THE Agrifutures Rural Women’s Award is Australia’s leading award acknowledging and supporting the essential roles all women play in rural industries, rural and regional businesses and rural and regional communities.

Applicants must be over 18 years and no formal qualifications are required.

Nikki Atkinson is the winner of South Australia’s Agrifuture’s Rural Women’s Award.

A dress designer by trade, she is hoping to take the world by storm as she introduces her sustainable ‘luxury’ merino wedding dress collection. Ideally, Nikki wants to see her Horrocks Vale Collections on the runways of Paris, New York and Dubai.

I caught up with Nikki Atkinson, to find out what lead her to winning this prestigious award.

“A previous winner of the Agrifutures Award - Stephanie Tretheway - who won the award in 2022 - asked me if I could make her a gown to wear to present the 2023 awards,” she said.

“Stephanie wore the woollen gown, and the positive response was amazing.

“I was then encouraged by others to put my own business forward for the award.”

Not trying to keep this fibre exclusive; Nikki was hoping that other bridal manufacturers would jump on board and use this stunning fibre too.

“It’s been quite a process,” she said.

“Over 20 years of work to get to this point and it’s taken most of that time to find a suitable woollen fabric.”

Years ago, a friend of Nikki’s wanted a wedding dress in wool, and that conversation has not been forgotten.

“We couldn’t find anything,” she said.

“It was only really the heavier coat type fabrics.

“Eventually, and only two years ago - I found a suitable Australian Merino woollen fabric suitable for my designs.

“It was really important - as I am married to a merino wool producer - that I found an Australian Merino fabric to use in my gowns.

“It’s like the full circle.”

Nikki, I am certain that most people would be incredibly surprised at your gowns. I didn’t know that wool could look like that.

“Yes,” she said.

“Most people are blown away when they see them.

“They mostly have no idea that they can actually look so similar to other bridal dresses.

“I always knew that wool would be an ideal fabric, if only I could find the right wool.

“Most bridal dresses are made of polyester and other fossil fuel fabrics, but a merino wool dress has the ability to reduce body heat on a hot day yet be comfortable in cooler temperatures.”

Nikki explained that the fibre has beautiful drape and flex and is extremely comfortable.

“If you’re wearing something that’s itchy and scratching, it’s generally not Australian merino wool,” she said.

Ultimately, Nikki wants to increase demand for the “completely underrated” merino wool, so the farmers and grazier’s benefit.

“Being married to a grazier, I know they work so bloody hard, and it takes generations to get the perfect fibre,” she said.

Nikki and her husband Dallas farm approximately 5000 merinos at Wilmington in South Australia - but that number was at 8000 before the drought. They are slowly rebuilding those numbers back up.

“It takes roughly one kilo of fleece to make one metre of fabric, and a typical bridal gown would use about five metres,” she said.

Nikki intends to use the $15,000 in prize money to exhibit at Harrogate Fashion Week in England, in August. It is an event that has global recognition and around 8000 buyers in attendance.

Also on her to-do list, is to employ a Public Relations Company to put the Horrocks Vale Collection on the right fashion platforms and with the right fashion social media influences.

Also, Nikki is planning on sourcing a manufacturer for her designs - as currently they are all done in-house at Wilmington.

“It was just the push I needed,” she said.

“It had always been in my plan but I just hadn’t got there.

“Now, I am gathering the resources to take the next step.

“It’s a big one - but it’s very exciting!”