If you are searching for the perfect amalgamation of feminine chic with comfort and style, then Australian fashion label – Night Tiger – will deliver just that. Night Tiger was launched in 2013, in the rising fashion Mecca that is Byron Bay, by Australian-born designer Kari Lee. The label encapsulates 39-year-old Lee’s love for wearable, functional and beautiful feminine pieces.
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Photo by: Ryan Kenny
With a background in the arts, Lee studied contemporary dance along with yoga and fashion design, and began sewing her own clothes at the age of sixteen. “I had pretty eclectic taste for a young girl and we couldn't really buy what we wanted to wear, so my friends and I used to make our own clothes. I loved traditional clothing and jewellery from India and Thailand and other countries too. I remember really admiring people with eccentric, decorative style,” she said.
Night Tiger’s collections are diverse in style and form, and combine ultra feminine silk dresses with basics, lounge/streetstyle, knitwear, neutrals, vibrant colour and prints, and a line of yoga/activewear. Designing her collections from her studio in South Golden Beach in Byron Bay, Lee begins her creative process by developing mood boards for inspiration and vision. Influenced by music, the arts and her travels throughout Australia and the world, she embeds her distinct style into her unique pieces.
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Photo by: Ryan Kenny
“Right now my inspiration is just observing people and what they want. I want to make clothes that people, including me, put on and don't want to take off. I'm really into comfort and simplicity. Clothing that makes people feel beautiful and confident but still comfortable. Coming into winter I'm so inspired by cosy knitwear, leather jackets, soft basics to layer, and cashmere scarves,” she said.
Lee sources quality natural fabrics and designs her own prints for her clothing ranges. Night Tiger’s eclectic mix of patterns and colour reflect the designer’s love for culture and self-expression.
“When I look back at past collections, they represent where I was at when I made them. The influence of art, music, and culture shine through. With each collection I also try to create a theme/story, so that people can see how you would wear different pieces together,” Lee said.
The designer balances building her brand with raising her 11-year-old daughter, Teya. After spending many years living in the fast-paced city of Melbourne and travelling the world, the designer has chosen Byron Bay as her nest and pocket of the globe to create, discover and grow.
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Photo by: Ryan Kenny
Lee not only aims to create a fashion brand, but also a lifestyle that nurtures confidence and comfortability in the women who wear her designs. “The Night Tiger girl is active, loves to dance, lounge and laugh a lot. She is empowered by her own self-love and determination to create her chosen path in life,” she said.
In an era where feminine embodiment is in full force, Night Tiger is producing clothing that is both multi-functional and beautiful to wear. Whether it be for enjoying a yoga class, sipping mojitos at sunset or sipping tea on the verandah, the label’s relaxed cuts and soft fabrics are designed to accommodate a multifaceted lifestyle.
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Photo by: Ryan Kenny, Model: Tahnee Ingham