By Sophie McInnerney
When you think fashion, you may not exactly envision dirt roads and farm life – but Wilmington fashion designer, Nikki Atkinson is anything but typical.
In between being a mother to three young children and the myriad of tasks as farmer’s wife, Nikki has created a successful fashion business.
In the back room of her family’s farm house, Nikki dreams up, designs and produces high end fashion pieces as well as made to measure wedding and couture garments.
In the back room of her family’s farm house, Nikki creates high end fashion
Her success is the culmination of years of fashion design experience – from creating runway fashion outfits for her dolls as a child, to producing exclusive wedding gowns in Adelaide’s bridal boutique Betrothed, which she used to own.
“We [Nikki and her business partner] were at the top of our game back then.
“It was an amazing experience and I look back now and think ‘wow’ I can’t believe I did that at 24,” says Nikki.
Her ability to design stunning bridal wear has earned Nikki many accolades throughout her career including becoming a finalist in the Telstra Australian Business Woman of the Year.
And while Nikki enjoyed the high flying city life, she was happy to give it all away after she married her farmer husband, Dallas, and moved to Wilmington in the Southern Flinders Ranges.
“It scared me not do it anymore because it’s all I knew but we’d had the business for eight years and, while it was wonderful, I was ready not to do any fashion – I needed a break.”
So Nikki put the sewing machine aside and soon fell pregnant with her first child, Livinia. Next came her second daughter Sienna and then son, Charlie.
Nikki’s three kids are just as fashionable as mum
Little did Nikki know becoming a mother would reignite her spark for fashion design.
“I’d had three babies and I didn’t feel like my old self anymore – I felt like this frumpy old mum that’s just a mum.
“So I wanted to empower women by giving them pieces that made them feel special and help them find a sense of identity again.”
In 2013, Nikki took the plunge and launched her own fashion label, Liv Sienne which she describes as ‘stylish and classic yet quirky and edgy’.
And while the label is still in its infant stages, it has already received international attention.
Nikki was recently invited to make two couture dresses for Gwen DeVoe, the editor of US fashion magazine, DeVoe.
“It came out of nowhere,” says Nikki.
“To have my dresses worn on the catwalk at Fuller Fashion Week in New York and featured in magazines was just incredible.”
She took the plunge and launched her own fashion label, Liv Sienne
The international market is something Nikki hopes to explore further as her children get older.
“I’ve had a lot of interest from people from overseas and I need to sit down and work out how that’s all going to evolve – it’s going to take a lot more time, funds and I’d probably have to get people in to help me out.”
Nikki’s drive and entrepreneurial mind is awe inspiring but she says it comes easy when you do something you’re truly passionate about.
“For me it’s all about empowering women… when someone tells me that something I’ve made for them makes them feel special – that’s what drives me,” Nikki says.
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