DESIGNER
Julie Simonelli - Valentino

Wedding gown designer Julie Simonelli was cut out to design. With a shoemaker for a mother and a milliner as a grandmother, fashion was in the Simonelli genes. Julie completed a degree in Fashion Design at RMIT, graduating with distinction. Her talents were quickly recognised with a leading womenswear company offering her a design position. After a few years developing her unique style, Julie decided to specialise in Bridal Wear and opened up Simonelli Bridal Couture 15 years ago.
The business has flourished to employ 6 full/part time workers and at the same time Julie has raised two young children. She saw the opportunity to combine her passion for design, luxurious fabrics and quality craftsmanship whilst providing women with the most memorable gown they will ever wear. Julie is a strong believer in Australian made products and as such all Simonelli made to measure garments are made on the premises. The off the rack gown collection is made by a local designer whose gowns are also made in Melbourne.

TEAM MEMBER
Christine Giandinoto

Christine remembers as a child sitting and watching her Italian grandmother sewing on an old Singer sewing machine and spending hours upon hours piecing together her grandmother's off cuts into dolls clothing. Her interest blossomed from there to making clothes out of old curtains as a teenager to later making friends' evening gowns and Debutante dresses. After completing a Diploma of Clothing Industry Studies at RMIT Textiles, Christine took on part time employment at a specialist children's clothing manufacturer and also did work experience at Simonelli where she then stayed on as a trainee. Ten years later she has the responsibilities of work room managing, work scheduling, cutting, pressing, pattern making, hand finishing, fittings, quality & stock control as well as being a very experienced Sales Consultant.

 

TEAM MEMBER
Melissa Jamieson

Melissa first became interested in sewing when she was introduced to it at school. She enjoyed it so much that she looked for extra tuition which lead her to a small studio school where she learnt pattern making. From there she decided that fashion was the path she wanted to follow. She managed to get a part time position in a small MTM business in Ivanhoe, where she worked for 3 years while still at secondary school.
Melissa went on to complete an Advanced Certificate in clothing Manufacture at Box Hill TAFE and worked for a further 5 years before a position came up at Simonelli where she has been happily working for the past 11 years. Melissa is a workroom manager where she is in charge of sampling, work scheduling, pattern making, garment prep, fittings, draping, beading as well as being an experienced sales consultant.
Melissa is all this as well as a mother to her three sons.

 

TEAM MEMBER
Georgia Young

After spending time working in retail and gaining some experience in various sewing related businesses Georgia completed a Certificate of Pattern making, Garment construction, Styling and Couture at the Melbourne School of Fashion. Wanting to learn more about the Bridal Industry, she offered her services for work experience at Simonelli which lead to a position within our team. She works part time with Simonelli and part time at Spotlight where she has gained a greater knowledge of fabrics. Georgia is a sales consultant as well as working in the construction side doing cutting and sewing and learning all sides of the business.

 

TEAM MEMBER
Helen Bellman

With a mother that sewed all the time Helen was bound to pick up the desire to make clothes herself. Making clothes for dolls and herself and progressing to friends she developed her skills by doing many short courses. With a passion for sewing Helen decided to complete a formal qualification part time at TAFE while teaching at a Secondary School. She completed her work experience for the Advanced Certificate in Designer Dressmaking (Kangan) at Simonelli. Helen began working from home part time doing evening and bridal wear for ten years while she raised four children. After completing another TAFE Certificate in Information Technology part time and seeing her youngest off to school she had the opportunity to return to Simonelli on a part time basis where she has been for the past 10 years. Her responsibilities include administration, bookkeeping and organization as well as sales consulting.