Alexis Dawn Women’s Fashion Label

A boutique Australian label by Cherie Alexis Walker

Up and coming Brisbane-based fashion designer Cherie Alexis Walker shared a moment of her time to introduce herself to the Australian fashion world, exclusively through Australian Fashion Review.  2009 saw the successful launch of Cherie’s label Alexis Dawn, a dedicated boutique women’s designer label.

Q1) Please introduce yourself Cherie and tell us a bit about your background?

After high school I did a lot of traveling –  in between I studied printing and graphics then I went on to do fashion at TAFE in Brisbane. I did some more traveling then decided I wanted to go back and do more art so I completed a Bachelor of creative industries majoring in Visual arts then when I finished up I wanted to get back into fashion so here I am with my label Alexis Dawn.

Q2) When and how did Alexis Dawn all begin? Is there a story behind the name?

I started the label at the beginning of 2009 after a trip to India to source some fabrics. I knew if I didn’t give it a shot now I would always regret it. My Mothers middle name is Dawn and my middle name is Alexis. I grew up on a cattle farm in the middle of Queensland and mum taught me to sew when I was young. She was always very crafty, she did a lot of sewing and fluro screen-printing through the 80’s and early 90’s. I have inherited her creative gene and all of her old equipment.

Q3) What are the main sources of inspiration behind your collections? Are you influenced by other designers – if so who and why?

I love to work with silks so I try very hard to make most of my designs timeless. Even though my work is very sexy and young it always turns out quite feminine in the end. Giambatista Valli always amazes me, along with Stella McCartney whose designs are always so wearable.

Q4) If you could pick someone famous that best represents your labels style, who would it be? Alternatively, what famous person/s would you want wearing your label?

Alexa Chung, young and fresh and would always put a whole new spin on things. Or Kate Hudson because she always makes fashion look fun.

Q5) What can we expect from Alexis Dawn in the coming collections? Is there any end goal?

My 2010 winter collection “Witching Hour” is very dark with lots of sheer graphic cut outs and inserts. Next summer is going to be a much larger collection as I am incorporating cottons and linens into my work. More ruffles and some vivid colour, it will be very “Florida summer” if that makes sense, think Flamingoes and patios. I would love to share a retail space with a friend who does interiors in the near future but for now I want to be stocked in more stores interstate.

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