WA fashion duo Jennifer Stefanelli and daughter Jessica McLagan of Tokay Boutique have applied for a $50,000 federal small business grant, with the support of Perth MP Alannah MacTiernan, in the hope of soon starting up the service.
‘We always wanted to set up an online presence and look at trialling a demand manufacturing process because we are one of the few people who remain in Perth who manufacture,’ Mrs McLagan said.
‘It means we can actually get the orders online, see what the customers want, cut it, make it and expedite it in four to five business days.
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Last year Mrs McLagan left her job as a mechanical engineer to join her mother’s label, which opened its flagship Mt Lawley store in 1998.
‘There’s nothing like having a member of your family who has grown up in the business to work alongside you and offer you a whole new avenue of support and insight,’ Mrs Stefanelli said. ‘It has been and it is a fantastic career to produce in WA and we intend to do it for a long time.’
Mrs McLagan said she was drawn to the challenge of the fashion industry because of its dynamic, innovative and competitive nature.
‘There are so many players in the market, it’s very easy to get watered down and get lost in the noise.
‘What I’m hoping to bring to the business is how to innovate, how to spread the word, how to make sure our products reach the women of Australia.’