About Emi

BIO

Emily Rastas, Finnish-Australian b.1995, artist and designer currently working and living in Geelong, working predominantly in the realms of painting, wearable art, sculpture, apparel and installation. Emily is passionate about sustainability and slow fashion, her brand Emipeli Design sells her upcycled clothing range, hand painted shoes and boots, and unique accessories made from discarded fabric waste. 

Emily has been making her own clothing since she was 12 years old and knew from an early age she wanted to be making and designing clothing, briefly studying Fashion at RMIT before spontaneously moving to Europe shortly before her 19th birthday and pursuing costume design, working behind the scenes in theater productions, collaborating with artists and drag queens and on music video sets. During that time Emily also studied SFX and Prosthetic makeup and continued to build her portfolio in design. It was only when moving back to Victoria three years ago that she discovered a love of painting and installation. 

Constantly trying new mediums and combining different techniques, her work seeks to envelop wearer of her creation within a sense of confidence and joy, and for the viewer of her artworks to feel, with emphasis on the healing potential of art.