About Us
About The Aura Woman ‘Sisters Act’
It was the personal experiences of three West Australian sisters which started an exciting journey not only into fashion design and a fashion business but also almost by default another outcome- the chance to play their part in helping to make women feel good about themselves, whether they are a size 4 or a size 20.
The Journey
Three years ago Anastasia Brotherson approached her sisters Sian Kelly and Tara Fowles to share in a unique adventure.
Deciding not to return to her career as a pharmacist after having her first two daughters, Anna realised she needed a new challenge. After having two children in as many years she planned to design her own collection featuring versatile garments that women could wear pregnant, yet still able to compliment their post baby figure.
Having watched her sister Sian face the same fashion woes and her sister Tara battle weight issues. Anna thought. “why can't we wear the same clothes, what ever shape we are, pregnant or not? Who says we need to have a whole new wardrobe when we have a change of shape?”
It wasn’t long before the ‘Aura Woman’ concept was created. Sian a former nurse and Tara a former primary school teacher were quick to join their younger sister in the business, which has blossomed into ‘Aura Woman’.
With seven children between the three sisters ranging from 2 1/2 to 11 years, Anna, Sian and Tara seemed to have found the perfect balance between motherhood, family and their own careers.
Sian and Tara credit their sister Anna with the creative flare that helps keep Aura Woman’s signature label so interesting and as their customers say “fantastic”! Sourcing fabrics from local agents and manufacturing locally in Perth, has helped Anna to produce garments that are especially appealing to their local and most important WA customers.
Late in 2006 Anna gave birth to her third daughter, and being pregnant for the first time since the Subiaco store opened, Anna was grateful that her wardrobe was already prepared to cater for her body changes.
“I only had to get some new current season and extra layering pieces to flatter my growing shape, and after my baby was born my existing wardrobe lasted well into my 5th month post natal.”
Things have moved along since the sisters created the Aura Woman concept in 2004. They felt the needs of plus size woman were poorly catered for in the local market and decided to extend their collection to cater for this market niche.
After watching Tara battle with her weight for many years, Anna and Sian had seen first hand how she struggled to stay true to her own sense of style when she was pregnant and after the birth of her two children.
From personal experience Tara has been a major contributing factor to the success the Aura Woman Plus Size Collection has enjoyed.
The Aura Woman journey has certainly revealed that there is indeed no such thing as a typical body shape and that sexy comes in many different shapes and sizes.
Aura Woman has had petite women with a sizing of 4 – 6 come in complaining they find it incredibly difficult to buy clothes to compliment their figures.
These complaints sent the sisters to the drawing board where they designed styles beginning in a size ‘extra small’.
Body image issues and discrimination comes in all shapes and sizes!
The sisters’ say that during early pregnancy and after giving birth, many women experience self esteem and body image issues and it was their desire to celebrate this special time in their lives and to feel sexy and gorgeous that gave birth to Aura Woman.
In March 2006 Anastasia Brotherson was awarded a ‘WA Business News’ – 40 under 40 Award. She was selected from 185 nominations and recognised for her inspirational journey from pharmacist to fashion designer and business owner.
The latest in the Aura Woman adventure is that the sisters have opened a second store in Applecross. Following the successful Subiaco formula the girls carefully selected the new Aura Woman store.
The new shop incorporates the clean lines and minimal themes that has made the Subiaco boutique so aesthetically pleasing. Aura Woman Applecross began trading on 1st November 2007.
Keen to spread the versatile concept, the sisters are thrilled that their dream of a second store has come to fruition in just 3 ˝ years! Existing Aura Woman clients are testimony to the success of the unique concept. Woman can actually have a flexible wardrobe that changes with their bodies. Many clients have reported that they have actually been able to lose 10 kg and their Aura Woman clothes have changed with them!
Aura Woman Subiaco and Applecross stores both stock the ‘Metalicus’ label,securing their position among the largest stockists of Metalicus in WA.
