2024: A Year of Firsts (even after 16 years)!
As we looked back on the year that was 2024, we were surprised to notice that we had so many 'firsts' this year, even though Surya's been operating for 16 years now. Follow along as we highlight each month in picture review - plus a bonus 'meme of the month'. Scrolling though the pics on my phone, I chose one meme that I had screenshot each month.
JANUARY
The year started off with a bang, as we completed our first ever photo shoot in Nepal! We'd been planning it for a few months from Australia and had the best time with the team we'd found. It felt strange to be doing a part of our job that was so familiar to us (a photo shoot), but in a different country with a whole different team. We loved the experience and were hooked!
Meme of the month:
(a meme I found screenshot on my phone from each particular month)
FEBRUARY
Even though we'd officially had the lease on our very first warehouse since November, we only moved all our stock in - and began dispatching orders from it - after we got back from Nepal in February. We had spent the previous 2 months building shelving, packing benches and work spaces, and planning our new try-on studio.
Meme of the month:
MARCH
March was a HUGE month of festivals for us. We set up and traded at iconic events such as Womadelaide, Port Fairy Folk Festival, Blue Mountains Music Festival and the super cute local Cobargo Folk Festival - yes, a super fun and busy month!
Meme of the month:
APRIL
In April we finally utilized the mezzanine for its intended purpose, and did our first mezzanine catalogue shoot! The space wasn't even nearly ready, but we made do and were so, SO happy with the results! Having this space is a game changer for us, as we can keep different coloured backgrounds, lighting and props on hand without having to transport them each shoot.
Meme of the month:
MAY
May was a super quiet month, with lots of garden time, celebrating both our birthday's and catching up on socials. An awesome relaxing month that doesn't happen very often!
Meme of the month:
JUNE
In June we got serious and and hired our first warehouse employee. We knew we were heading back to Nepal the following month, and needed to not have to basically shut the website down every time we went away together. Grace (superstar), now packs all your online orders and answers your email queries.
We also started offering order pickups from the warehouse, and I did a little big 'photo shoot' with my niece - another superstar in the making.
Also this month Jervis Bay made the news - not for its white sand beaches - but for the giant sinkhole left after heavy rain. That was a fun couple of weeks getting to and from work.
Meme of the month:
JULY
Another trip to Nepal in July, and this time we brought Chris (our Australian photographer) to Kathmandu with us for the first time. We had an awesome couple weeks, obviously completing another amazing shoot at a stunning lush, tropical wet season location.
Meme of the month:
AUGUST
Absolutely nothing happened in August - not a single thing apparently (according to my photos and social media).
It was so good!
Meme of the month:
SEPTEMBER
Surya turned 16 in September, and we held our annual competition to win a $200 voucher on socials - that kept us busy. As did the launch of our Spring / Summer collection - our best yet we reckon!
Meme of the month:
OCTOBER
We were freaking out in October, as our new collection was selling really,
really well - a good problem to have, we know - but our
Freedom Pants had already sold out in a couple of colours! Luckily we received a new shipment
just in time for the Christmas rush. We put our best girl on the job to unpack the shipment.
We introduced our new 'interactive' postcards with each order, and kept chipping away at our (soon-to-be-announced-we-promise) try on studio.
Meme of the month:
NOVEMBER
November saw us reconnect with our fave's at
Samunnat Nepal, an amazing social enterprise employing women who have been rescued from trafficking or domestic violence situations.
We also celebrated Dashain and Tihar with our partners in Nepal, and we did another shoot in the mezzanine and released our (stunning) new
Wild Rose Dress.
Meme of the month:
DECEMBER
The lead up to Christmas was hectic, with orders being placed like never before. I found myself packing orders on my own over the holidays, and loved it! I haven't done that part of the job for 6 months or so, and enjoyed the satisfaction of getting it done.
Meme of the month:
Thanks for another fabulous year! We hope you all have a cracker 2025!
Until next time,
Mel Xx
