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01:00Hi, I'm Helena Christensen, and I'm in Paris to model some of the world's most talented designers.
01:22These designers come from many different countries, but there's only one from Australia, and she happens to be one of the most creative.
01:30Out of all the clothes I modelled from so many international designers, her sexy romantic outfits are amongst my favourites.
01:49This designer's name is Colette Dinnigan, and here is her story.
01:55The world of fashion has always been a dynamic and evolving industry, constantly seeking fresh new talent and innovative ideas.
02:23Colette Dinnigan was and is a pioneering Australian fashion designer.
02:33She emerged on the scene in the 1990s and quickly garnered international recognition for her unique designs and exquisite craftsmanship.
02:41In this film, we look at the remarkable journey of Colette Dinnigan from her early beginnings in Australia to establishing herself in London
02:51and eventually becoming the first Australian designer to showcase her collections in the hallowed catwalks of Paris.
02:59Colette Dinnigan was actually someone that I respected because she was really literally the first designer from Australia to officially be part of official schedule during Paris Fashion Week.
03:26Yes, so I had a great respect for her, but Colette Dinnigan was a big deal.
03:32I'm Colette Dinnigan.
03:33I started my career, I guess, in television and costume in the music industry and making costumes for video clips back in the 90s.
03:44And then I moved on to a brand called Palladium and I used to do, it was in the bicentenary, Joy Smithers and I used to do t-shirts together and we sold them to many stores like Remo and internationally.
03:57It was a lot of fun.
03:58And then I started my own brand, my fashion label, which started as Colette Dinnigan, which was a lingerie brand.
04:05And I had my own store and it was very bespoke and it was a mixture of, I guess, silks and vintage laces and everything was pretty much handmade.
04:15And I would sell it to order and I started, in fact, I asked a friend, Nicky Andrews, when there was Mode magazine, I went in there and I sold it to all the different fashion editors.
04:25And I got lots of orders and then I had something in the Sydney Morning Herald, which was mail order, send a self-addressed stamped envelope and you can order this.
04:33And I had thousands and thousands of replies.
04:36And from that, I opened my own little store in William Street in Paddington.
04:40And then I tried to wholesale to different stores here, Myers, David Jones, nobody was interested.
04:47And so I went to America, to New York, to Barney's, and they were my first wholesale international customer.
04:53And I guess it just all started from there.
04:56They became my showroom in a way and a lot of other stores went to Barney's to see what labels they would have in the 7th Avenue, 17th Street store.
05:04And then people from around the globe started asking for the underwear and I started selling it to Harvey Nichols and Joyce in Hong Kong.
05:13And I guess my brand just evolved from there.
05:16So here we are in my store that I opened in 1992, which was quite a milestone for me.
05:22It was the time when I guess nobody was buying my product in Australia and I needed to have a place to showcase it and merchandise and this is it.
05:31And it's still very fond memories of that and also very close to my heart and I'm glad it's still here.
05:36Slowly transitioned from the underwear to loungewear to outerwear and then I started a lot of corsetry and in that time fashion was very androgynous.
05:46A lot of Belgian designers were sort of taking the stage like Andy Milamista and you know it was I guess something quite the opposite.
05:54And I started dressing, you know doing clips for Madonna and a lot of different other music personalities and I think Cindy Crawford was my first customer and Barney's so kind of got quite a cult following and the brand took off from there.
06:09I was born in Durban, South Africa in September 1965.
06:16My father was Irish and he actually met my mother in Durban at a yacht club party while he was sailing around the world.
06:22My mother was a very eccentric, I don't like to use that word because you know I think everybody has their own eccentricities but she was very vivacious and very creative and so she was lots of fun.
06:36My father has got a great intellect and very much a common sense person and very worldly and authentic too.
06:45They're both very authentic in their own characters.
06:47They were so suited to each other because they had such a sense of adventure.
06:50I lived in a place called Mandini which was in Zululand so it was kind of almost in the bush itself.
06:58Our front lawn was a 50 metre catch being built so it was constantly a construction site.
07:04It was surrounded by a menagerie of animals.
07:07I even can remember times having my chickens in the kitchen because I was upset with the storms and the pythons that would sometimes come.
07:13It was very organic life I guess, lots of gardens and just a great child's dream playground.
07:19Lots of big trees to climb.
07:22I think I had a few days at school.
07:25It was in South Africa you don't start until you're six.
07:29I can remember writing cat and mat and fat and duck and having to wear a uniform and the next time I had to put on a uniform was probably four or five years later.
07:38I can't remember the year, I was around about seven years old.
07:43And I can never forget leaving, it was Boxing Day I think and there was hordes of people saying goodbye and we couldn't quite understand and my mother's sister was in tears and hearing comments about that crazy Irishman taking his family in the roughest seas and not quite understanding why.
07:59My dad kept on sailing, great sailing weather, if we get weather like this all the way we'll be doing well.
08:04We sailed from South Africa, we were on our way to Canada and we ended up stopping in Australia on our way to New Zealand and we settled in New Zealand and that's why I did my education.
