Souri Sengdara is the creative behind the label Velvet & Tonic. In 2022 Souri won the Myer Fashions on the Field Lillian Frank AM MBE Millinery Award with the piece titled Flow. The piece was a gender-neutral design that was modelled by Brodies wearing a lace blouse and classic masculine black pants.
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First discovering millinery after attending Derby Day and spending the day at the Champagne Bar wearing a figure-hugging dress and black bucket hat Souri was hooked on the races with its sense of celebration by well-dressed attendees. She began taking millinery classes with Melbourne milliner Sandra Buchanan to develop her skills.

She began creating headpieces for friends and family with her work winning the Blue Diamond Stakes Day FOTF title at Caulfield Racecourse in 2006. When client and friend Holly Stearnes wore one of Souri’s designs when she won the Victorian title for Fashions on the Field at the Melbourne Cup Carnival it gave Souri the push to launch her own label.

Velvet & Tonic was born and the label is known for its free-form and sculptural pieces. Hear more about the label in this Millinery.Info podcast with founder Souri Sengdara.