Featured Seller: Wild Ones

Wild Ones was started by Angelique Monaghan, a stay at home mum to three, after finding a lack of funky clothing for wee ones. After making a few animal hats and pinafores for her youngest daughter she was encouraged by the response from others and started taking orders and making them to sell. Her range of costumes and hats have taken off and you may see quite a few wild ones running around her home town of Christchurch. Wild Ones outfits do stand out from the crowd and will attract attention so they are not for the faint-hearted!

What do you make?
I make a range of animal and monster costumes, hats and tails as well as a range of skirts, pinafores and much more clothing to come.
I also make monster wheat bags, bedtime buddies and plushies. I am always making new things so will be listing new things all the time. The summer range of clothing will all be unique and mostly one of a kind items, including bonnets, dresses, aprons, overalls and shorts.
I am always open to ideas if someone wants something custom made.

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Your favourite materials, tools and processes?
I love fabric, all types, and especially love bright colourful prints. At the moment I am mainly working with fleece, which is brilliant in this weather and so versatile.
There is no method to my madness, normally I will get an idea into my head and then try and make it. If it works, great, if not I normally shelve it and try again later.
I am constantly making new things and have bags full of half finished projects.
I am a painter as well. I am currently taking a break while I am making all these clothes and monsters but will be incorporating hand painted designs into my clothing too.

What inspires you?
My children, nature, artwork, fabric…

Is there a philosophy behind your work?
I love seeing kids having fun with what they are wearing, I love the fact that many of the kids I have sold costumes too won’t take them off. It’s such a great feeling seeing their faces light up when they put them on.
Preschool years are full of learning, fun and wonder and I love that kids can run around dressed up like a bee, a lion, a parrot or a dinosaur and make everyone around them smile.

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Describe your workspace:
Chaotic and cramped! I work at the kitchen table so unfortunately I have to pack everything up each time. My material stash is in the small spare room piled up in containers, so I get the added work out of rummaging through the boxes to find what I need before I make anything. I also generally have at least one of my three children come in and “rearrange ” things while they are laid out.

Five words that describe your mind: chaotic, busy, creative, fun, crazy

What are you currently listening to? Minuit’s new album

Recommend an album: Blowback by Tricky

Your favourite childhood book? The Search for the Zimparumpa Zoo by Mercer Mayer

A favourite quote:
“Be happy for this moment, for this moment is your life” and “This too shall pass” which I actually got tattooed on my arm this year.

Do you have any pets?
We have four cats, Bella, Dharma, Mogwai and Kaia. It seems we are cat magnets and they just keep turning up at the door.

If you were a crayon, what colour would you be? Red

Check out the full range of Wild Ones in Angelique’s Felt shop.