08:15I went to design school in Wellington, which is now Massey University School of Design and then I ended up going to Europe and settling in Australia and working for, I think it was Anthony Bloomfield was my first place I worked and then for Angie Vestie at Bliss Clothing and then I went on to the ABC TV and worked on productions there doing the costume design and I did my first feature film as a costume designer was with Stephen Hopkins.
08:45And then as I was sort of kind of going into the film industry, there was a huge tax cut from the government so the bottom fell out of the film industry and that's when I started making my lingerie and started sort of my own business.
08:58Kola Dinnigan is renowned for her exquisite use of lace in her designs, which had become synonymous with her brand.
09:05Before expanding into fashion, Dinnigan initially gained recognition for her work in lingerie and underwear design.
09:18Well at that time I wasn't really doing so much the traditional lingerie, it was much more lingerie going into outerwear so it was corsetry or little lace petticoats that would be worn with something else and then you would dress on top of that so it really was about lots of layers.
09:35But I think at the time there was Chantal Thomas in France but it was very much an underwear company and I think what I was doing quite differently was a mixture of sleepwear, little slip dresses with embroideries and lace edges and there was definitely a transition as that underwear to outerwear feeling.
09:53Just wearing slip dresses, it was very much about wearing the start of the slip dress.
10:23I remember doing Colette's boomerang show which was just so, we were so nervous because it was just such a beautiful venue and they were
10:53so many amazing people in attendance and these dresses they were like pastel
11:00miracles of detail and special fabrics and but so feminine and so modern and
11:10so beautiful and timeless it was really something else.
11:16Collette Dinigan was a pioneer I mean her dresses were just beautiful I don't
11:22think of my wife and some of the major occasions in our in our life and and she
11:26was wearing Collette Dinigan she's she's an icon in our industry when I first met
11:32Collette I just thought she was such a lively funny incredible woman and she
11:42soon got me in to become her house model her fit model so I would go in there you
11:50know for a few hours every week and try on these incredible dresses that was so
11:55detailed and perfect and you know she would get me to try something on and then
12:00she would just come in and sort of fix something up and then go okay we need
12:05embroidery here and and she would send the dress off for an hour and it would
12:11come back with all this amazing embroidery and it would just be like oh my god this
12:16is so dreamy and beautiful and she was just so optimistic and hard-working and
12:23had this vision that was so unlike anybody else.
12:28Before expanding into fashion Dinigan initially gained recognition for a work in
12:33lingerie and underwear design. Lace would become a defining element in Collette Dinigan's
12:39designs showcasing her love for intricate and delicate fabrics drawing inspiration
12:46from her childhood in New Zealand and her travels throughout the world. Dinigan
12:51developed a deep appreciation for the artistry and beauty of lace. Lace not only
12:56added a touch of femininity and sensuality to her creations but also became a
13:02signature feature that set her designs apart from everybody else's.
13:07I guess lace for me was when it was when I first started the underwear and I
13:13used to find in Europe and also in Australia there were a lot of amazing
13:16warehouses filled with old lace and I'd rummage through them all and buy them and
13:21then I would mix them with silk chiffons and you know especially I then I would
13:26just try and find some of the companies that made the lace in France most of them
13:30were based in Lyon or near Calais and I'd go and visit them and they would often have
13:36the old lace machines from those laces and I started developing new laces with
13:40them and and I'd use it mix it you know and worked with a lot of Chantilly lace and
13:45the true French laces and Swiss embroideries and that's where I guess my
13:51signature came from always something feminine with a hard edge. Collette epitomized you
13:56know ethereal feminine chic embellishment she was a pioneer in that space really for
14:04beautiful embellishment high quality beautiful garments and she really was a
14:10was a was a trailblazer
14:17I guess for me the the journey was that it was a demand people would say after making the
14:44little bras and slip dresses or couldn't you make this or can you make a cardigan
14:48to go with that or we'd love a pair of pants you know your pajama style pants with
14:51some embroidery and it was a demand I guess from the retail stores they you
14:55know the customer was consuming the product and so there was more and more so
15:00I kind of expanded I guess not my repertoire but my collection and develop
15:05more and more pieces and and I think you know when I look back at what I did
15:08everything was quite soft and gentle and whimsical and as I kind of grew up in my
15:14journey through fashion I ended up you know having a lot more structure and even
15:19with my slip dresses I'd build corsets underneath and have the the chiffon
15:22would float over the top so I guess that was my evolution where I started and
15:27things are very that were whimsical and soft and then they became much more
15:31structured and crafted in the sense that it was you know suit tailored jacket would
15:35have you know it would be the proper Silesia be working off a mannequin and
15:39really giving it a lot more form I guess my design is always you know there's a
15:43lot of romanticism but it's always I like to have a masculine edge or it's
15:47always about the proportion the color the cut that's femininity it's an urban
15:51modern edge or there's always something that it's a juxtaposition it's not
