GOLD ORDON. THE AUSSIE DESIGNER LIVING IN BALI. An interview.
I had a chat with ALEX. the owner + creator of gold ordon. a brand that stands 10+ years strong, started by an Aussie girl from Brisbane who visited Bali with a sketchbook one day and never came home + eventually married a cute local as well♡
Hey Alex! Thank you so much for connecting with me and taking the time to have this chat, although, this isn't the first time we've spoken! Would you say we have known each other for about.. 10-12 years now? What's your version of how we first met?
Thank you Liz for connecting with me again, I know our discussions come and go regarding a range of topics but we do keep coming back to a fashion/styling baseline.
I think for me, I am really digging back in the archive of my memory, our connection began about 10 years ago when I was pretty new to Instagram. I remember seeing your account and thinking - Well this chick is the best fusion of street grunge and driven talent, I couldn’t resist following, supporting and eventually collaborating with such a strong, positive presence. It was a true compliment seeing you interpret and understand my products and ethics, in fact, work didn’t feel like work, it was perfect creative flow.
Time has flown, and we have evolved so much as individuals, so it’s so nice to cross paths again, share new perspectives, endorse new priorities, and propel each other into other contingencies. I’m excited to see where this can take us because we truly bounce off one another.
Yes I love this! Essentially this is why I do what I do. connecting with fellow creators and entrepreneurs.. over everything. I think we all strive to be in an industry one way or another where we feel heard and seen and understood - how lucky are we to have had that over the last 10+ years? I was so excited when you found me cause I was thinking - I am obsessed with this delicious blend of minimalism and rock n roll. I always felt back then it was a refined grown-up “gypsy stone” I have to share that I have always admired your ability to create authentically and have never given in to trends which just speaks volumes of you as an artist and really you were way ahead of creating seasonless ranges. I want to touch on the fact that you’re an Aussie girl living and working full-time Bali! The industry has just exploded with expats and everyone now wants to live in two lands at once. As an OG living the dream, how did this come to be for you and can you share a little bit about the birth of GO and moving full-time to the land of the gods?
You know, it is almost weekly when I hear updates from friends or hear of others making the move to Bali (even my younger brother was considering it too) and to be honest I think living overseas is the best character-building experience anyone can have. The global shake-up of those 2 - 3 years previously has made everyone crave a sea change and whether it’s long term or just a holiday I think every second person says “I could live here” when they visit Bali.
A little background story on how I landed here, 2012 I left the UK heartbroken because my working visa had come to an end, so much so my good friend suggested a Bali trip which would cure those London blues and she was absolutely right. With my one pair of scuffed-up sandals from Top Shop I walked into a tailor and sketched up a couple of styles for him to make for me, little did I know I would have a small request list from friends or people who had seen me wearing them on the street in Brisbane, this was the start of my side hustle, Gold Ordon.
But I wasn’t just a leather brand, in fact, I’ll admit it was a strange range of accessories that I became known for - The ankle cuffs were the style that really exposed the brand. This accessory which I sketched up poolside was primarily a worn-over boots piece though it truly flourished into something much greater. Summer’s bare feet and layered over scrunch boots, people loved them and seeing each and every interpretation was simply incredible. I’m an 80’s kid, and my mother and grandmother would wear beaded jumpers with shoulders as they held me, I can still see myself playing with the beads while they would talk to their friends. Safe to say it was probably engrained in me at an early age.
So each trip (because I was coming and going a lot) I would have a list of requests and a folder of sketches to put forward to my contacts. I did this for quite some time until it got to the point that getting out of bed to work for anyone else was almost impossible, my mind and body couldn’t pretend to be interested in anything else any longer. I threw myself in the deep end and just winged it from that point on. When it’s your passion or all you think about then you know you can’t ignore it - Pursue it.
The opportunities that arise from Heartbreak! The best stories always begin with someone finally moving on from someone. Well done!! The UK and Indonesia are worlds apart. What was it that made you stay and what was it that made you connect with and support the locals / your new neighbours? Your venture began with you, a sketchbook and the need for new sandals and this grew into you running a sustainable, ethical, all-women production team! I remember once I emailed you with “Hey guys!” and you responded with “No guys here! We are a team of all women!” And THOSE ankle cuffs. ICONIC! The image above or left, me in THOSE cufs 2015!
