Unzipped - Benedicte Olrik

Name: Benedicte Olrik

Age
38 

Position
Co-owner of Olrik Denmark with my business partner (and husband) Bruce Williamson

My childhood dream job
I have always loved food and to dress up, so my dream was either to become a chef or anything to do with fashion...not very compatible careers

My first job
Unfortunately, I didn't follow my passion and instead became an Economist, however it taught me a lot about business. My first job was as an economist at a research institute in Copenhagen, Denmark where I led the research on minimum wages and unemployment duration. Fairly dry subjects

My big break
Opening our first Olrik Denmark shop in September 2006. I had finally broken free

My biggest risk
Packing up and moving from Denmark to Australia without a job to go to nor a single dollar to my name

My proudest moment
Becoming a mum three times. I have three beautiful kids Torsten (10), Sigrid (8) and Asbjorn (4).  As you can see, Bruce was not a very good negotiator when it came to non-Scandinavian names

My biggest regret
Living so far away from my Danish family and Copenhagen. I particularly notice this in our winter when it is summer in Denmark and the Danes all come out of hibernation. All night parties, the smell of roses, sunsets at 11pm, mid-summer bonfires, cycling aimlessly around the 15th century lanes, the crocus lawns at Rosenborg Castle, walking through the magnificent woods at Dyrhaven, listening to jazz at the world renowned Copenhagen jazz festival and rock concerts at Roskilde......although its short, we Danes make the most of it

My five year plan
Expand the Olrik Denmark label across Australia, grow our  wholesaling business and develop a strong international presence

My biggest fashion faux pas
Anything I wore from 1985 to 1990. I have since destroyed most visual evidence, sorry...including a hideous perm which made be look like a bottle brush
 

My mentor
My grandmother, who was a very strict but fair lady. I admired her for her strength, guidance and ability to stand up for her beliefs. Although to some she could be terrifying (a number of people in the family were quite happy when she died). However, I loved her dearly and certainly needed her strong influence growing up....and of course Bruce, who is a great guide for me

If I could do it over
I would have started this business 10 years earlier. I also dream of a trip I once took through the jungles of Sumatra to see the Orang Utans...they are the most beautiful and peaceful creatures. I would love to show my family while the forest is still there

If I wasn't in fashion I'd be
Hopefully not being an economist. There are so many wonderful things to do with your life, but if I wasn't in fashion, I think owning a boutique winery and adjoining restaurant on the Mornington Peninsula would be great.  Just imagine sipping wine all day, while creating new and interesting menus

In my spare time I
I spend most of my spare time with my kids and taking them to all their sports activities which at the moment includes tennis, swimming, dance, Australian rules football, and netball. I also love to cook, good wine and parties. I also return to see my family in Europe at least once a year

People would be surprised to know I
Wear very strong contact lenses.  If I didn't I would have thick milk bottle glasses...as I had to (with lots of vain pain) going through school. I also used to love punk music and I went through a died green hair phase as a teenager

I want my epitaph to say
I have never thought about it, but probably that I lived my life happily, to its fullest, and gave my kids the best possible start to life