I remember being in this church and gazing at the ceiling and the frescoes, being wondrous about the wonderful draping on the saints. And I think that's where my first idea of maybe … well, first connection with texture, a textile. But then my mother took me to a dressmaker. There I discovered what I wanted to do in life at the age of six; I wanted to be a fashion designer. I wanted to create beautiful fashion.
I think if you have something in mind that you really love that you know you will love, eventually you find a way.
When I started in the 60s, there were three designers, myself, Prue Acton and Trent Nathan. Just three Australia-wide and now there are hundreds. It was unusual for a woman to want to start her own business. And I, kind of, was really fortunate, because I was on the crest of that change the whole time. I was part of that change. I was one of the many women who wanted to have a job, wanted to have a career, wanted to be in charge of their existence, their life, wanted to really take hold of their life. And so that was important.
My clients keep writing, emailing. And they tell me that my product gives them confidence, makes them look beautiful, discover something in themselves that they didn't know. They love it when people compliment them. And that is what I always wanted to do. I really believe that women make a wonderful contribution in society. It's very important for them to feel good about themselves. If you're wearing something that you really like, and that you know [is] bringing out the best in you, you can forget about that item and just get on with life. And that's what I try and do. And I'm told by my clients that that is what, in fact, my product does.
