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    Tamara Ralph on her new couture maison and plans for 2025 ahead of the brand’s Spring Summer runway

    Sophia Dyer

    MADAME Arabia caught up with the designer ahead of her show in Paris tonight

    One might say, Tamara Ralph has fashion running through her veins. Coming from four generations of couturiers, her passion for bespoke design has seen her gain a throng of loyal followers, including Beyoncé and Meghan Markle.

    Relaunching her eponymous brand Tamara Ralph in 2022, the designer has been a favourite of celebrities, appearing on red carpets ever since. Going from strength to strength, in 2024 the brand collaborated with Audemars Piguet and opened its new couture maison in Paris.

    Prior to running her own label, the Australian designer was formerly one-half of the brand Ralph & Russo. As she enters her third year as Tamara Ralph and prepares for her second Spring-Summer show in Paris, we caught up with the designer to talk future plans and dreams.

    Coming from four generations of couturiers, was your love of fashion nature or nurture?

    What an interesting question, I would say a bit of both.

    I was never purposefully led into pursuing a path in couture, but — naturally — coming from several generations of couturiers within my family, I was immersed in this world from the start. Really, from an incredibly young age, I had a natural sense of curiosity and also admiration for the craft. I quickly learned that my true passion was design, and even then I knew my dream was to become a designer.

    When I was quite young, my natural interest was in fashion and creating, and I sought to learn more from my mother and grandmother, and pursued this on my own to some extent. My mother would often find me asleep on the sewing machine in my bedroom as I was creating for hours. She was the one who I learnt how to sketch from, as I always admired her fashion sketches — they had this '70s flair to them. My grandmother saw my interest in fashion and started to teach me the basics of craftsmanship and couture techniques. From there, my passion continued to grow and I never really considered doing anything else. I was also very fortunate to be under the expert guidance of them both, who ensured every last detail was created to perfection. My grandmother would critique my creations and unpick every stitch I had made, encouraging me to start over and learn from my mistakes, so this really instilled the respect for quality and craftsmanship into all of my work.

    I knew it was my destiny from the start and so I followed a clear path to support this dream.

    Your namesake brand Tamara Ralph has found huge success since it launched, can you explain what you wanted to achieve with the House?

    Despite coming from a backgroud anchored in couture — which has been, to date, truly my life's work — in many ways, starting again under my own name felt like turning the page of a new chapter and beginning anew. Of course, my experience and my history will always be a part of myself and my work, but launching my own brand has afforded me the opportunity to really design, create and bring my designs to life on my own terms and completely independently. 

    Really, in terms of what I was looking to achieve, I wanted to create something that was true to myself as a designer and an individual, and work to bring my vision to life. As I said before, couture has been my passion and my calling from the beginning, and so part of me knew I would return to this world. At the heart of it, my vision is to create a luxury offering which represents the utmost in quality, craftsmanship and precision, like works of art, whether that be through fashion or a lifestyle product. 

    You’ve just opened a new couture maison, why did you choose Paris?

    I did — this has long been a part of my strategy since launching on my own, but I felt it was so important to work towards this and not rush into it. I wanted it to be the right time, and I wanted just that — time — to properly build the foundation of my brand before moving onto this next chapter. Since launching early last year, so much has happened in this relatively short period of time, but now felt like the right moment to do so.

    As for why Paris — I would never consider anywhere else. Paris, for me, is where it all began. It's where my career truly flourished, and it is a city which has become so special to me. It's also where my own personal love story began, and so it has taken on many different meanings for me. Finally, Paris is — in my opinion — the beating heart of luxury, fashion and, of course, couture. I feel luxury is almost synonymous with this magical city, as it represents the highest of standards when it comes to luxury fashion.

    What does the new maison symbolise to you as you write your next chapter?

    So many things. Despite having debuted last year, in some ways it feels like a fresh start. Equally, it also feels like I am properly cementing my brand in the very heart of the couture industry.

    Beyond this, it also symbolises the manifesting of my dreams — and the future. I feel there is so much that is still to come, and I cannot wait for what's next. 

    Celebrity dressing is a large focus of Tamara Ralph, is it important who you dress?

    It is — in all things, not just as it relates to celebrity dressing, I firmly believe that it is about the alignment with the talent being exactly right, and feeling right, than it is about having many placements on the red carpet. I feel so fortunate that I have worked with, and continue to work with, so many incredible women across all fields. Be it an actress or a musician, or someone simply doing good in the world, it is a privilege to collaborate with such strong, empowered and confident women who I find endlessly inspiring.

    Why do you think your gowns are so popular on the red carpets?

