CCFW Interview: Natasha Prestidge

What made you want to participate in Central Coast Fashion Week and why do you think people should attend?
I literally jumped at the chance to participate in Central Coast Fashion Week because I believe in the event - the platform it can be to showcase my brand, what it brings to the Central Coast & the fact that it is supporting local designers. I think people should attend so we can continue to have this event in our community annually and for what they’ll gain out of attending - a memorable experience amongst friends and hopefully some great insight and tips from the hosts of CCFW they can gain from & take away.

Can you explain to our readers about Koukla by Natasha Prestidge? What does the brand represent to you?
KOUKLA by Natasha Prestidge represents a childhood dream for me. As a little girl I would sketch elaborate ball gowns and dress up (& some times cut up - sorry Mum!!) my mother’s clothes imagining ways I could re-design them. Because it stems from my childhood it was fitting for me to name my label after an endearing word my Russian grandparents would call me, my sisters and cousins when we were young which is “kouklas” which means beautiful doll in Russian.
The KOUKLA philosophy is “it all starts with a dream. Now make that your goal” and whether we are referring to a brides ultimate dream gown for her wedding day or a dream you have to one day fulfil your childhood aspirations I want KOUKLA to represent that this can happen, just take the step to make it happen.

What sort of bride do you have in mind when you are making your designs?
Currently all of my KOUKLA designs are ‘custom made’ to my clients brief. I help guide and shape her ideas into something tangible and achievable but the bespoke KOUKLA gown is very much bringing my brides wedding dress dreams to life.
Because of this, all of my gowns are made to order so when I was approached to participate in CCFW I didn’t have any dresses available to showcase at the event so I’ve created and designed my first range of bridal gowns! It’s a very exciting time for KOUKLA.

Where do you draw your inspiration from? (Does it help having Bryon so close by, that place is beautiful!)
I am very inspired by fabrics. The colours, textures, weight, feel of a fabric for me helps to conjure up visions of what it should become. I can see a 10 x 10 cm swatch of beaded tulle and know exactly what gown I want to make out of it.

I am also inspired by fashion. I love looking at the Parisian runway or magazines for a fashion forward take on bridal wear. I feel like these days, woman aren’t sticking so much to the traditional wedding dress silhouettes but going to shapes that represent them and their own personal style - just like you would in your everyday dress, so today’s fashion is relevant to bridal wear.

We see you are a mum to 3 children. Any advice for females trying to be the boss of their own business and be the best mum they can be?
Ah yes, busy is an understatement when I try to explain my every day life. I’ve learnt to be an avid diary keeping, multitasking, time management queen haha! That said, because koukla is my passion I find the fire and drive to keep pushing through the obstacles of motherhood and every day life to keep going. I try to practice gratitude for what I do have. Ultimately, this is all I’ve every dreamed of - three babies, husband, a house to make my own and a business I can grow. So if I can remind myself that my “busy-ness” is because of the things I manifested into my own life, it helps to elevate some of the overwhelm and anxiety we can feel when juggling a number of balls as working mothers.

I love this quote by Melody Beattie -
Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.

Tell us something funny about yourself that not many people know about you!
So I didn’t know this was funny but whenever someone finds out about this they look at me and crack up at the image but I genuinely enjoy sinking a beer! I’m not a big drinker but if I was to have something (& it’s not a cocktail) give me a cold beer over a wine any day haha!