15:56always I mean my customer always wants the same but different so it's very it's
16:00one of the most difficult things to deliver is the same things but
16:04it's something that's new every season so you know but I guess that's a
16:07handwriting it's a signature it's about it's something that's in my imprint I
16:12remember kind of discovering the brand Colette Dinigan when I moved to Australia
16:18and I thought wow and then I didn't realize that Australian fashion was so
16:23sophisticated and it was the the beauty of the quality of what she was doing and
16:29the designs it's quite spectacular to see and seeing her then move into Paris
16:34Fashion Week and do what she did it was quite something in 1990 Dinigan took a
16:40leap of faith and launched her eponymous label Colette Dinigan her collection
16:46showcased her distinctive style characterized by delicate fabrics
16:51intricate lacework and feminine silhouettes her designs captivated
16:56Australian audiences and Dinigan quickly gained a loyal following her
17:01creations were regarded as a refreshing departure from the minimalist aesthetic
17:05that dominated the Australian fashion scene at that time so when Colette
17:11started you know she started in she had the underwear business and you know she
17:15had the shop in Paddington and she's incredibly clever operator you know she had
17:20some beautiful stuff and I remember you know watching the documentary the
17:23lace maker in Paris which was just so remarkable it was so the energy behind
17:28that documentary and just seeing the rawness of it you know of the anticipation
17:33of showcasing in Paris you know an Australian girl that kind of you know was
17:38suddenly amongst the best of the best in Paris would have been an incredible
17:42opportunity for her and it was you know she she was a rising star and she was
17:47incredibly intelligent and and she's incredibly smart the way that she ran her
17:52business and you know knew her customer and evolved the business into you know some casual
17:59components and lifestyle and you know obviously invested really well into property which was
18:04really smart so she always had something to fall back on and I think what was so beautiful
18:09about her collection is when I walked into DJ's and seeing it hanging there and all the numbered
18:14garments made it really unique you know just to know that there was still this you know despite
18:20the commercial success that she had it was still this beautiful brand that wasn't mass-produced that
18:27you knew that you were buying one of such and such a number um and it was going to be a treasured
18:32piece and I think that you know I think that that somebody out there has got these garments with these
18:39numbers on it and you know they should feel incredibly honoured and you know that it's
18:43it's you just don't get that back that's a piece of Australian cultural history
19:00buoyed by her success in Australia Dinigan sought to expand her brand globally
19:06in the mid-1990s she opened her first store in London bringing her unique Australian aesthetic
19:13to the fashion capital I opened my first store in London into the year 2000 it was it was very
19:20exciting time it was you know the Olympics everything Australians were full of optimism I think the whole
19:25world was and it was great it was small it was in the side street but it was next to real hair
19:32dressing so everybody went there all the blondes went there to get their hair done then they'd pop
19:36into our shop but it was you know it was alive London and I loved being there and we had
19:41um a great customer base and it was always you know I'd always do an event in the store a little
19:46trunk show after our show in Paris so I guess those also were the days you know without children so
19:52I was kind of free and it was was lots of fun the London boutique became an instant hit attracting
19:59fashion conscious clientele and earning Dinigan widespread critical acclaim her distinctive designs
20:07often inspired by her Australian roots resonated with the international fashion community and set
20:13her apart from her contemporaries and I guess the advantage too with what I did was there wasn't a large
20:19you know the the items were all numbered there'd be one of five or one of two or one of ten so every
20:25customer knew exactly how many there were in the world and they would feel a lot more special we'd fit
20:30it to them so it was kind of bespoke couture in a way Colette Dinigan is a was a really real quiet
20:37achiever she was quite stealth really I mean she had a business in Paris for long before I think any of
20:44us really realized how significant she was and she dipped from memory she dipped in and out of fashion
20:51week and I think you know at David Jones we were privileged to to do business with her and she was
20:57a great partner of ours you know we used to call those designers the family and she was you know she was
21:02well and truly one of the founding members of that fashion family Colette Dinigan's breakthrough moment
21:08came in 1995 when she became the first Australian designer ever to be invited to showcase her
21:15collections at Paris fashion week the invitation was a testament to her talent and growing recognition
21:23of Australian fashion on the global stage Dinigan's Parisian debut was met with critical acclaim
21:31establishing her as an internationally renowned designer so I mean I guess showing in Paris was never
21:38the dream I had I was just too busy but it was the stores that I sold to like Harvey Nichols
21:44Colette we've talked all of the stores including Barney Sacks they all get together it'd be so much
21:49easier if you just went to Paris and did a show and show us how to wear the clothes and how to buy them
21:54because I was traveling you know between LA and New York London Hong Kong and seeing each buyer before
22:00I went you know Paris wasn't even on my I guess destination list and that's how it started so I
22:07started doing a show my first show was in Angelina's and it was crazy because I had no
22:11idea how to do a show and all the corsetry and the lacing up and everything we didn't even have
