Richard Whillas, designer and director of Whillas & Gunn takes us behind the scenes at the Australian brand, whose outback informed style is landing at my-wardrobe this season.

How did Whillas and Gunn start?
Our family company Kakadu Traders has been manufacturing outerwear for the past 40 years so I grew up immersed in the rag trade. Around five years back I decided I needed more in life than “just smashing beers”, as it were, so I joined the family company. Then three years ago we decided to do a more contemporary line, which is Whillas & Gunn. It has a more tailored aesthetic which allows us to be a little more creative in design and thus target a different customer.

What’s the look for the Autumn 11 range?
Our Autumn collection is pretty textbook for the label, a mixture of Australian outerwear with Aviator and bank-robber references constructed in rugged fabrication that will age nicely with time. Key pieces are the Kingsford Smith quilted Bomber and vest, and also the bags.

What’s the theme?
There isn’t really a seasonal theme as such, it’s more character references. We have spent a lot of time up in Northern China recently near Inner Mongolia where the cold gets into your bones and it’s dusty as hell. So a lot of the Autumn collection is a testament to that environment.

What’s the manufacturing process behind the construction?
My uncle built our oil coating plant around 25 years back which we have in our factory and quality, tough raw materials are our backbone. We have a few evergreen base fabrics like heavy canvas, oilskin cloth, which we make in-house, as well as rugged cowhide.

What’s intrinsically Australian about the brand?
The Australian style and attitude are pretty rough, rugged and un-complicated, which we are proud of and this definitely comes through in our fabrication and styling. Our ‘Blood, Sweat & Beers’ code covers most things, well certainly the important things… Family, hard work and a couple of beers (cold!).

QUICKFIRE QUESTIONS
What is the best Australian music? INXS
What is the best Australian food? Pies & sausage rolls with tons of sauce
What is the best Australian TV program? Kath & Kim
What is the best Australian movie? The Castle