Kingy 2011 design history: Collette Dinnigan

In her late teens Collette Dinnigan completed a fashion design course in New Zealand then moved t

o Australia. She started out by obtaining a job in the Costume Department of the AustralianBroadcasting Commission in Sydney.

Dinnigan established her own label “Palladium” then her signature label “Collette Dinnigan” in 1990. She is known for her underwear a lot of which was being worn as outerwear. They were made with feminine cuts, quality antique laces and silk.

In 1992 Dinnigan opened a store in Paddington as she was unable to sell her underwear, her signature, to Australian stores due to the expense and the “Dry Clean Only” label. There then became such a great demand for her underwear and people requesting outerwear that she began her own clothing line, this enabled her to break into the international market.

She was the first Australian designer to be invited to show her Collection in Paris by the Chambre Syndicale and has been showing her Collection in Paris now for twelve years.

Dinnigan is the only designer of her clothing. The majority of her clothes include French fabrics hand-embroidered in India. The garments are cut and sewn by hand in Australia.

In chronological order, photo's displayed are part of collections from the years 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007-2008 and 2010.