22:16dresses I was dressing behind the scenes it was like it was crazy it was something you could not even
22:22understand or begin to imagine it wasn't like a slip dress on and off it was like you know so many
22:26buttons we need to get them dressed could everybody get into the first outfits please first outfits
22:33get into first where's um where's Hetsui where's Veronica who's two models missing still which ones
22:42Veronique I assume yeah where's Veronique dressing so where's her the models that were late from the
22:47other shows I was where are they because it's not just a case of dropping a couple of models that said
22:53we have to lose the outfits that they're wearing is anyone here because we have to start because
23:09Saks are about to leave and we have to start so all the girls here uh Natalia just arrived no not
23:14not Natalia Veronique oh okay Veronique just right in it's too late no she's here yeah no get her in
23:20get in get quickly beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep now right now get her in make up no no quick just
23:27take off her lips change the uh makeup makeup makeup makeup oh yeah oh it's too late so look we need
23:43Natalia's makeup done she's just been to another show yeah she's here but we need someone here really
23:47quickly when they do arrive it's easy if they've got short hair perhaps but if they had longer hair
23:53you have to get the hair done the makeup done and put them into that hole look no we're half an hour late
23:58already we're ready fill it tell them well that to start yeah you know the people are leaving our stores
24:14from america yes it's the most terrible feeling if they're a failure your soul your life everything
24:20you know there's been a lot put on the line for it oh who was oh shit who was that veronica is ready
24:28or what veronica yes she is she's coming no no no two veronicas now oh okay okay no
24:39you know what number yes which one is the that's the first one first outfit is i don't know which is
24:45it's veronica r it's veronica r it's veronica r no where is she in the lineup this time is the one
24:51you know the other one so the second one this is veronica r it's number 25. okay okay we have to start
24:57we gotta start wait can you get the music going yeah yeah come on front of me front of me
25:02anyway it went really well and i think from then i did another show and because of the show
25:08moussindical there's time slots and each designer owns their time slot and i would always try and choose a
25:13time slot that wasn't kind of i guess vying for the press of you know another designer like i can
25:19remember once showing against sonia riquiel or comme des garçons and you i thought all the press
25:25wouldn't really be interested those press wouldn't be interested in my show but i was wrong and they
25:29all came to my show and sonia riquiel complained to the chambre syndical took the press and and that's
25:35how they noticed me and then they invited me to have a meeting and then they gave me a time slot
25:43so
26:01so
26:11Colette Dignan became the first Australian designer to show on schedule, invited on schedule
26:23by the Champs-Élysées Carles, that's the French fashion industry's organising body.
26:27She was the first, and that was a big deal.
26:29Well she was certainly the first Australian to show on schedule in Paris, so to be invited
26:36by the French Fashion Council to participate on schedule is a very extraordinary opportunity.
26:43So I think we were all in awe of her in a way.
26:47I mean you know she was very inspiring because she was the first to show in Paris, the first
26:51Australian designer showing consistently in Paris.
26:55I mean I was never really close with Colette, but I just always really admired her grit and
27:02in getting that done I mean it's a huge thing to do, to you know get yourself over to Paris
27:08and your staff and get a whole show together.
27:10I know from personal experience when I used to show in New York in the late 2000s and it's
27:16a huge endeavour to put a show on in a fashion capital somewhere else in the world.
27:21So yeah I always really admired her and her clothes were really beautiful, they were beautifully
27:27crafted, the fabrics were amazing and they were very very flattering, women loved them.
27:57So thank you!
30:51So I wasn't paid or I wasn't paying anyone.
30:54It was just about a great collaboration where there's a new designer with very limited things
30:59that weren't going to appear on every other person down, you know, red carpet.
31:03So it was fun.
31:05I guess, you know, being recognized by international brands like Louis Vuitton as Businesswoman of the Year,
31:10that's pretty amazing.
31:11And also, I guess the other brand was Verve Glucos, Grand Dom put me in as one of their,
31:17I think it's not sure, businesswoman or country member what the award was.
31:21I also got the alumni into Massey University a few years ago,
31:26which was very special because New Zealand's very close to my heart.
31:30You know, I'm still, I guess, there's a lot of Kiwi in me,
31:33even though I kind of lived in, you know, I'm Irish, South African, Australian, New Zealander.
31:38But yeah, New Zealand is, it's important to me.
31:42Colette's legacy, or even legendary status before Australian fashion, it commenced in 1996,
31:51was one of the credential cards I played around the world.
31:55Colette was already showing in Paris.
31:58And that's a quality card.
32:01And I kept saying to all the buyers,
32:03if you think Colette Dinnigan's good, we've got a lot more like her.
32:07Come and have a look at the rest.
32:08And so she'd really set the benchmark for the industry.
32:13And it's true.
32:14In the first couple of years, she didn't participate
32:17because she was so focused on showing in Paris.
32:20And I think in her mind, she felt the event perhaps wasn't of the right standing for her.
32:27However, as time went on, you know, Colette changed her mind
32:31and she came and participated in a number of Australian Fashion Weeks,
32:35which we were very, very proud of.
