Season 1 Episode 8: Angela Foong, co-founder of fashion label ‘High Tea with Mrs Woo’
Angela Foong is a fashion designer who co-founded the Newcastle-based label ‘High Tea with Mrs Woo’ with her sisters, Rowena and Juliana. The siblings were born in Malaysia and their family migrated to Australia in 1988.
Fascinated with the memory, and the memoir of clothing, they explore the ability of fashion to unfold a great yarn. They describe each garment they make from a moment in time, a truth or a reminiscence – like Stuck in Ueno, Irreversible, We're all mad here, Waiting for Jack to name a few.
The name ‘High Tea with Mrs Woo’ is a nostalgic nod to the colonial-style high teas the siblings experienced when they were younger.
The sisters say they are conscious of making decisions that support their sustainability practices on a daily basis, and work towards bettering the way they make, sell and consume things. This includes recycling and engaging in energy-saving functions as much as possible. All paper and textile waste is recycled or re-used. Furniture and fittings are sourced as locally as possible, vintage or second-hand, hand restored, re-worked, or designed and built with local skills.
Trained in Graphic Design and Visual Communication, Rowena and Juliana draw on their diverse design skills whilst Angela brings her Economics and Commerce background to the table.
High Tea with Mrs Woo's store was established in 2004 and is in Cooks Hill, Newcastle. It has their clothing range and a curated selection of jewellery, accessories and shoes. It also features hand-crafted tableware, textiles and objects for gifts and home.