South Australian fashion designer, Sally Phillips, has been on top of Adelaide fashion for over 14 years with her fashion label, Sally Phillips. She’s created collection after collection of unique, and much adored high fashion garments (most notably adored by Dannii Minogue), and this season’s collection is no different. Here at Glam Adelaide we caught up with the iconic designer to talk about the evolution of the Sally Phillips brand, the unique experience of shopping with Sally Phillips, and her upcoming Spring/Summer 2015 collection.
Phillips has come a long way since the conception of her namesake brand. With 14 years under her belt, she’s spent some time refining her craft. Though she’s maintained the same unique design aesthetic and end goal of premium quality products and service, she says that she has developed a number of genius garment construction techniques and, in the last 5 years in particular, has begun developing exclusive prints and fabrications.
Some of these exclusive prints and unique design techniques are present in her Spring/Summer 2015 collection. Described as a “range that invigorates and excites”, her latest stuff is effortlessly beautiful. With bright emerald and Turkish sea blue sand-washed silks, this gorgeous collection takes its inspiration from the taboos of mixing and matching prints and colours. When I scroll through the look book, I envision Solange Knowles, though Phillips sees Olivia Palermo and Lena Perminova. She tells me that she would love to see the two fashion icons in her newest garments.
I mean, have you seen the collection? I’ve scarcely seen such a versatile and wearable collection that so effortlessly catches the essence of an Australian summer. And those prints? Those shapes? Those necklaces? Stunning.
Speaking of those necklaces, Phillips tells me that she hand picked the materials from markets in Hong Kong: “When I travel to Hong Kong I make sure I visit the beautiful markets and from there I find hundred of gorgeous beads and roping!” There you have it. Each necklace comes with a story from across the globe. Don’t ever say that Sally Phillips doesn’t treat their customers right.
In fact, Sally Phillips is known for spectacular, relational customer service, and it all starts at the shop front.
The shop front works a little differently than normal fashion houses. People can window shop till their hearts content – their beautiful store fronts are near art. But to actually buy Sally Phillips, one must book an appointment. It seems all very exclusive and fancy, but Phillips ensures me that it’s all part of the label’s spectacular customer service strategy, as the team behind the label go to great lengths to make their customers feel special. “Each of my clients has their own stylist for their appointment when they come to order the new collection. They have over an hour spent with them to ensure they are given complete looks and wardrobe solutions. Our clients are also contacted personally when their orders are ready (not mass contacted) and we know everyone by their first name!”
You know you’re a truly valued consumer of a brand when you’re referred to as a client, rather than a customer.
Clients are treated to intimate biannual showings of the debut collections. At these events, Phillips says that she really enjoys seeing the familiar faces, and the rapport that she has with her bubble of clients.
But how does one become a client? How does the uninitiated, unknowing public become a Sally Phillips woman? Phillips says that her new clients often discover Sally Phillips through friends and family, “so they already understand the attention to detail we offer with our clients!” From there (or, you know, from here), you can peruse the website to see collections and book an appointment.
Or, if you follow them on Facebook and Instagram, you’ll get some sneaky little updates about how to get your hands on some of their pretties, and even invites welcoming you to the salesroom for some post-season sales.
Moving to the future though, Phillips tells me that fashionistas will soon be able to shop Sally Phillips capsule collections online. She says this “ensures our privately shown collection is still exclusive to our existing clients and then we can reach a larger clientele who don’t necessarily want to book an appointment during the showing period.” Nice.
I for one am looking forward to the new online boutique, and for whatever else Sally Phillips whips up in the future. More beautiful prints? More glits? More glam? Yes please!
Head to the website for more information.
The Sally Phillips shopfront is at 1/380 Fullarton Road, Fullarton SA 5063.