32:36One particular, a beautiful show held down at Boomerang on the harbour
32:41with Kate Sobrano dancing on the table after the fashion show.
32:47So, yeah, Colette played an extremely important role,
32:51not only in eventually, I guess, validating the event by participating in it,
33:00but also, too, she became, you know, a spokesperson for not just her own brand,
33:05but for the Australian fashion industry.
33:06And she was very, very influential in helping to position the event.
33:11So always very thankful for her involvement in the event.
33:17I guess one of the, you know, the milestones of my career
33:21that also launched it was very exciting for me was
33:23I can remember being in New York
33:25and I was meeting some press agents
33:29and W Magazine and Women's Wear Daily,
33:32both of them actually the same company.
33:34They had, I showed them the collection.
33:37I was so excited.
33:38Bridget Foley was the editor at the time
33:40and Edward Enningphil now, who's the editor of British Vogue,
33:45he was working with me
33:46and they ended up giving me the cover of Women's Wear Daily
33:48in a double-page spread and same in W Magazine.
33:52And it was a very big deal.
33:54It was the industry bible.
33:56And in fact, their title was the lace maker on the cover.
33:59And it was a huge turning point
34:02because suddenly Sax, Nima, Marcus, everybody was interested.
34:05And I can remember Bridget saying to me, you know,
34:09the advertisers were so annoyed
34:11because normally it's an advertiser on the cover
34:13and they always fight to see who's on the cover
34:15and who am I.
34:16And, you know, she said it was a very exciting time for them
34:19because it was so original and so authentic
34:22and so unheard of.
34:23And I think there was a turning point in fashion in the 90s
34:26where everybody wanted the branded Prada print
34:30or the, you know, the Gucci logo
34:32and then it moved to the customer and the press
34:36especially wanting the next best thing
34:38or the next new thing.
34:39So I was just on that cusp
34:40and it was a very big change in direction
34:44from that androgynous kind of branded big house movement
34:48to the smaller, more bespoke designers.
34:50And I was there doing something very different
34:53that happened to be what the customers wanted at the time
34:56and the press, I guess.
34:57I listen to his voice
35:07Against the windowpane
35:11There's no escaping
35:12The heat of July
35:16And it looks like
35:20It's gonna rain tonight
35:23Leave it to the water
35:27To make things right
35:30I let the water
35:33Wash over my eyes
35:38Yes, you can expect it to write
35:42Tonight
35:44Over the years
35:53Collette Dinnegan has collaborated with various brands and organisations
35:57Expanded her reach and influence
36:00She collaborated with Target Australia
36:03To create a diffusion line
36:04Making her designs more accessible
36:06To a wider audience
36:08Dinnegan also worked with luxury brands
36:12Such as Tiffany & Co
36:13Creating exclusive lingerie collections
36:16My first collaboration was with Marks & Spencers
36:20And I did a lingerie line for them
36:22And I used Helena Christensen as a model
36:24And Ellen Von Umworth was a photographer for the campaign
36:27And it was a very big idea that I took to Mark
36:30And they approached me
36:31And I said, yes, I'll do it
36:32If we can do it this way
36:33And it was, you know, a huge success
36:36And I did a collection for the Australian Ballet with Target
36:40And I did a lot of tutus for, you know, children for the ballet
36:45And a great percentage of those proceeds went to the ballet
36:49Which helped take the ballet to the outback in Australia
36:52So younger kids there who didn't get the opportunity to come into town
36:56To learn ballet
36:56Could live the dream
36:58And be taught ballet, I guess
37:00And another one that I loved doing actually was for Aldi
37:04And what was great about that
37:07Was exactly that same principle and philosophy
37:10It's about, you know, design can be good
37:13But it can also be very affordable
37:15And, you know, but the quantities produced are much greater
37:19To bring the price down
37:20And that was really fun doing that
37:22And I think, you know, my customers loved it
37:24Because I'd sort of closed my business at that stage
37:26So it was great for them
37:28And they got my customers and I kind of could do great children's clothes
37:32Which have a lot of fun doing
37:33Her achievements are many
37:44And include being awarded the Prida Marie Claire for Best Australian Designer
37:48And she was also appointed a member of the Order of Australia
37:52For her significant contributions to the Australian fashion industry
37:55Receiving the Order of Australia was an incredible privilege
38:00It showed that there was a lot of recognition for what the fashion industry contributes to our country
38:06And perhaps I was a small voice at the beginning of it all
38:11But it shows that, you know, the voice gets louder and louder
38:15And there's more importance
38:16And I mean, I spent a lot of time with the wool industry
38:18In Adelaide, I was on the wool board there
38:20So, you know, it's so important that we support our growers
38:24And, you know, make industry back home more than we do export what we have been
38:31So, you know, I think it was important to receive that
38:35Not just for me, but for the industry
38:36Exclusive to the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences
