INTERVIEW with Del-Anne Sturgeon || 2026 Designer for Fashique Runway
SD: Hi, Del-Anne. Can you introduce yourself to my readers who don’t know you yet?
DS: Hi I'm Del-Anne Sturgeon; also known as Lady of Lavelle Luxe and I am a First Nations high-end couture designer. Also founder & CEO of Lavelle Luxe, a women’s wellness & luxury lifestyle brand; based on curated empowerment experiences & high-end fashion jeweller.
SD: How and when did you get into fashion design?
DS: 10+ years ago I was working in a caravan park & pub, and we had a permanent resident who was an Opal Miner. And every now and again we'd catch a glimpse of him cutting his opals; getting to see some cracked open, and how beautiful they were. He was the most enthusiastic person I had ever met, with a very deep love for Opals. He would often show us his opals, necklaces and such, and I was curious. He gave tips and pointers on what to look for what kind of equipment one would need. I saw the necklaces he made; very simple ones with the very opals he was mining. I got more ideas from those necklaces. I was 15 when I started draft designs, sketches and such. I started noticing flowers and how similar in colors some plants were to gemstones. No matter where I went in life, those designs became habit, a designated would pop up in my mind and I would sketch it. I used to (do still now) carry a sketch book and pencils around with me everywhere and that’s my how. In 2025 when I finally decided to stop putting it off, I love designing. Give me a flower and your chosen stones and I will give you emotions in a form of art. I was 24 when I finally started to rebrand myself, and I had sold a couple designs overseas first before rebranding. I did more trials and errors and finally decided on a proper plan. 25 years old coming to the end of 2025 in December, I decided "Now or Never" and I was three months into my rebranding when Fashique Runway found me in a hidden corner amongst friends and family.
SD: What advice would you give to a younger version of yourself when you were starting out in fashion design?
DS: You don't know until you try, persevere and let no words discourage. You grew and did at the right time, and now is better than never. Don’t ever be afraid to be different. Different is beautiful. Be in your own calibre. Define yourself, and also - if others can't handle your uniqueness, then they're not your people. Where there is a will, there is a way.
SD: What keeps you inspired?
DS: My imagination: it fuels creativity, and inspiration can come from anywhere. It just depends on how you look at things.
SD: Explain your understanding of sustainable fashion practices and how you incorporate them into your design process.
In my understanding from as a Jewellery Designer, fine metals are often sought after; very sought-after, between gold and silver they're barely ever not untouched. Metals can be melted down from one form to make another and gemstones can be removed form setting to be placed into a new one. The metals can be utilised for various purposes, from fashion, function to investments (Bullions). There is a lot that can be done with these fine metals, it’s how it’s done that matters the most. These metals in particular are also non perishable, especially when kept in decent conditions... separately. Paper used (for messy sketches) is often composted to be placed into gardens. Generally I utilise mechanical pens, sharp, reliable and lesser general pencils wasted when they become unusable.
SD: You’re showcasing your designs in Fashique Runway 2026 this year. What excites you most about this?
This will be my first most and publicised event ever and I'm used to hiding in the shadows, so this is a whole new experience for me. I am honoured to have the opportunity to participate.
Tickets are going fast. Go and buy tickets to see Del-Anne Sturgeon in Fashique Runway here
Fashique Runway:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fashique_runway/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fashiquerunway
Del-Anne Sturgeon (Aka Lady of Lavelle Luxe):
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LadyofLavelleLuxe
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladyoflavelleluxe/
