Kym Ellery Makes a Splash

Kym Ellery, having studied at Central Saint Martins and having held the title of Market Director for Australian fashion magazine RUSSH, launched her eponymous label in 2007 and hasn’t looked back. The brand’s unique blend of femininity, glamour, power and mystery has catapulted E L L E R Y to the forefront of Australian fashion in a sartorial heartbeat. Having conquered an audience bred as children of the sun, Kym now has her sights set rest of the world.

Dazed Digital: Why did you turn your hand to fashion design after beginning your career in magazines?
Kym Ellery: I didn't ever plan to work in magazines. Art and Design has always been my first passion, I saw styling a great way to gain fashion education from a different point of view to design. It gave me an insight into how the media giant operates and having a brain that is part design and part styling helps me when I design and create a collection.

DD: How was your experience studying in London?
KE: Amazing. The passion and diversity within the classroom was extraordinary, not to mention inspiring.

DD: What is the Ellery signature style/piece?
KE: I love that question! But it's such a hard one to answer. For me it is the stand out pieces in each collection that I feel is a signature, whether it be a leather dress or jacket, or a sequin piece. From SS09 I loved all of the pieces that had chain detail draped across the back, that I think is very E L L E R Y.

DD: There's always a lot of gold and sparkle in your clothes, where does your love for bling come from?
KE: I'm not quite sure, perhaps I was a magpie in a past life but I certainly love anything that glimmers.

DD: What inspired your latest collection?
KE: For the latest collection I drew inspiration from some of my many muses. I love the idea of a Siren; long liquid hair but with a certain mystique; Jerry Hall for the Roxy Music ‘SIREN’ album cover, Daryl Hannah circa "SPLASH", 80s glam as well the underwater abstract landscape. Objects born from nature are also a big influence in this collection, barnacles, shell and seaweed matter. Mixing these elements with a polished silhouette, a red nail and lip (the epitome of 80s glam) create an interesting juxtaposition.
With a mixture of soft colours and tough fabrics this range is polished, but more importantly has a strong sense of ‘cool’.
I wanted this collection to have touches of the soft neutral colours in nature, mixed with a black gothic edge and the occasional bright goldfish orange or blood red highlight. I also wanted these clothes to be great comfortable basics in this time of economic recession, but pieces that are still fashion forward and individual.

DD: I've often heard people say colder climates influence more imaginative style. How do you think the climate affects Australian fashion?
KE: It definitely is a very much a lighter sense of style in down under. I think the warmer climate is hard, people tend to get fashion creative with prints and the cuts of the light weight clothes rather than layering. There is alot more emphasis on your shoes and bag, not that it's different anywhere else in the globe but for the Fashionistas here it really is life or death.

DD: What do you think is unique or special about Australian fashion?
KE: Australian Fashion takes on many different directions. I suppose it's because we're down here all alone, looking up at what is going on globally and get to pick and choose what angle to take as our own. Australians have access to buy international brands but we can also pick out pieces from the pool of talented local designers and follow trends with a fresh interpretation.

DD: What are your aspirations for the label?
KE: I would love to relocate to Paris or London and run the label from there.  Eventually I would like a store or twenty where I can create and sell beautiful, well made clothing.