About Emogene Couture
Roberts is the designer behind Emogene Couture and has been passionate about fashion since childhood. She took her formal training at Kwantlen College in Richmond BC, in the early nineties and after graduating with honors, she gained experience working in a tailoring/uniform factory in Edmonton. In 1999 she started a custom design wedding gown and formalwear business. She fell in love with the process, taking wedding gown dreams and making them a reality. She has also devoted 15 years to teaching, sewing and fashion design to adults through continuing education with the Calgary Board of Education as a way to give back to the industry she loves. Through the past twenty years, that Michelle spent honing her skills, developing finishing and couture techniques that place her garments above the rest, she always had a fire of her own ideas simmering away, just below the surface. In 2010 those ideas became a reality when she launched her first collection of high end, cocktail, ladies wear under the label Emogene Couture to rave reviews. There is no stopping this female dynamo, who is in 'it' for the pure rush of creative design.
Emogene Couture is a line of high end, grown-up, dressy ladieswear for the modern woman. It is beautiful, feminine clothing with vintage detailing that reflects the Hollywood glamour and elegance of the 1940's and 1950's with a modern twist for the independent woman of today. Michelle loves to use a variety of textures and fabrics to create pieces that are timeless and unique. Emogene Couture is for the woman who still thinks it is fun to "dress-up". Each piece is cut with precision, from richly textured fabrics, with couture detailing and embellishments that are whimsical and beautiful. Clothing with integrity, designed to fit and enhance the feminine form.
Like many designers, Michelle draws inspiration for her collections from many sources. Even as a child she loved fairy tales with princesses and their beautiful clothes. She has always absolutely loved the creative process of conceptualizing a design, constructing, fitting and embellishing. Michelle is very inspired by the 1940's and 1950's. During that time period the type of clothing that women wore, was so feminine, with figure hugging pencil dresses and waspy waisted party dresses. Even down to her underwear, there was a real sense of mystery, femininity and glamour. Like many women, Michelle likes surprises. She likes her clothing to be a bit surprising. A little unexpected. She likes to combine traditional, feminine, expected silhouettes with unexpected over the top detailing that can be from organic, or architectural items. She likes mixing the old with the new, the vintage, with the modern, the simple, with the ornate. Often, there is an idea to start with, and then fabric is chosen, and through the process of construction the garment takes on a life of it's own, dictating the final look as each part moves towards completion, for an original design that is unique and different. The criteria being beautiful, "cocktail daywear".