39:04Colette Dinnigan Unlaced was presented at the Powerhouse Museum
39:08On the 5th of September 2015 to the 29th of January 2017
39:13This was the first exhibition to explore her work in such detail
39:18Colette really was one of the leaders of the industry
39:27And really the first to succeed internationally on such an important scale
39:31When she took Australian fashion to Paris, she took it to the world
39:34There's no detail too small that doesn't demand her attention
39:39She had her own voice
39:42Starting with her lingerie
39:45And then moving on into that very feminine, beautiful bridal dresses
39:49And dresses that women wanted to have
39:51You know, it's girly and bouncy and fun
39:53It featured ensembles, accessories and archival material
40:05From the Museum's collection and Colette's personal archive
40:10Stepping into the exhibition
40:16Visitors were immediately immersed in the world of elegance and sophistication
40:21The carefully curated displays featured Dinnigan's iconic creations
40:25Spanning from her early works to her later masterpieces
40:29And each garment was a testament to her unparalleled talent and commitment to excellence
40:36Unlaced took viewers on a journey through Dinnigan's creative process
40:42Shredding light on the influences that have shaped her artistic vision
40:46From the delicate lacework of vintage French couture
40:50To the vibrant colours of the Australian outback
40:53Her designs reflected a harmonious fusion of the diverse inspirations
40:58Realised by creator Anna Dregloen
41:03An award-winning stage designer and artist
41:06The scenes bring it to focus Dinnigan's unique creative perspective
41:09It highlighted the romantic feminine designs that have seen her work sought after by a star-studded clientele
41:16Including Taylor Swift, Dita Von Teese and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge
41:21One of the highlights of the exhibition to me
41:24Was the breathtaking display of Dinnigan's intricate lace creations
41:28Colette throughout her career elevated this delicate fabric to an art form
41:32The ethereal gowns and delicate lingerie adored with meticulous handcrafted lace motifs
41:39Showcased her impeccable attention to detail
41:42The interplay of light and shadow on the lacework
41:46Created an enchanting visual experience
41:49Leaving visitors in awe of her craftsmanship
41:53Beyond the garments themselves
41:55Unlaced offered us a glimpse into the mind of a visionary designer
42:00The exhibition featured sketches, mood boards and personal notes
42:05Providing insight into Colette's creative process
42:09Remarkable
42:10Visitors were able to witness the evolution of an idea from a simple sketch
42:14To a stunning, stunning garment
42:17Gaining a deeper appreciation for the immense effort and thought
42:21That goes into each and every piece
42:24Colette Dinnigan's impact on the Australian fashion industry cannot be overstated
42:29Her success paved the way for other Australian designers to gain recognition on the international stage
42:37Dinnigan's designs celebrated femininity
42:41Showcased the unique beauty of the Australian craftsmanship
42:44And her commitment to quality and attention to detail
42:47Set her apart and influenced a generation of designers that would follow
42:52Today Dinnigan's use of lace remains an integral part of a brand's identity
42:58I guess for any young person and any student
43:00Those who did work experience in our business
43:02Many would come in wanting to be fashion designers and show in Paris
43:06I mean you get to that if you're passionate about it
43:09Because ultimately you've got to be passionate about
43:11Is the seam perfectly made and French-seamed
43:14And how do you do a jet-hole buttonhole
43:16And can you change that
43:18And how do you, you know, get a bias dress perfectly cut
43:21And then how do you adapt it
43:22And what print colour do you put it in
43:24And if you can make that
43:25And then you can make five or ten of them
43:27And then people can wear them
43:29That's the start of a dream
43:31It's not the end, you know
43:32And I think it's about the journey
43:34And about the passion
43:35And the hard work
43:36And always wanting to learn
43:39There is never ever something you can't learn
43:42Colla Dinnigan's journey from Australia to London
43:45And eventually Paris
43:47Has been one of unwavering dedication
43:50Artistic brilliance
43:52And ground-breaking achievements
43:54Her distinctive style
43:56Characterised by the delicate use of lace
43:58And intricate craftsmanship
44:00Has left an indelible mark
44:02On the global fashion industry
44:04Throughout her career
44:06Dinnigan has consistently pushed
44:08Boundaries and defied conventions
44:10Earning her a well-deserved reputation
44:13As a trailblazer in the world of fashion
44:16By her establishing herself
44:18In international fashion capitals
44:21Collette helped pave the way
44:23For other Australian designers
44:25To gain the recognition and appreciation
44:27On the world stage
44:29She was really a trailblazer
44:31I guess my process in design
44:34Is I'm very quick in my head
44:36And too quick to draw sometimes
44:38I'm always drawing half bodies
44:40Just to remember the idea
44:41I have great vision
44:42I can see it all so clearly
44:44And I have to draw it or write it down
44:46Because otherwise I'm always on to the next
44:47And I forget the idea I originally had
44:50Or what inspired me
44:51But I work with colour
44:53A lot of colour and texture to start