It’s funny I never really had the plan to “stay”, I kind of sold it to myself as I would ping pong back and forth but once I got settled and finding my creative rhythm I found leaving was harder and harder. I would cry when I drove away from my dogs in a taxi and when in Australia I would fantasize about all the projects or samples I could continue or start new. Perhaps it would be like a painting you start, you can’t rush it and it can potentially change or evolve as you progress though to step away from it just aches and all you think about is getting back to submerging yourself in it.
I love working with people to achieve goals, I’m very hands-on and like I mentioned previously, the visuals I have, well they come to life here. My time in the UK made me thirsty for the boutique world as I was working for a big high street company. Bali allowed me to think small and strategically while also being unique and nothing like the commercial fashion world. Almost complete opposites in many ways!
The craftsmanship and skills of the Indonesians fascinated me, the “yes” mindset to every request (even if they didn’t understand), but also the eagerness to learn from that point on, to problem solve, and to do this sitting on the floor, sketching and sampling together. This is what brought me the most satisfaction.
I love how it all unfolded for you so organically. So fast forward to 2024 - what a journey! I really love watching you evolve and grow. Our paths feel almost so parallel. In saying that, an evolved journey doesn't just happen so effortlessly right? For example, challenges as I am sure you believe as well arise to help us grow and most of the time these challenges are beyond a tough customer enquiry or lease agreement. Maybe you can share one or two events that stand out that you would say are beyond the expectation of a typical business challenge and are maybe even personal that helped you "evolve" into the space where you are now and how that event has helped you in your life and is an integral part of who you are now?
This is such an incredibly vital element that I have, to be completely honest, struggled with personally. The online world as a small business can be tough, especially because I came from a fashion retail world since I was 15 years old and love working in teams, it’s the bouncing of ideas, working together and problem solving which I miss. Though alternatively, I have a small team which gets the full blunt of my odd ideas, we laugh and yes, there is a new style of problem solving each day.
Being a small business owner it’s not just about being creative there is a lot of tasks that no one likes doing, I think the perception of production in Bali is very glamorized (in fact life itself over here is). The days are long and often the sampling process is even longer. It truly tests your patience sometimes, that’s why when you find workers who get it, understand your standards and respect the process you do everything to nurture them.
My forever struggle is handing over and delegating, letting someone else cover a task on my behalf gives me anxiety like no other, I think it’s just because when it’s your baby and your brand at stake… You could call it protective haha?
Though the most major hurdle, apart from loyalty betrayal and universal crisis, it’s the defamation of design aka copying. And the sad thing is, when the topic arises a lot of people’s response is, “Oh yeah, that’s the fashion Industry for you”. Now I know I have ranted and shared my views in the past and that gets you nowhere. What saddens me the most is it’s almost allowed, blatant copies of someone else’s work ripped off. Perhaps I will be that old lady fighting for the right for individuality, so a designer can be claimed like an artist, that style or technique was from that time / era. People like Vivienne Westwood, a legacy made and maintained forever, that’s actually difference between a brand and a designer.
There might be numerous online stores selling clothing and accessories but how many of them are actually designers, who have a style that they are known for, who create an impact or movement that becomes symbolic to that time?
I like to think Gold Ordon has that impact, to what level I can’t say because for me it runs through my veins so I’m bias. But when I hear from followers or customers who share their purchases from almost a decade ago, that’s like sparks lighting inside and nudge to keep going, keep listening and following signs because these are all steps leading to something bigger, greater and, probably, shinier than ever.
I like to call this journey that we're on, high risk - high reward. I have a hunch that you might agree when I say despite the challenges I wouldn't do anything else.
