Wear who you are with Ella Sol

Inspired by nature’s fashion sense and fueled by her colourful travels, she has created a flamboyant clothing wonderland bursting with personality.

Kelly Bottcher’s clothing line Ella Sol is a vibrant celebration of shades, patterns and bold colours that demands to be worn with pride and comes with a licence to have fun.

“I have always been a colour child – the bolder the better,” said the bright-eyed Kelly while sitting in her “playroom” in her Simbithi home.

“I find clothes a great way to express yourself. I think women, including myself, are often so self-conscious about how they look and what they wear. Every woman has something beautiful they can accentuate – you don’t just have to wear a shift dress, put on a belt and show off your waist,” said the keen surfer, who worked on yachts as a cook for seven years and travelled the world – always on the lookout for colour.

Returning home, she started a new career in the interior design industry, settled down and had her daughter – the inspiration for a new path.

“After having Ella three years ago I felt like most moms do I think, that I lost myself a bit. I was making my new year’s resolutions while jogging one day and decided I needed to make something that is mine – a clothing range.”

Kelly started buying fabric at every opportunity until one day a good friend urged her to start doing something with her colourful collection.

“I found local ladies who started sewing for me. I remember shooting over to them during my lunch break to see how they were doing. My friend started wearing my clothes and people wanted to know where they were from.”

From there, it just snowballed and Kelly found new ideas for clothing wherever she went.

“I think I am actually a bit obsessed. I constantly see patterns and shadows. Nature can teach you how to play with colour – it is all there, you just need to open your eyes to it.”

Like most start-ups however, Kelly said it hasn’t all been smooth sailing.

“When I’m crying because I wasted money or made a mistake, I tell myself it is a textbook: learn the lesson and get over it.”

One of the biggest fashion lessons Kelly has learnt is that anything goes.

“Mix and match floral and a stripe – just look for one colour that pulls through both pieces. If you have confidence you can pretty much rock anything.

“People are too worried about what others think. If you are feeling it, just do it.”

Look out for Ella Sol at the Lifestyle Centre’s White Summer and Nauhaus at Pearls Mall in Umhlanga or check out Instagram @Ella_sol_clothing

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