44:55And also I guess I'm the forever optimist
44:58And I travel a lot in my mind
45:00And I go to far away places
45:02And I have different scenarios
45:03And it could be a Mad Max movie
45:05Or it could be you know
45:07Kylie Minogue on a rainbow
45:08Or on a moonbeam
45:10Or it could be you know
45:11Wuthering Heights
45:12Or it could be something like
45:14Sheltering sky in the Moroccan deserts
45:17With pinks and different hues
45:19And then you know there's so many different things
45:21So I have to be very careful
45:22And how I communicate it
45:24Because I can also come across
45:26As kind of crazy and too fast
45:28So I guess colours and mood boards
45:31For me are colours and sketches and textures
45:34And I've always started every collection that way
45:36I've you know I'll start in Paris
45:38And I'll go oh my god that's a great colour green
45:40And the next thing is I'm finding
45:42Another bit of green felt
45:43And then I'm finding something else
45:44And then there will be a hue of a colour
45:46And then there will be a complementary colour
45:48And then there will be something that's quite the opposite
45:51That fights it
45:52So to give it a bit of you know intensity I guess
45:55So definitely I'll start with colour
45:57Well I think you know fashion to me
45:59Isn't necessarily a cubbyhole
46:01Fashion to me is a
46:03It's a movement or a name that kind of
46:05Groups something together
46:06And it happens to be things that empower people
46:09It's clothes
46:10And what I used to do
46:12My dressing of customers I guess
46:15Is to make them feel confident and stylish
46:17And make sure that the fit's great
46:19So that they feel comfortable
46:20And you know it's a burst of energy
46:23And if you feel good about yourself
46:24And you feel confident it changes a lot of things
46:26But as well with that comes you know art
46:29And colour and paint
46:30And for me I get so much inspiration
46:33Through different galleries
46:34And I guess there's different
46:36I go between of the old masters
46:38I love Chagall
46:39I love not so much I guess Matisse and Picasso
46:43But different movements
46:44And I love to see how they also change
46:47You know in their moments of time and history
46:50And how naughty they were
46:52And everyone was challenged
46:53And I think it's important to note that
46:56Because making mistakes sometimes brings the best
46:59And you find different journey
47:01You have different journeys and different solutions
47:03But I think for the one thing that I know
47:06And feel with most artists is that they're always good cooks
47:09And they love their food and their wine
47:11And their song and their dance
47:13And they love life
47:14And I don't know many artists
47:16Who don't have an opinion about food
47:18Or who don't like to cook
47:19And I think I celebrate you know that
47:21With even my team in Paris
47:23I used to cook Paris when I was there
47:25I used to cook for them
47:26It was kind of a social get together
47:28And as my friends know and as everyone knows
47:30I love to do that
47:31And I think it brings everyone to the table
47:33And I love music
47:34And I love you know and energy
47:36And you know just the gravitas that it has
47:42When I decided to
47:43I guess I wasn't closing my business or scaling back
47:45I decided to make a big change in my business
47:48It was very much about my family
47:50And my focus went to my son Hunter
47:53Who was then I think around 18 months
47:55I can't quite remember
47:57Never so good with the dates and the times
48:00But he you know was much more demanding than my daughter Estella
48:05And a sense of attention to me
48:07And you know just feeding and everything
48:09So you know I just made family my priority
48:11And I thought I'm never going to get the years back
48:13And it's time
48:15And you know otherwise
48:17I'll be another 10 years in fashion
48:18I will I know the you know
48:21I know the roller coaster
48:22I know it's a hungry monster
48:24It doesn't stop
48:25I work on you know Paris fashion show time
48:27And meant always my summer and school holidays
48:30Would be doing collections
48:32And it was it just felt like it was time
48:34And so I stopped my main collection
48:37And I still continued with Colette by Colette Dinnigan
48:40But being Colette being me
48:42I threw as much of my time
48:44All the rest of my time into that
48:45So I realised you know there was no kind of halfway
48:48I give everything my 100% or more
48:50So it was I think a year after that
48:52That I decided to close that as well
48:55And make a very big change in my life
48:57And move to Italy
48:58And you know my husband and I
49:00You know it was a bit of like
49:01Well we won't we
49:02And I was like of course we can
49:03We can always come back
49:04And I wanted to go to a place
49:06That was outside France and Europe
49:08Because I knew France so well
49:09Having spent so much time there
49:11And Italy is where we got married
49:13We eloped
49:14And we thought we love the food
49:15We love the people
49:16Why not
49:17And we moved for three years
49:19Until Covid sent us back home
49:21Well I do a lot of collaboration still
49:23And I've been doing my time in Italy
49:25I ended up doing a fragrance line
49:27Developed four fragrances
49:28And did candles
49:30Manufactured candles
49:31And body washes
49:32So I've got a whole fragrance line for home
49:35It's organic and good quality
49:37And I also worked with a couple of different potters
49:40And ceramicists