This path has its lessons helping me become my best self and help me create ease around my Dharma and my wildest desires, especially in regards to my career.. always welcome! The heartbreak is real though, but when you're connected to your intention, you can have confidence knowing that your creativity is endlessly forever flowing and nothing can imitate authenticity. The beauty about today and the flood of media that exists I think is that we have no choice but to learn very quickly how to listen and tune into our intuition whether we realise it or not. Nothing has sustainability like authenticity and pure intentions. I credit this greatly to me still standing here today, still working for myself still thriving as an artist. And you as well!! I've seen a sneak peek of what's to come and I am SO excited!! Please share some advice on how you've survived over 10 years, how you stay connected to your authenticity and how you maintain trust in yourself and your God-given gifts. And also, the team you're growing - the responsibility around leading your team and the ethics important to you as a leader.
I can’t agree more with your comment “lessons helping me become my best self”, I can honestly relate to that in a business and in a personal sense.
In our previous discussion, we spoke about living overseas and the benefits it can have on someone and their personal development. Perhaps it was coming from a small town that made me love being in a big unknown city and living amongst such a mix of diverse cultures and backgrounds. Working in different industries with different management showed me very quickly what kind of manager I wanted to be, and what kind of influence I wanted to have on my staff and especially my customers, to show a genuine side to fashion and not the snobbery or pretentiousness.
Once you know what kind of brand, company and business owner you want to be then nothing will sway you from that vision. I used to think it was a look or style but what it really is, to me now, is the creativity amongst the ethics. This means execution both production-wise and within the market itself, are you shoving your products under people’s noses so they buy them before the trend phases out or are you reliving a product season after season because it’s sustainably classic.
During all the pop-up shops we used to do in Brisbane years ago (which I can’t wait to get into this kind of selling again) anyone who came to visit then would understand how the brand was presented. Mind you back then it was mostly accessories and only the beginning of some clothing which is why I’m excited to revisit the concept of retail / a physical representation.
To reinvent yourself is courageous more, some people have the same hairstyles for years, and I think it comes with confidence and a desire to recreate. Design-wise, I often have to filter my ideas with a practicality filter, which sometimes stalls the creative process and brings me back to a playful place. My mother would often say “I love to see what you come out wearing, it’s always interesting and different”, mind you I remember her laughing a few times as well haha. But it was encouragement and you could say self-discovery at the same time. Here I am balancing on the scales between tomboy and vintage grandma. Well maybe not to others but to some. I stopped taking offence to people's comments, purely because it is impossible to please everyone or even the majority, so if you’re true to yourself and your vision then people who genuinely appreciate with follow and support you.
Absolutely, honouring your authenticity and then owning your authenticity really is the key to success. Very courageous and rebellious when you exist within a society. We are all either pack animals or solitary animals all living within the same society! Alex, I am so honoured to have connected with you! I can’t thank you enough for your time and endless creative collaborations over the years. I am so excited for all that is to come for you, for me and for us together. You are currently in Aus, Bris with your super cute hubby from Indo, having the best time!! Let’s close with all the juicy, GO-filled places we can find you and this is a big, huge hug and thank you once again from me .. you’re the best, so much love x
To be honest, being away from home for so long really did start to take a toll on me, in more ways than one. Connecting with your family/roots/guardians face to face is such a powerful and soul-satisfying action. I know a lot of people think phone calls are enough but to sit and be present with those who you love is just magic and when you can’t do it, for whatever reason that maybe lockdown downs etc, that missing feeling magnifies.
This trip wasn’t just a holiday for me but it was also a big moment for my family to meet my husband face to face - A super emotional and heart-filling trip whose primary purpose was family. There were definitely some coastal trips both north and south of Brisbane though to be honest the cold weather was quite a shock, how on earth did I survive living in the UK when 7 degrees had me 5 layers deep in wool coats whilst indoors (lol).
Some of our favourite tourist moments… GC Mexi Cali sunset, Noosa National Park, Bangalow bike hangs surrounded by the mountainous terrain, plus a whole lot of nature in between. Going back to my roots and reliving the past was heavenly nostalgic, even though it was done so through more mature eyes, it has us both, my husband and I, feeling wholesome and our hearts filled to the brim with love.
More Australia trips are definitely on the cards, even a pop-up shop or two perhaps? It definitely has my desire to return more often in full throttle!
You’ll be seeing more of me Lizz xxx
Words and photos by Lizz Pennings x
