EMMA BERGMEIER-VARIAN 

Driven by a desire to offer luxurious staples without a luxury price tag, Perth fashion designer Elli Del Borrello is shaking up the way people shop for leather garments.


The brains behind BrandE, which launched last year and has since become a firm favourite of stylish locals including Gabrielle Sullivan and Fabienne Vanderhaeghen , Del Borrello devised the idea for a company focused on understated and affordable classics while working full time in an administration role.

 

“I was in a job that I didn’t really like so I started it as a little project and it went a lot better than I expected, so now it’s my full-time job, ” she told AAA .

 

“It started out really small — I trialled a few things and they seemed to work, and it went from there.”

 

A self-confessed “crazy leather lady”, the East Fremantle creative has developed a range that offers sumptuously soft leather pieces and organic cotton basics that won’t break the bank.

 

“I’ve always loved leather, in particular leather jackets and leather pants, and I’ve always paid $800-$1000 for them, ” Del Borrello said.

 

“I wanted to see if I could possibly make similar things for girls on a cheaper budget. I’ve been able to maintain that and I’d like to stick to doing that because I think it’s what really separates me from other businesses selling really beautiful but expensive leather.”

 

For BrandE’s autumn/winter campaign, the fashion entrepreneur enlisted the services of Vivien’s model Samantha Barrett , whose star has been steadily on the rise since signing with the agency last year.

 

“I knew that she would be perfect because she has a very natural look and a striking face, ” Del Borrello said of the 17-year-old beauty, who is still a high- school student.

 

“She’s an amazing model — she didn’t take one bad photo. She’s really easy to work with and has such a beautiful face that we almost forgot we were shooting the clothes, it felt like we were just shooting her.”

 

© The West Australian

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