ABOUT
At Mount Vic and Me we strongly believe ‘fashion is for every body’. If you love colour, sparkles and fun – we think we’ll have something for you. Discover a kaleidoscope of nostalgia, colour, all things quirky and political designed right here in the studio (or curated via other designers and manufacturers).
There is nothing better than seeing people walk into the studio shop, clap their hands and said ‘I don’t know where to start!’.
Kara Cooper started with no investment, just 5 greeting cards she walked around to stockists in the Blue Mountains or sold to friends and family. When they sold, she designed more cards in the range and expanded the business bit by bit. In 2017, she took on a small shop she shared but within 3 months it was clear they’d both outgrown the space. In this shop she sewed every tea towel night and day. In 2019, a bigger shop next door came up for rent and Mount Vic and Me grew quickly into that space.
With stockists all over Australia and the business sending out orders to our amazing customers every day, people often ask ‘what’s next?’. Well, you’ll just have to wait and see! x
EST 2013
High up in the Blue Mountains (west of Sydney) in the historic village of Mount Victoria, designer Kara Cooper started the fabulously quirky Mount Vic and Me® in 2013.
Kara’s collection of art tea towels, t-shirts, socks, greeting cards, sneakers, skirts, mugs, cushions, upholstered vintage chairs, wallpaper and fabrics are created in a fabulous 100-year-old café on the highway in Mount Vic. The studio is a mash of colour, textures, retro fun and nostalgia.
A lot of Mount Vic and Me’s products including art tea towels, greeting cards, brooches, skirts and socks have the Australian Made campaign’s tick of approval. Political themes are designed to amuse fans of Kara’s work, and her unique Australiana designs look fabulous splashed across cushions and upholstered retro chairs.
You’ll also find an eclectic mix of other Australian designers that work beautifully with Mount Vic and Me, original vintage finds and more.
A WORKING STUDIO
With Kara busy designing the range and Sue & Mel packaging the products and distribute orders across Australia, keeping a good work/life balance is important. Mount Victoria is very much a ‘long weekend’ destination and a sweet little visit. Midweek it can be pretty quiet. That’s why the studio shop is not always open to the public.
MANUFACTURING IN AUSTRALIA
Our long-term goal is to contribute to re-growing Australian manufacturing, which in turn will open up more opportunities for effective green solutions and keeping jobs local.
To help ensure our products takes it easy on the environment, we keep as local as possible. The whole family helps out in packaging stock, sending out orders and helping in the studio shop too.
Australian Made campaign accreditation:
Blue Mountains Socks
Brooches
Tea towels (digital print)
Skirts
Stationery
Our sewing manufacturer in Victoria has the Ethical Clothing Australia tick of approval. As of August 2022, we are trialing sewing with the Country Womens Association (CWA) Bathurst Branch. We also sew a small volume at our studio shop.
Please note we did work with Corrective Services Industries for a short period but after learning more about the programme, we decided it was not aligned with our ethos.
DROP-SHIPPING: MADE TO ORDER
As much as we would love to manufacturer every item, we simply can’t!
We partner with drop-shipping companies in Australia and overseas for: T shirts, shoes and boots, aprons, cushions, leggings, totes, mugs (and more!)
By creating on demand and not creating mass-produced items, we generate less waste and aim to keep environmental impacts within the apparel supply chain to a minimum. Each product item will list whether it’s shipped by one of our partner manufacturers or via our studio shop. Because of the nature of ‘made to order’, some items will be at least 2-4 weeks delivery time to your door.
We are always looking for Australian manufacturers, so please contact us if you’d like to quote.
MANUFACTURER’S SIZING
WHY ‘MENS’ OR ‘WOMENS’?
Our drop-shipping partners state sizing ‘mens’ and ‘womens’ for products including our sneakers and boots. Yes, that is not ideal and we’ll be pushing to move to one size chart into the future. You’ll see we’ve written ‘Bright, bold and funky – let’s kick it with cool boots! We mean ‘Womens’ only in manufacturers sizing – for bigger sizing check out our ‘Mens’ shoe range. Pick the perfect sized kicks for YOU!’ across products.
