2004 - Kristie Coakley

Whitehouse Graduate Kristie Coakley

British Vogues September issue showcases Mario Testino's stunning photographic shoot "Master class" and features hand-made couture accessories by House of Snowball. House of Snowball boutique was opened in March 2010 by Whitehouse Graduate Kristie Coakley and her mother Louise in Coventry Street, South Melbourne. Testinos spread includes pieces from the Snowball Maison de Couture range of couture pieces featuring intricate hand-detailing and rare antique fabrics; Ready to Wear line is also available.

Perth-born Kristie studied at Whitehouse Institute of Design, Australia following the completion of her fine arts degree at University of Western Australia in 2001. Kristie went on to work as a textile designer and fashion illustrator, as well as running her own streetwear label whilst producing solo Fashion Illustration/ Art exhibitions. Kristie moved to London in 2004 and spent the next three years gaining experience as a textile designer, then Assistant Designer at Debenhams and as a designer/dress-maker at "One", a one-off vintage designer boutique in London's elite Ledbury Road, Notting Hill.

Returning to Australia in 2007, it was then that Kristie joined forces with her fashion/textile design mother, Louise Coakley and created the label and boutique House of Snowball. The following year Kristie and Louise launched their first collection at a showing in London and were featured in British Vogue?s December 2008 issue. Hot on the heels of this success, Whitehouse snapped up Kristie who began teaching fashion illustration to the students of the Melbourne Campus while continuing to develop and promote the House of Snowball brand.