    I think that there is something to be said about a woman designing for a woman. Not to say there is not some incredible male talent in the industry, because there most certainly is, but I do also feel it is indisputable that a woman has an innate understanding of the female form, and how best to shape and style pieces around individual silhouettes. I feel my pieces generally lend themselves well to the red carpet, but that women are also drawn to them because they strike a unique balance between being feminine and, at times, even ethereal, but equally bold and demanding of confidence. I like to think that my designs offer an overarching element of bold femininity. 

    Is this an avenue of the business we can expect to see continue growing into 2025’s calendar of events?

    Absolutely — celebrity dressing is important for the brand and the business. Though, most importantly and as I said before, it is about working with the right talent who embody the same values as myself and my brand. 

    Are there any particular designs or milestones in your career that you are most proud of?

    This is always a difficult question to answer — I am so fortunate to say that there have been many.

    I am proud of becoming the first Creative Director in the UK in almost a ceto be invited to show on the official schedule of Haute Couture fashion week schedule. At that point, I did not even have a collection. 

    I am proud of being a female in the industry — and I hope that women continue to thrive in fashion, and that we grow in numbers.

    I am proud of becoming a mother — twice — it has changed my world, for the better, and it's difficult to even think of a time when I did not have my two daughters.

    Finally, I am proud of starting anew and completely on my own. It has been a journey, but I am proud of how far I have come and where I still have yet to venture.

    Your collaboration with AP last year was really exciting, how was the process of collaborating with them?

    It was incredible, though challenging. I absolutely love working with the Audemars Piguet team — they are true professionals, incredibly creative, and trailblazers in the haute horlogerie industry. And just wonderful to work with. I have been working with the team for many years — and have been a client personally for even longer — and we had been discussing the potential of working together on a watch design for some time. The process itself had many similarities to designing couture — given both spheres demand absolute precision, unwavering quality and uncompromising craftsmanship — but was also nuanced in a different way, which pushed me as a designer. However, I loved this part of the process; I think it's so important to push your creativity into new and different directions, and to go beyond your boundaries. I'm really proud of what we created together.

    Can we expect to see any other exciting collaborations this year?

    Absolutely — collaborations are something I am passionate about but, again, it has to feel right and aligned with my brand.

    I am however delighted to share that I am collaborating with the beautiful, and unrivalled, French crystal manufacturer — Daum. Together, we have created an incredibly beautiful and exclusive crystal collection — titled Poétique by Tamara Ralph — which merges Daum's Art Nouveau heritage and artistic finesse with my design codes. Inspired by some of my signature elements — such as pearls, draping, soft pink hues and a sensual aesthetic — this collection comprises pieces that celebrate femininity and timeless elegance. The five piece collection reinterprets Art Nouveau codes with references to nature through organic forms resembling draped fabric, unfolding like a flower in bloom. It features undulating lines, asymmetrical curves, golden and white pearls adorning metal crowns, and an innately feminine spirit in a palette of soft pinks. Each piece evokes the romantic and refined universe of my designs.

    The collaboration will launch, officially, at my Spring-Summer 2025 couture show in Paris.

    You have two daughters, do you think they will follow in the footsteps of your family in regards to fashion?

    Of course, I would love that, but it's too soon to tell and I would never force anything on them. Ultimately I want them to be their own individuals and as long as they have strong work ethics, I’m happy for them to pursue what sets their souls on fire.

    I will say that Haliya, my eldest, loves to sit next to me and colour while I am sketching. She loves to be a part of it, and equally has no trouble voicing her opinion on my pieces — which I welcome.

    Ultimately, I want them both to do whatever makes them happiest and to fulfill their own dreams, but I would be thrilled if they decided they wanted to follow in my footsteps. Let's see! 

    What current fashion trends excite you the most?

    I tend to not follow trends so much, I believe more in creating luxury — and wearing pieces — that embody longevity. Pieces that are timeless, and will stand the test of time without ever going out of style. This is what I love about couture, a piece is a work of art that can be passed down through many generations, and it will always remain special.

    And while I certainly hope it's not a trend, I do love to see a renewed interest — across all generations, including Gen Z — for couture. And not just couture, but true luxury in the form of exquisite craftsmanship. I have also witnessed a growing interest amongst new generations, new markets and otherwise new clientele towards a desire for bespoke pieces made completely individual, which is wonderful to see.

    What’s next for Tamara Ralph?

    Aside from settling into the Paris maison and bringing to life my partnership with Daum, I am immersed in my forthcoming Spring-Summer 2025 collection which will be shown in Paris at the top of the new year. There is never a dull moment, but, I wouldn't change it for the world.

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