently, avoiding rubbing together as it may felt. Press or squeeze, but never wring, and roll in a dry towel to remove excess moisture. Laying your garment flat on a fresh towel to dry is the best way to avoid any stretching that may occur when hung.
Wearing: Give woollen garments a 24hr rest between wears. This allows the wool fibers time to recover from stretching, keeping it strong and resilient for many years, and can help to reduce pilling in friction areas.
Storing: Knitted garments should be gently folded and stored in drawers. During warmer months you may choose to store your folded knits inside a canvas bag to keep them safe from moths. Give them one last wash before storing for lengthy times and store with some dry lavender, rosemary and bay leaves to deter insects.
As these fabrics are second hand recycled pieces, some garments may have small imperfections in the fabrics. We have avoided them where possible but where not possible imperfections may be visible within the garment.
