Photo of Emily Ratajkowski caused Henne items to ‘sell out instantly’

Nadia Bartel has reflected on the “very surreal” moment supermodel Emily Ratajkowski was photographed wearing her fashion label.

Natalie Brown

@natalieisbrown

3 min read

May 27, 2024 - 11:21AM

Nadia Bartel all glammed up for photo shoot

Nadia Bartel has reflected on the “very surreal” moment supermodel Emily Ratajkowski was photographed wearing her fashion label, Henne.

Flaunting her midriff in a cropped blazer and mini skirt on the cover of Stellar, out today, the 39-year-old opened up about her relationship, turning 40, and the expansion of her fashion empire.

Bartel co-founded Henne – Swedish for “her”- in 2019 with her sister, Michelle Ring, and their business partner, Laura Broque. In the years since, the brand has gone from strength-to-strength, presenting at Australian Fashion Week in 2022 and 2023, a bricks-and-mortar store in Melbourne’s Prahran, and the opening of a second location, this time in Sydney, on the horizon.

All of that didn’t detract, however, from how “incredible” it was to see one of the world’s most in-demand models dressed head-to-toe in Henne while out in New York last September.

Ratajkowski was photographed walking her dog in the brand’s Nico jeans, Aurora shirt and Leila tank – causing all three items to sell out “instantly”, Bartel told Stellar.

“You put so much effort into making these pieces, there’s always that feeling that you’re putting all of your creative juices into making something and you don’t know if everyone is going to like it,” she said.

Seeing Emily Ratajkowski dressed head-to-toe in Henne was ‘incredible’, Bartel said. Picture: Gotham/GC Images

‘Those items sold out instantly. You can really see the pull of those celebrities.’ Picture: Gotham/GC Images

“It’s only when it comes out that you see if people are liking it, buying it. And you don’t always get it right.

“But when you see someone on that level (like Ratajkowski), where they have so many choices on what they could wear and they’re wearing your designs – it’s such an incredible feeling.

“We saw the results even before we posted about it on social media … Those items sold out instantly. You can really see the pull of those celebrities.”

Nadia Bartel for Stellar. Picture: Steven Chee/Stellar Magazine

As she approaches entering a new decade next year, Bartel – who shares sons Aston, 8, and Henley, 5, with her ex-husband, Geelong great Jimmy Bartel – is taking everything in her stride after the “pressure” she felt in her early 30s.

“The 40s are honestly the new 30s. I feel like you’ve got this whole new vibe going on – you’re not stressing about the stuff you used to stress about in your early 30s. You’re like, ‘OK, no, this is how it is, and I’m OK’,” she added.

“Looking back to when I was turning 30, I almost thought that was really old. Next year I’m turning 40! I don’t know if it’s because, energetically, I’m in a different place now, but I remember feeling so much stress back then. I was pregnant at the time, I wasn’t sure where I wanted to be in my career, and I didn’t have the house.

“All these things, I remember feeling crappy about it. At 30, I thought I’d have X, Y and Z. And in my early 30s, I felt a lot of pressure. Now, as I approach (turning) 40, I feel like I’m in such a good place and so happy with where I am. And knowing that everything does happen for a reason, and it might take you a few years to realise that.”

Bartel with her sons, Henley and Aston. Picture: Instagram

With her partner of two-and-a-half years, Peter Dugmore. Picture: Instagram

It’s been “really nice” to watch her sons, who are “growing up so fast”, form a relationship with her partner of two-and-a-half years, Melbourne-based businessman Peter Dugmore.