Wilmington fashion designer Nikki Atkinson's goal is to get more people wearing Australian Merino wool especially when they walk down the aisle.
The 2024 Agrifutures Rural Women's Award SA finalist says it is a great platform to champion the sustainable, natural fibre and also get her business Horrocks Vale Collections more into the spotlight.
Ms Atkinson has 25 years experience as a designer including co-owning one of Adelaide's leading bridal boutiques, Betrothed in the early days.
Her Horrocks Vale Collections brand combines this love of bridal couture with her 20 years of experience on the land after marrying third generation woolgrower Dallas Lines and moving to the Flinders Ranges.
"I have seen the work that goes into creating the perfect fibre, I came from a farming background (at Kimba) but as well as growing wool Dad would buy and sell fat lambs off stubble after harvest, as wool was not our primary income," she said.
"There is so much more involved in woolgrowing, sometimes it takes generations of breeding and I really want to share that with consumers."
In 2022 she launched her first designs made from 100 per cent Australian Merino wool at the Royal Adelaide Show - the Amalia collection featuring five stunning dresses was believed to be a world first.
Last month she revealed her second Merino wool collection- Emmeline- a contemporary range which breaks down the traditional wedding rules and includes short wedding dresses and bridal pant suits.
"So many people think wool is for winter but it is a thermo regulator so it keeps you warm in winter and cool in summer," she said.
"Woollen fabric has such a beautiful drape especially in pants."
Horrocks Vale Collections also includes bow ties for pets involved in their owners' big day and men's wool vests.
Ms Atkinson says it has taken time to convince people about the many advantages of wool but she is thrilled to be working with a few brides to be on their dream wool wedding dresses.
"It is also 100 per cent sustainable whereas a polyester wedding dress is about equivalent to the emissions of what two people produce in a year," she said.
If she is named the state Rural Women's Award winner later this moth, Ms Atkinson says she will use some of her $15,000 prize money to employ a PR company to get Horrocks Vale Collection and the wider wool industry "in front of the right eyes" and find some influencers to partner with.
" Nowadays fashion is all about the influencers so I really want to find those people who are passionate about the same issues as me," she said.
A Horrocks Vale collection bright pink woollen dress worn by founder of Motherland, Steph Trethewey from Tasmania, at the national Rural Women's Award and another dress worn by Australian Wool Innovation ambassador and TV presenter Catriona Rowntree have already built her brand's recognition
Ms Atkinson's other big dream if she wins is to showcase her designs at Harrogate, Europe's largest wholesale wedding expo, which attracts more than 8000 buyers looking for new brands.
"Lots of people have reached out from overseas, a lot more than here so maybe the international market will be the market for me to grow first," she said.
