(NEW YORK) Today Australian designer Collette Dinnigan announced that she would be shutting down her premium label and bridal label by the end of 2013. Her last collection is the Spring 2014 she showed in Paris. By the New Year, her boutiques in Sydney, Melbourne, and London will be shut down as well. Dinnigan, however will continue to produce her Collette by Collette Dinnigan diffusion line as well as her children’s line, Collette Dinnigan Enfant. According to WWD, the designer said she would be shutting down the labels in order to focus on her family and be with her children.
During Paris Fashion Week, we caught up with Dinnigan post-show where she told us about the difficulties of balancing a demanding job in the fashion industry and motherhood. “Like most mothers I want to have the time to spend with my family, but at the same time they need to grow up understanding priorities and what a working mom does and what I bring to them,” said Dinnigan. “It’s hard though. You’re never prepared for it.” The 48-year-old designer gave birth to her second child just last year.
In addition to maintaining her diffusion and children’s line, Dinnigan will continue to sell her licensed eyewear through Specsavers and is looking into collaborations with hotels, homeware, and interiors. Dinnigan also just launched a coffee table tome, Obsessive Creative that looks back at her 24-year career published through Penguin Australia. The Collette Dinigan business is projected to make $13.41 million in sales in the 2013-2014 financial year.
