The Faces We're Coming To Know- ELIZABETH KIRK

As a self-made dressmaker and Melbourne dweller, Elizabeth Kirk has found an outlet for herself in which creative dexterity and self-care are carefully intertwined.

Ellie began humbly, studying English Literature and Sociology at Australian National University in her teenage hometown of Canberra. As someone never settling in one direction, however, she simultaneously completed a PhD, and searched for a way to be adorned in stylish apparel despite very little money.

The answer? Hand-made clothing.

“My mum and my granny taught me to sew, and I’d been lucky enough to have some fantastic textile artists as my home economics teachers in high school”, Ellie explained.

Her new label, ‘House of Kirk’ is testament to this teaching. It has since transgressed as an emporium for all kinds of fabrics, stitched into beautifully unique clothing. “I find material anywhere.. sewing and customising them to make them work”.

This eclectic approach has proved popular with new clients and familiar faces alike, with one of the most special pieces to date being a hand-stitched wedding dress for a dear friend.

For Ellie, though, the perils of hand-made clothing extend far beyond a business decision. “A big part of it is self-care, and for me, being able to make things- things that are both useful and beautiful- is a big part of looking after myself”.

With a real ‘practice what you preach’ mentality, this is approach is extended to the clients within Ellie’s day job, where she has transitioned from government-based employment to a mental-health counselling career. Working with teenagers in local schools, she hopes to help others find creative solutions to what life throws at them.

Through all of this, a passion for hand-made pieces has posed as a quiet yet integral background feature.

Creatives like Ellie produce both beautiful clothing and alleviate the cyclical nature of Australia’s fast-fashion industry. Currently, over 70% of clothes end up in landfill within two years of purchase. The ethical fashion pyramid suggests that hand-made clothing is one of the most sustainable avenues to take.

All this combined shows ‘House of Kirk’ as an up-and-coming household name, with gentle sentiments we should all take on board.