It Can Be All of Our Turn
Towards the end of my conversation with designer Jessica Lawrence, I found myself saying something many of us feel deep down: “It’s your turn.”
Without hesitation, Jessica replied: “It’s all of our turn. There is enough playing field for us all to have our turn at the same time.”
That moment really stayed with me.
How often do we hold ourselves back? How often do we wait to feel more confident, more certain, or for someone else to grant us permission to step up? We treat success and self-fulfillment like a narrow queue, waiting patiently for our moment in the spotlight. But what if the stage is big enough for all of us?
The Art of Beginning Again
Jessica’s journey is a powerful masterclass in backing yourself. After spending years working across the fashion industry, she made the bold choice to return to study fashion design in her thirties. It meant starting over, balancing full-time work with full-time study, and finally giving herself permission to pursue a lifelong dream.
In 2024, Jessica and her husband made another conscious choice: moving from Melbourne to Hobart to curate a intentional, grounded life. That leap led directly to the creation of her emerging label, Map of Tassie Swim and Après Swim, which makes its runway debut at the Tasmanian Fashion Festival this weekend.
We sat down to speak about reinvention, dressing for yourself, and the deep connection between knowing who you are and consuming less.
"I want women to feel sexy for themselves before they feel that for anyone else." — Jessica Lawrence
Not for approval. Not to meet someone else’s expectations. Just for themselves.
When we truly understand who we are, our relationship with fashion changes. We become far less interested in chasing fast trends and far more confident wearing what we already own, choosing secondhand, and styling pieces in ways that tell our authentic story.
Jessica’s story is a vivid reminder that it is never too late to begin again—to back yourself and step into the woman you were always meant to be. There doesn’t need to be a hierarchy. It can be all of our turn.
Meet Project Emerald Collective This Weekend
The conversations we share online are vital, but bringing them into physical spaces where women can connect face-to-face is where true collective momentum happens.
This Sunday, Project Emerald Collective will have its very own activation station at the Tasmanian Fashion Festival.
We’re creating a intentional space to pause, connect, and listen—to ourselves and to one another. Here’s what you can expect when you visit us:
The Activation Wall: Add your unique voice and story to our collective community wall.
The Women’s Pulse Project: Be part of the launch of our new initiative exploring how women are really feeling and what we want to see change.
Real Conversation: Join meaningful dialogues about conscious living, identity, and personal empowerment.
While you're at the festival, you can also catch Jessica’s debut Map of Tassie collection live on the runway at Princes Wharf No.1 in Hobart.
If you’re attending the Festival, please drop by, say hello, and be part of this next step for Project Emerald. I would genuinely love to meet you.
Eve x
Take Your Power Back. One conscious choice at a time.
