Meet Kaitlin: Customer Service Queen, Shipping Wizard & Kantha Lover

If you’ve ever received a beautifully wrapped Renew parcel or had a kind email from our team, there’s a very good chance Kaitlin was involved somewhere behind the scenes.

Part shipping wizard, part customer service queen, part email extraordinaire, Kaitlin brings a calm, grounding presence to the office while somehow keeping the daily chaos moving smoothly. We sat her down for a fun little Q&A to chat all things Renew, festivals, favourite pieces, and life beyond the packing bench.

Kaitlin wearing the Amidi dress

Hey Kaitlin, tell us a few things about yourself that people might not know?

I love pickling, fermenting, making preserves, and cooking! I'm into learning about wild, native foods and foraging. Also a big fan of taking slow bushwalks, touching moss, and finding random bugs and fungi. And I still believe in faeries 🧚

 
Nature fun & homemade ferments

What does a typical day at Renew look like for you?

Most days start with an hour or so of answering emails then responding to comments and messages on social media. After that I'll pack orders for the day and re-organize the shelves. For the rest of the day, I'm usually listing new products on the website, scheduling emails, and folding clothes. There's plenty of other things that might come up in a day, and I love that there's always variety in what I'm doing.

What’s something people might not realise goes into packing and sending orders for a small business?

For this business specifically, it's a bit different because everything is completely one-of-a-kind and it does take a bit of time to find where something is - but we've got a pretty good system in place now which makes it waaay easier to sort and navigate. I think people don't realise that being a small business, we start to recognise repeat names/customers and their usual style, and we talk about their orders when they come through, like "Oh wow, Helen is going to LOVE these pants!" or "Looks like Lisa is going for a green theme this week."

Kaitlin checking codes & pulling your orders in her Spellbound Skirt

You’re flooded in at a music festival for a week. Which three Renew pieces are you glad came with you?

 
Festival adventures!

Your vibe is very earthy and creative with a touch of mystical energy. Where do you draw inspiration from when getting dressed?

I do love earthy tones, and though I'd love to say I put a lot of effort into my outfits, I usually like to keep it simple and easy by pairing a basic block-colour piece with some colourful kantha. I'm inspired by 60's and 70's hippie fashion, but I also love a bit of alternative and grungy vibes. I don't like to box myself into one specific style, it really depends on my mood for the day.

Tell us about your pets, Aluna and Turtle!

Aluna is my sweet rescue 4 y.o. Jack Russell x Staffy and she has A LOT of energy! She's been an amazing addition to our family, and as much as she loves her daily walks and playing at the park, she is such a snuggle bug and you can usually find her under some blankets. Turtle is my soul-cat, I adopted her 10 years ago and she has gotten me through some really tough times in life with her unconditional love. She looooves to cuddle, honestly the most affectionate cat I've ever met, but she can also be very sassy and bossy. She rules the household like the little queen that she is!

Aluna the pup & Turtle the kitty

What does your ideal day off look like?

My ideal day off would start with a visit to our local French bakery for some almond croissants & coffee, then a visit to some op-shops (thrift stores), a picnic lunch at the Botanic Gardens, taking Aluna for a scenic walk, and then finishing the day with some nibblies and a bevvy or two overlooking the coastline from my back deck. 

What’s always within arm’s reach at your desk or packing bench?

What’s your favourite thing about the Renew community?

I love how kind and supportive everyone is, it warms my heart to see women lifting each other up and cheering each other on. In a world full of social media doom-scrolling and trolling, it's really special to have a space where everyone can be themselves and be loved for it.

Kaitlin & her partner, Grant