Timeless fashion that’s fresh yet exclusive is what makes Elle & Elka the go-to place for Adelaide’s style set.

Since 2014, Elle & Elka has served its distinct, diverse and designer fashion to women who want to be a step ahead of the trend cycle.

Co-owners Evelyn Kakkoufas and Leeann Anderson became fast friends when working for iconic designers George Gross and Harry Who. But it wasn’t until those labels closed and the pair visited Sydney for a trade fair that the idea of their own boutique was born.

“There was a gap in the market,” Evelyn says from inside her College Park boutique. “When we started, the clothes were a lot different [to today]. Everything was high-low, skinny jeans and drop waist. It didn’t suit our age group. What we tried to do was find [fashion] for us.”

Two decades of experience in the retail space and working as stylists put the pair in good stead. Today, the store is the go-to for women who are after well-made and on-trend fashion. The co-owners pride themselves on not stocking fast fashion labels, instead they hand-select exclusive stock from retailers across Australia, New Zealand and Europe for people to invest in.

Favourite brands include SA label Kinney, M.A. Dainty, Zoe Katzmann, Huntress and Desigual. This June, Elle & Elka also introduced fashion influencer Rozalia Russian’s latest athleisure collaboration with the label Atoir into the boutique.

“Adelaide is a small shopping destination, we don’t want the same labels,” says Evelyn. “We want to offer something different.”

“It’s one thing people come back for,” adds Leeann. “And we don’t buy multiples. We have one [item] in every size and when it’s gone, it’s gone.”

But, while renowned for their premium labels and hand-selected, quality pieces, community and customer service are what Elle & Elka are best known for.

In the nine years since opening, Evelyn and Leeann have developed a close-knit group of loyal customers that trust their stylish eye. This level of trust, coupled with the pair’s in-depth knowledge of fashion from their George Gross and Harry Who days, means Evelyn and Leeann are innate at unearthing customers’ personal styles and can curate the shopfloor to best reflect their clientele.

“We get to know our customers,” says Evelyn. “They’ve become our friends. We often go into showings and say, ‘Oh, we have to buy this for this customer’.”

“And we know what colours they like and what cuts they wear,” Leeann adds. “People trust us.”

CHAMPAGNE FRIDAYS

Evelyn and Leeann go the extra mile for their customers – shop in-store on a Friday and you can peruse the shop’s range with a glass of bubbles in hand. The co-owners have even taken a group of customers to Shanghai for Fashion Week and hope to do the same next year for the Trelise Cooper showcase at New Zealand’s Fashion Week.

Elle & Elka
Shop 6/1 Payneham Road, College Park
0413 392 188
elleandelka.com.au
@elleandelk