Nikki realises long-held dream with Horrocks Vale woollen wedding dresses

Wilmington fashion designer Nikki Atkinson is keen to prove that a wedding dress made from wool should be at the top of every bride's wish list for both comfort and style.

At the 2022 Royal Adelaide Show, as part of Merino SA's centenary celebrations, she launched her Horrocks Vale Collections' Amalia bridal range with five stunning gowns made from Australian Merino wool.

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This bridal range- believed to be a world first for wool- was also showcased on the runway at Adelaide Fashion Week in October.

It is the realisation of a long-held dream by Nikki, who among her extensive couture experience, was the co-owner of one of Adelaide's leading bridal boutiques Betrothed for eight years.

Nikki says she could never find suitable woollen fabric but her luck changed in 2021 on a trip to Melbourne with a friend to celebrate a milestone birthday.

"I remember we had been walking down the streets for around 45 minutes before we walked into this wholesaler and there were all these different wool weights and in wool white and ivory," she said.

"I had been looking for 20 odd years and here it was in front of me and the fabric was all Merino wool."

Nikki- who grew up at Kimba-was first impressed by the performance of wool while studying fashion design in Adelaide.

"It was so easy to work with as opposed to other materials- it sat where it needed to be and had lots of give," she said.

"Another wonderful thing about wool is that it doesn't melt and usually self extinguishes."

Nikki says in the past 20 years since moving to Horrocks Vale with her third generation woolgrower husband Dallas Lines she has an even greater appreciation for the natural fibre and its environmental sustainability.

"As fellow designer (Iris and Wool) Emily Riggs is always saying water, grass and sunshine is all you need to grow wool," she said.

"If a woollen jumper or dress does end up in waste you know it will break down in the ground which can grow more grass for sheep."

When Nikki moved to the Flinders Ranges in 2003 she admits she had lost the passion for fashion but she found her way back to it a few years later.

When their three children were young she would often find herself at the sewing machine while they played around her.

In 2017, realising a need to separate her work and family life and potential for another fashion retail outlet in Port Augusta she opened Liv Sienne.

This has become the home of Horrocks Vale Collections.

Nikki says it was fantastic to see the positive response from wool growers at the launch and while she is busy with bespoke wedding dresses she is yet to take her first order for a woollen one.

"I know it could take two years before people get their head around a wool wedding dress but hopefully I can work closely with Australian Wool Innovation on this too," she said.

"A lot of people still think of wool being heavy and not for summer only winter but one of the dresses was strapless with lace to show that is not the case.

"The magical thing about wool is that if it is hot it keeps you cool and if it cool it keeps you warm."

As well as the beautiful dresses, Horrocks Vale Collections range is set to include woollen vests for grooms and groomsmen and even pet accessories.

"Couples are always dressing up their pets to be in their weddings or to carry the rings so I can see the potential of using the leftovers for dog bow ties," she said.

Nikki's ultimate dream is to be able to use wool from Horrocks Vale's North Ashrose and Ashrose blood Merino flock to make her designs.

"An important part of the project is being able to educate people about what we do at home and how we look after our sheep - wool has been around for so long but it is still so underrated," she said.