Bacchus Marsh sisters Karlie Brown and Ashley Iacono are taking on the fashion industry one beautiful gown at a time.
The pair set up their fashion line, Elke Anouk Couture, early this year and have already made a name for themselves by producing exquisite handmade gowns and children’s clothing at an affordable price.
Designer and dressmaker Karlie said that after working with some of Australia’s leading bridal labels in Melbourne and Sydney, she and her sister decided it was time to bring couture to Melbourne’s west and allow brides the chance to enjoy a gown made to fit perfectly.
“I wanted to keep the dresses quite affordable for a handmade piece,” Karlie told
Star Weekly. “We also wanted to focus on luxurious children’s wear … each piece can take anywhere between six and 10 hours to make.”
Karlie said that although there had been a big trend towards vintage pieces recently, many of the brides she had designed for still opted for more traditional gowns, while still accentuating the female form with fabrics such as tulle, satin and silk.
“It’s very rewarding,” she said. “This is my passion, this is what I love doing and there’s nothing like this around here.”
Ashley, who looks after the business side, said wedding gowns were just one part of the business. She said christening, communion and debutante ball dresses were also popular.
“It brings something really different to the area,” she said.
“It’s great to have something like this in our area.”