49:41And Basilicata
49:42And in Puglia
49:44Making ceramics
49:45So I've got my ceramics line
49:47And same with linen
49:49Made a whole lot of different linen tablecloths
49:51And so I've done a lot of things for the home
49:53And I've done
49:55I guess I'm doing a lot more interiors now
49:58Which I love
49:59And you know
50:00My passion too
50:01Is the garden
50:02And cooking
50:03And so I've kind of gone in different directions
50:05And I've done a few children's books
50:07Since then
50:08And I'm working on my new book
50:10At the moment
50:11Which is a lot of travel
50:12And it's a coffee table book
50:14Unlike the children's books illustrated
50:17And so it's exciting
50:18Because it's really
50:19It's capturing
50:20You know
50:21My passions for design
50:22And artists
50:24And communities
50:25Food
50:26Travel
50:27It's really about
50:28You know
50:29Life
50:30And friends
50:31One of Colette's new creative endeavours
50:33Is a gourmet travel series
50:35And she looks like she's having fun doing it
50:38From the grandest winery in all of the world
50:41To the gondola dotted canals of Venice
50:43Italy's treasures are plentiful
50:45And easy to find
50:47Exploring the countryside
50:49The sea and the cities
50:51Colette and photographer Felix Forrest
50:55Spent a month travelling Italy
50:57To inspire and research for Vogue Living's
51:00November and December 2017 issue
51:03Guest edited of course by Colette
51:06She's also created a homewares line under her brand
51:09Something she never did or sold before
51:12And she still does brand collaborations
51:14With people like Specsavers
51:16As well as others
51:18Even though she's now semi-retired
51:21From the luxury fashion business
51:23And spends her time between bases
51:25In the southern highlands in Italy
51:27Colette Dinnegan is an icon
51:29I think she has led the way
51:31When it comes to designing with sustainability
51:34At the front and centre of a business model
51:36Which is really amazing
51:37I think she's always one to watch
51:39She's a leader within her space
51:41And she has really set the scene
51:44For so many other Australian
51:45And international brands
51:46When it comes to designing
51:48With yes sustainability at the forefront
51:50Beyond her remarkable achievements
51:52As a designer
51:53Dinnegan's legacy extends to her contributions
51:55Outside the realm of fashion
51:57She's been an advocate for sustainability
52:00And ethical practices
52:02Promoting responsible production methods
52:04And raising awareness about the importance
52:07Of conscious consumption
52:09Her commitment to social and environmental causes
52:13Underscores her status as a visionary designer
52:17With a genuine concern for the world around her
52:20I would like to be remembered by my family
52:23As a good, kind, caring mother
52:26You know, who's generous
52:27And discreet in a lot of ways
52:30And is humble
52:31And has taught my children
52:33How to be kind
52:34And understand humility
52:36And to share and be generous
52:38And at the same time
52:39Never to have any entitlement at all
52:42But to find their own way
52:44And I guess that's a job as a mother
52:46And in the industry
52:47You know, I hope I've contributed
52:50With my work ethic
52:52It's been, you know
52:53I am a worker
52:54That you can work
52:55You can work 24 hours a day
52:56Because you never stop
52:57You dream what you need to do the next day
53:00You dream of where you want to go
53:01And then you have to realise it
53:02And working hours, I guess
53:04And it's your translation
53:05And how you communicate
53:13There are many designers
53:14Who make beautiful clothes
53:16But it is very rare to come across one
53:19Who so embodies every piece she designs
53:23Someone whose spirit is embedded in every thread
53:26Every fibre of the fabric
53:28When you wear one of Colette's dresses
53:31You wear part of her life
53:33Her story
53:34And you feel lucky to be part of the story
53:37You look at her designs
53:39And touch the delicate materials
53:41And you just know
53:43That this woman
53:44Has a magical life
53:45Full of wonderful dreams
53:47And adventures
53:48All you have to do
53:51Is slip into one of her dresses
53:53And you feel magical yourself
53:56Colette and I became friends
54:01And when I moved to Paris
54:03To work as a model
54:04She was one of the first people
54:06I did shows for
54:08I would walk up and down the runway
54:10In her beautiful creations
54:12And feel like a fairy princess
54:15Dancing in the mist
54:17On a dark lake
54:18In the middle of the forest
54:20That's how wearing her pieces
54:23Makes you feel
54:24I treasure every piece I own
54:27From this lovely and inspiring woman
54:29They are pieces that will be passed on
54:32To the young girls in my family
54:34I want them to feel the same joy and pride
54:38I feel when I float elegantly
54:41Through an exquisite ballroom
54:43A lush, scent-filled garden
54:45Or along a busy street
54:47On my way to dinner with my beloved
55:04Where women can go
55:06To the line with her
55:08What possibly doors
55:09그� regres couldいく
55:11And see if she was her
55:12At the time when she was
55:13Who used to mill
55:14Having to go out
55:15I think and you can see
55:17That was really, well
55:17Really, well
55:19You know,
55:20It took the day
55:21I can see you
55:22I sing
55:23Your sword
55:24And know
55:25You know
55:26A moon
55:27The environment
55:27Wood
55:29And when you
55:30O
55:31You
55:32W
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