biography

Gwendolynne Burkin was born in Iserlohn, Germany in 1971. Her family moved to Australia from England in the early 1970s where she grew up in Adelaide before settling in Melbourne in 1989.

Her affinity for making clothing emerged through childhood play, when she fondly recalls crafting her first dress at the age of six. With the help of her Mum.Gwendolynne's formal entry into the fashion industry occurred at the age of 14 when she became a fabric sales assistant. This experience propelled her towards diverse dressmaking endeavours, igniting her ambition to pursue in the world of fashion.

At 15, she was a fashion presenter on the children's television show, "C'mon Kids," aired on Adelaide's Channel 9, alongside her delightful a celebrity puppet companion, Winky Dink.

As a budding entrepreneur, Gwendolynne began creating sumptuous fabric hats and successfully sold them to some of the hottest Melbourne boutiques of the time while simultaneously pursuing her fashion studies in the late 1980s.

Her dedication to honing her craft led her to complete a BA in Fashion Design at the renowned Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology completing her study at the age of 19.With close to a decade of professional fashion experience, Gwendolynne worked for prominent international and independent Australian businesses, as a pattern maker, designer, and machinist.

In November 1997, she introduced her signature label, aptly named 'Gwendolynne,' and launched her inaugural collection at the esteemed Melbourne Fashion Festival New Generation Parade in 1998.

Gwendolynne's talents have garnered her an impressive and extensive list of achievements.

Her designs have triumphed in prestigious events such as Fashions on the Field at the Dubai World Cup. They have also been showcased and remain in the collection of the esteemed Powerhouse Museum in Sydney, featured in prominent advertising campaigns for renowned brands like Mercedes, Nokia and Sony on an international scale, and commissioned for esteemed institutions like the Australian Ballet and International performances Eurovision.

She has also done promotional collaborations with the likes of Bulgari, Saab, Autore South Sea Pearls and many more. A piece is also revered in the ongoing collection at The Salvador Dali exhibition in Milan. And, Gwendolynne had the honour of being the first designer chosen to create an exclusive range for Target Australia.

Through her remarkable journey, Gwendolynne Burkin serves as an inspiration to aspiring designers and creatives alike. Her unwavering passion, meticulous craftsmanship, determination throughout the changing landscape of the industry and unwavering commitment to unique bespoke herilooms continues in the fashion world that often favours the disposable.

With each stitch and every creation, she redefines the boundaries of artistry, leaving an enduring legacy of timeless beauty to be treasured.