DETTA & RACH – AW18 – Australian Designer

Detta & Rach was founded by Rebecca Bardaxis in 2017, a lawyer from NSW, Rebecca wanted to design a series of timeless pieces that could be taken from the corporate office and into after 5! The AW18 collection has been designed for the business woman that is self-motivated and driven yet remains graceful and elegant in her fashion choices. The label is based in Sydney Australia and I recently had the pleasure of interviewing this emerging Australian Designer. 

 

Interview

Please tell us about yourself, what is your background and where your love of fashion came from?

My background

I am 30 years of age and a mother of twin girls with one on the way. I cannot pinpoint when my love of fashion started. As far as I can remember, I have always had a passion for dressing with flare, being different, experimenting with different colours and fabrics; it has always been like second nature to me.

If I had to pinpoint a time when I started transforming my ideas into designs and sketching them on paper, it would have been early in my youth, when my grandmother shared her stories of working as a wedding dress designer for a bridal store in Sydney City. She told me how she used to think of a design and then make the design; with her wedding dresses being displayed in the window, being the most popular and most wanted. My grandmother would always say “There will always be something new, a new design, a new style, but no-one can see inside your mind. Your design is YOUR design and no two designs will ever be exactly the same.”

Her words are embedded in my mind, and every time I take pencil to paper, even though I know there may be millions of black jackets, camisoles or dresses; no-one knows what I’m thinking and I’ll strive to make mine different.

Please tell us about your AW18 collection.

High end, top-tier luxe fashion. My AW18 limited edition can best be described as timeless, trans-seasonal vogue that is the epitome of elegance, grace and poise. It is an eclectic and versatile collection; with some pieces falling into the corporate category and others into the evening/smart casual class. Some pieces are asymmetric in style whilst others are simple, yet ingenious in their construction; ultimately giving the impression of opulence and timelessness.

When you view my collection as a whole, you will see that it tells a story, with each piece complementing the other by way of colour selection, style and fabric. I have used delicate and sheer fabrics to ensure my customers feel regal, and achieve beauty by completing their figure.

What colours have you chosen to work with and why?

I have used the following colours:

– Vault Black (The advocate Blazer)

– Mulled Wine (French Garden camisole and shorts)

– Navy Dark Denim

– Smoke (Royalty Silk Top)

– Champagne/Milk (Ballroom lace dress)

– Marine Navy (Waterfall skirt)

– White/Black Viva (Honour top & Fair Lady Dress)

My colour selection is timeless and that is why it was chosen; to ensure that you will always be able to wear your Detta & Rach purchases and not worry about any piece “going out of style.”

Where do you source your fabrics and where is your product made?

All fabrics were hand selected here in Sydney from some of the most well-known fabric suppliers and wholesalers and then were shipped from overseas mills. My product is made here in Sydney.

All pieces are 100% lined and fused, to ensure quality and the never-ending life of the piece.

Who is your market audience?

Everyday women who love fashion, who love Detta & Rach and who love to wear Detta & Rach clothing. I want to show my customers that the brand is for them, not just for our aspiring models, celebrities and famous fashion icons. In doing so, I hope to achieve diversity and appeal to a wide ranging audience; ultimately all women who want to walk with such “grace under fire.”

Do you cater to all shapes and sizes?

I believe so! Most of my pieces have a peplum design which works well with most body shapes. I have used standard Australian sizing, ranging from size 6 to 14. My pieces are fitted and are designed to enhance the female shape.

Where does your inspiration and creativity come from?

The inspiration behind the name, my daughters, Bernadette and Rachel. Inspiration for my designs, the short answer, everywhere! If I watch an old movie, if I see a young women walking in the street and think “I like her outfit, but I would do this to make it far more extreme”. My inspiration comes from my surroundings. I can sometimes be sitting in the pergola in my backyard, watching my kids play, and then have a “lightbulb” moment! I will sketch it quickly on whatever is around, a napkin, a scrap piece of paper, so I don’t forget. My next move will be to find the fabric, and then see if I can make my sketch come to life.

Where are you based?

I am based in Sydney Australia.

What’s next…..where do you see the brand heading?

I have big hopes and dreams for the brand. I hope to see myself showcasing further collections at the all famous Melbourne Fashion Week and the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in the future. I can only hope that all my customers/viewers love the brand and can see the love that went into making each and every piece.

 

Detta & Rach

https://dettaandrach.com/