As part of our only at enex Fashion Series, we recently welcomed Australia’s hottest up and coming fashion designer, Kate Watts of only one ashley to enex where her one-of-a-kind sustainable fashion collection is making waves. We spoke to Kate about her passion and vision behind the label and what’s in store for only one ashley next…
What ignited your love for fashion?
“My passion really came from watching the fashions on the field at horse racing! I grew up watching all the big horse races, simply for all the glamorous celebrities in their dresses, and I remember being so fascinated as a little girl. I thought to myself, “Wow, I’m going to dress those people one day!””
What started as a raceway collection, has evolved to include stunning event wear looks.
“A lot of my customers are looking for outfits to wear to weddings, birthdays or engagement parties, so it’s great to be able to offer accessible pieces for a range of events and styles. I’m mindful of my designs being very versatile too, with some pieces pairing perfectly with a pair of sneakers for a more casual look.”
What makes only one Ashley special?
“The label is a legacy of love for my late daughter and a way for me to keep her in my day to day life. I am also really passionate about help women feel beautiful. We all know that confidence that radiates from within when we feel a million bucks, I want my pieces to help people feel that! Rediscovering that buzz of getting dressed up and feeling beautiful again, particularly after COVID is something we all deserve to feel I believe.
We don’t need a reason to get dressed up, let’s celebrate everyday that we’re here!”
Tell us about your sustainability practices?
“During COVID I found myself with a lot of excess fabric, so I re-inspired some old patterns and I have created a limited edition capsule for this pop up at enex which will see new pieces released throughout my time here.
I am really mindful of the current climate so I am repurposing this fabric for my capsule range, which are made in a very sustainable way to minimise waste and offcuts. I send most of my offcuts to milliners where they are repurposed or made into scrunchies – there is no waste here!”
What is next in store for only one Ashley?
“I hope to start dressing disabled women who are confined to wheelchairs. It is actually one of the whole reasons I started my label! I want to grow and eventually have a foundation that assists those in wheelchairs, not only to have access to clothing that makes them feel great, but also to raise funds for ramps and other essentials.”
We can confirm that the limited capsule release is stunning, and well worth checking out, even if you don’t have an event on the cards – Kate’s designs are amazing!
The only one ashley enex pop-up has ended. You can still shop for show-stopping dresses from the label online.
