Linda Ellis 'Almond Tree'
Fashion Designer (Perth, WA)

Right from the beginning the land was in her blood.  Designer Linda Ellis was born in the South West of Western Australia into a shearing shed. Her father was clearing virgin land to build his dream, a farm. With soil and flies to eat and her father’s toolbox to play with, what more could a little girl want.

Life on the land was a challenging but fascinating journey.  Watching on as her father used his gift of resourcefulness to make it work.  Learning life’s lessons was simple, farming was a team effort, forget your age, pitch in and don’t whinge about it.

The flow of inspiration began after 1975.  The farm had been deluged with rain, so much that it washed it away.  So her father left the manager to watch the farm heal and took the family on their first major look around our great land.  With the range rover set with bean bag and biccies, we saw and did things the rest of them back home could only dream of.  All the while Linda designing clothes, shoes and anything else she could think of. 

Early adulthood was exciting, a sense of expectation and let’s get back on the land.  Linda took on contracts working in shearing sheds and on fruit and vegetable plantations in the state’s north. The work took her back to where she loved it most.

Qualifying at SWAN TAFE , Perth, W.A. gave Linda the necessary skills for a career in Fashion.  After study she went abroad to country California, U.S.A. to live and work on a farm. Whilst abroad Linda was given the privilege to build and care for an almond orchard. Each day she would wake from her quarters in the shed to look out over the morning light on her babies she had planted the weeks before.  The relationship she developed with the trees is the obvious inspiration  for the label’s name.

After year 2000 and a long recovery time from ‘Chronic Fatigue’ through her twenties, Linda entered the mining industry in W.A.  There, 5 years working in geology throughout the state.  There were days and nights in the bush with dirt, men and grease. This time gained her valuable experience in industry, business and rocks!

Kaftans have been an elegant, richly feminine, comfortable way to wear colour  for Linda.  The obvious  combination of Western Australia’s rich colour palette and the kaftan design to show it off. Linda also has a sincere desire to see women return to the truth in themselves as women, expressed through what they wear.  Kaftans give a woman of any age and size the opportunity to be truly ‘fem.’

With the womenswear market in mind, Linda intends her label to move to the overseas market in the coming year.  With her designs of the highest quality silk, inspired by the unique West Australian land and seascapes, this combination makes for a unique product. For stockist enquiries, please contact Linda below.

Contact Linda Ellis
Visit Linda Ellis "Almond Tree" website