Who knew doily's could be so fashionable?
In her final year of secondary study, the founder of Doily Couture managed to blow up a tough-as-nails Elna sewing machine. Although she ended up graduating with the highest mark in the state, Sarina said it's ironic she's now sitting at the helm of a successful fashion company.
"Singer sewing machines know me well and look after me now," she said.
Currently launching her trend-inspired sleepwear label throughout major Australian states and territories, Sarina said she is still playing the joker of the pack.
Originally aiming to trademark her brand under the 'Sarina' name, the designer's plans were cut short after she discovered it was already a registered fashion company in the US. True to form, she decided to take a cheekier approach with the name 'Doily Couture'.
"It was a tongue-in-cheek jab at fashion which began in my paintings of girls which I dressed in dollies. I asked my husband to humour me and look up Doily Couture, which of course there were none registered for all the areas I needed trade marking."
Already selling strongly throughout the US market, the designer's current collection of sleepwear is split into four ranges - La Vie en Rose, Frangipani, Hibiscus and Belle Rose.
Made from natural fibres such as cotton, silk satin, sueded cotton with spandex and wrinkled cotton, each piece features a print specially designed by Sarina.
Priced from $29 - $79 for the core range and $59 - $199 for the silk collection, the brand is targeted at women aged between 20 and 40 years.
Eventually hoping to set up further international accounts, Sarina said she would also like to expand into other fashion categories first. Currently pushing through another micro collection of womenswear - which includes denim, tees and tanks priced from $59 to $149 - the designer said she wants to test the market first.
"I love what I do and I am very experimental," she said. "We're an innovative and unique Australian brand and we just need the buyers to look at us and see how wonderful we are. The rest will follow."