In Conversation: Kelly Atkinson

We Wear Australian has become a powerful platform for Australian and New Zealand designers on the global stage. When you first started, what did you believe was possible and what surprised you most along the way?

At the beginning, it was quite simple. I really believed in connection. That if we created something with intention and integrity that centred around the brands I loved, the right people would find us. I didn’t know how big it could become, but I trusted the feeling behind it. WWA was always special. I was listening to a podcast from the Cult Gaia Girls and they said if it works "throw gasoline on it “, so NYC flagship is our gasoline. There’s power in backing something wholeheartedly before there’s proof - then we got proof,  so we backed ourselves wholeheartedly.

You’ve built this business alongside your husband while raising your daughter. How has family shaped the way you approach work, leadership and risk?

Family is the centre of everything. It softens the edges but also sharpens your clarity. You become very decisive about what matters. Building this with Richard has taught me that respect and trust are the foundation of both love and business. And Ollie… well she brings perspective. Risk feels different when it’s not just about you. It becomes less about chasing and more about building something stable, meaningful and lasting.Something she will be proud of. 

Australian fashion has a distinct sensibility, relaxed yet refined, confident yet understated. How would you describe the spirit of Australian design to an international audience?

There’s an ease to Australian design that can’t be forced. It’s thoughtful but never overworked. There’s confidence without the need to be loud. It comes from our lifestyle, our landscape, the way we move through the world. It’s refined, effortless and it breathes.

What excites you most about introducing Australian brands to American audiences?

Watching someone experience a brand for the first time and feel something. There’s a freshness to Australian design here. It offers a different perspective, one that feels both elevated and approachable. That moment of connection is everything.

You’ve described this journey as an act of love. How has love shaped the way you build your business?

Love makes you brave. It gives you the courage to keep going when things feel uncertain. It was never only about building a business, it was about creating something we could be proud of, something our daughter can one day look at and understand. Something our family back home can look at and feel was worth every leap. We’ve always seen this as an adventure, and really, it’s one we’ve taken together.

Entrepreneurship often looks glamorous from the outside, but it also requires resilience and vulnerability. What has this experience taught you about yourself?

That I can hold both strength and softness at the same time. I’ve learned to trust myself more deeply even when I don’t have all the answers. And that vulnerability is not a weakness, it’s often where the most honest and important decisions come from. Our inner guide is deeply powerful.

We believe objects can become anchors things we reach for without thinking because they represent something deeper. What does meaning look like in the objects you choose to keep close?

Meaning is always tied to memory for me. It’s less about the object itself and more about what it holds. A feeling, a moment, a person. The pieces I wear daily are reminders of what matters most.

You’re wearing the Kate & Kole Lovers Necklace with the initials R and O, one for Richard and one for Ollie. What does carrying the ones you love in this way mean to you?

It’s grounding. In the middle of everything, it brings me back to them. It’s subtle, but deeply personal. A small, constant reminder of why I do what I do. With and for them.