At Mount Vic and Me, we promote love and inclusivity. If there is something more we can do to be inclusive, please contact us. As a proud parent, I am learning each day and want to absolutely be onboard and inclusive. x
GOING GREEN
Mount Vic and Me® has always taken a sustainable approach to business. Kara Cooper’s previous business was Kara Smith Handbags, where beautiful bags were made from vintage and recycled fabrics, using up everything from tiny fabric scraps to old buttons and buckles. Before that she had left the advertising & design world behind and moved to the Northern Territory, where she was able to put my graphic design and illustration skills to use by taking up contracts with Parks & Wildlife.
Kara’s home features double solar panel system (hoping to have battery back-up one day), four water tanks, lots of chooks and a herb and vegetable garden.
Recycling is a natural element of Mount Vic and Me’s everyday operations, and our small team is always on the lookout for even greener packaging and printing solutions. When it comes to stockists, we align with businesses that have a similar ethos.
We wrap our tea towels and greeting cards in cellophane bags, a viable alternative to dreaded plastic bags. More than 500 billion plastic bags are used around the world each year, mostly just once, before becoming landfill and litter. Cellophane is derived from biodegradable cellulose, usually from wood, but can also be produced from cotton or hemp.
Our packaging is hand-collated in our studio or by our sewing manufacturers. Look out for our eco-friendly, 100% home-compostable shipping satchels. They are waterproof and durable, and they break down in 3-6 months when composted, compared to the 300 years it can take plastic bags. Cardboard boxes are used so things don’t get crushed, and where possible, we use recycled bubble wrap from people in the village of Mount Victoria.
Your gender and sexuality are very much welcome here.
No matter your gender, or your sexuality, you are welcome here. Here, I invite you to express your gender and/or your sexuality however you wish. You will not be met with judgement here.
These gorgeous posters by incredible body activist and feminist Nic McDermid. Get yours here!
Come visit.
We still have some work to do trying to get better access to our historic building (2 steps at the front door) and are investigating how we can get wheelchair access happening. But we will do everything we can to help you! We have even brought outfits to waiting cars outside where gorgeous peeps just can’t come in.
Every BODY is welcome here.
We celebrate ALL bodies, irrespective of body size, shape, gender, sexuality, race, ability, religion, socioeconomic, status or lived experience.
Need some privacy?
If you would like to shop in private for whatever reason – we are happy to work with you. Not everyone wants all our cool customers gushing over new outfits (though everyone is totally positive in our cool space). Just email for more info on how to set up an appointment.
DONATIONS
2021-2023:
Aboriginal Legal Aid
Arts Law
bentART
Beyond Blue
Bob Brown Foundation
Canteen
Caritas Australia
Daniel Morcombe Foundation
Dog Rescue Newcastle
DV West
Foundation for Australia’s Most Endangered Species Ltd
Hawkesbury Helping Hands Inc.
Indigenous Literacy Foundation
Kaarakin Black Cockatoo Conservation Centre WA
Katoomba Rotary (fundraising effort)
Kids Cancer Project
MYST Youth Services Team
Port Macquarie Koala Hospital
Rainbow Shoelace Project
Red Cross Türkiye-Syria Earthquakes Appeal
Red Cross
Science for Wildlife
ShelterBox
Shine for Kids
Team Wonder Women Mystery Box
The Gender Centre Inc
The Kids Cancer Project
The Victorian Pride Centre
Wayside Chapel
Wear it Purple
WIRES
Meet Squawk. This guy is gorgeous! Squawk is a fabulous Black Cockatoo we adopted via the Kaarakin Black Cockatoo Conservation Centre. Squawk was found in 2018 in Sawyers Valley on the ground and unable to fly. He now lives in the interactive aviary at Kaarakin, Martin, Western Australia.
Meet Campbelltown Ella. Ella arrived at the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital in March 2022 as a transfer from WIRES (Wildlife Information Rescue Education Service). She is unfit for release as she has neurological deficits, which means her ability to climb is compromised possibly from trauma to the brain, most likely from being hit by a motor vehicle. Thankfully, her mobility is good, and her gentle demeanour helped us make the decision to transfer her to their facility.
MEMBERSHIP & LICENSING
Mount Vic and Me is a proud member of Arts Law and ACON Welcome Here Project.
We have certain products proudly licensed with the Australian Made Campaign.
