When it comes to Australian designers, there’s arguably no shortage of stylish and contemporary brands to choose from. But in a sea of designer labels, one stands out from the crowd. Over the past several years, Sydney-born brand Lillian Khallouf has gone from strength-to-strength with homegrown talents such as Jennifer Hawkins, Pip Edwards, Bec Judd and Rebecca Harding as firm fans. On top of being ridiculously Instagram-friendly with edgy designs and bold patterns, Lillian Khallouf’s pieces are completely unique.
Spending her childhood nestled away in her parents’ clothing manufacturing business, Lillian found her love of design which eventually lead to the creation of her fashion brand. “I would use my parents’ space to play with fabrics, make dresses for my barbies, design my own clothes and get my dad to make them for me. It was just something I’ve always known.”
Lillian relaunched her eponymous line in 2016, which has been widely regarded among the Australian fashion set. The designer worked hard to shift her clientele from wanting custom creations based on inspiration photos, to grounding her own aesthetic and style that’s very much known now. “It was in 2016, after having travelled I came back and said ‘That’s it, I’m sick and tired of people treating me like a dressmaker,” Lillian says. “I really wanted to cement my own aesthetic, to become my own designer. It was quite challenging, but I transformed and reinvented the business.”
“It’s been a crazy ride,” she adds.
The first “pinch me” moment came after Jennifer Hawkins decided to wear an LK design to a spring racing event a year after the brand had been established. “It was my “pinch me” moment,” Lillian recalls. “No one knew who I was on a fashion level. For Jen to wear it, it was a big deal for me.”
From there, Lillian’s designs have been worn by Australia’s elite.
2019 is shaping up to be the brands most influential year yet: with plans put in motion to open up a store at Paddington’s iconic shopping hub, The Intersection, so customers can finally have access to the label’s ready-to-wear collections in-store. Lillian is among some incredible company, including Zimmermann, Dion Lee, Camilla and Marc and Scanlan Theodore, who have all made their mark on an international level. The boutique will house the LK ready-to-wear collection which is all Australian made and designed.
“It’s been a lifelong dream since the inception of the Lillian Khallouf brand 14 years ago”, she says of the major move.
The collection available in-store and online prioritises luxurious materials, sophisticated silhouettes and impeccable tailoring, inspired by the sophisticated and time-poor woman. “Her outfits are continuously going from day to night, from office to events. So we’ve curated a collection where you can mix and match a lot, and tran-seasonal pieces that can be worn throughout the year, with seasonal colours as well for a little pop of colour. Ultimately it’s very tailored, the shirts are sleek, there’s a lot of silks.”
It’s also Lillian’s use of bold, rich colours and distinctive, dramatic shapes like puff sleeves, corsets and plunging necklines that it has become a fan-favourite among Australia’s style set.
Take a look at Lillian’s collections here.
