Inglewood fashion designer Steph Audino returns home full of inspiration

AFTER a few stints in Los Angeles, Inglewood designer Steph Audino is back on home soil where it all began.

The 27-year-old, who started her label at 20, has been travelling back and forth to the US after receiving a positive response from celebrities, influencers and international stylists five years ago.

Audino’s designs have been worn by the likes of Ariana Grande, R’n’B artist Ashanti, The Real talk show host Adrienne Bailon and Destiny’s Child’s Michelle Williams.

She said her time overseas had opened doors and given her life experience to help grow her brand.

“The first trip to LA was just a fun one – but the response from what I was wearing back then was super positive so I thought maybe it was something I should explore,” she said.

“I then got invited to do New York Fashion Week and that’s where I had agents and managers start contacting me.

“The following year I went over as a mentor as part of the LEAP Foundation and signed with an agent who represented me and from there it grew with celebrities and influencers.

“The LA market is completely different to Australia – the style is very different so I think when they saw my brand they saw something completely different with my couture pieces and everyone took to it very well.”

Working with photographers, videographers, influencers and stylists, Audino said she spent time overseas collaborating with other artists and shooting campaigns in dream locations – including a mansion in Hollywood.

“I wanted to see and do something different and I was interested to see how it all works and how I could expand the label,” she said.

“To work with different photographers, videographers, influencers and to collaborate was really cool – just to see what you could do if you all worked together.

“LA is such a competitive market but there are some really cool people who like to help each other grow and support each other.”

Having spent the last few weeks in Bali, the designer, who also donated a percentage of all her profits to help families in Bali provide an education to their children, said she was excited to finish her current ready-to-wear collection at home.

“I’ll be here for a while, I love Perth, Bali and LA and I don’t want to choose just one so to go between the three and do the shorter stays gives me the freedom to satisfy all of my customers needs,” she said.

“My new ready-to-wear collection is definitely more me, it really shows people who I am now, not the 20-year-old who started the label.

“I think it shows growth and how I have transformed as a person as a designer.

“I like to push boundaries and keep it classy but still keep it sexy, making women feel confident in what they’re wearing.”

Audino said her five-year-plan included doing more styling, being stocked by online websites The Iconic and Revolve and working in costume design.

“If I could do the costumes for an Ariana Grande or Beyonce tour that would be really cool,” she said.