Ep 15 'Slow Fashion, Small Business & Self Care' with Gwendolynne Burkin (fashion designer, bridal)

The Creative Coach with Dan Brophy

Gwendolynne Burkin is part of an exciting generation of Australian fashion designer that came up a the late 90s independent fashion boom time alongside alum such as Akira Isagowa and Lisa Gorman.

But since then, a lot has changed in the Australian Fashion industry. Many of the names defined that period - how we dressed, what our high streets looked like, and the way Australian style was defined in the eyes of the world - have disappeared due to influences like highly competitive off-shore production, and inevitable defeat of online shopping by fast-fashion and overseas mega-brands.

For Gwendolynne to still be in business 21 years later is a small miracle, due mainly to a series of creative business reinventions. I wanted to talk to Gwendolynne about what it was like coming up in that era of promise - and how she has managed to continuously adapt and evolve within her industry in order to do what she loves.

This is a great episode for anyone who is looking to start their own business - especially one based around artisanal skill set.

When you ARE 'the machine’ at the centre of your business - how do you ensure that you are taking care of your biggest asset?

For some creatives, neglecting wellbeing for the sake of heightened productivity may mean you are getting results at the cost of your health.

You need to ensure you are supporting your passion - not just creatively but also physically, mentally, nutritionally and with rest. It’s up to you to take care of your greatest asset.

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