Keri Craig-Lee OAM is a woman of substance, and is a well-known fashion designer and retailer, who is recognized Australia wide for her contribution to the fashion industry. In addition, Keri and her husband are benefactors to many charitable organizations. Keri in particular, supports those with a focus on disadvantaged, homeless and isolated women and children. In every aspect of her career her passion for supporting and encouraging women and students to follow their dreams, especially related to fashion, has been evident through her commitment to experiential education. She is a woman who leads by example and encourages others to use their talents as she has throughout her life.
Keri completed her education in 1975 at St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School, Brisbane. In 1976 Keri was a Rotary Exchange Student in Wisconsin, USA and graduated from Kettle Moraine High School. She also completed a diploma in fashion designing and marketing at Waukesha Technical College. Keri’s vision on her return to Australia was to design and market her own brand, ‘Keri Craig’. The Keri Craig Label was one of the first high profile Queensland fashion brands to break into the Interstate market and paved the way for Queensland fashion designers to be recognised nationally and eventually overseas. Keri provided motivation for ‘up and coming’ students and counterparts to emulate her achievements.
One of the highlights of Keri’s career was designing and coordinating Sir Elton John’s wedding in Sydney on Valentine’s Day 1984 for which she received major worldwide publicity.
Apart from having her own exclusive boutiques, The Keri Craig Label was retailed in boutiques Australia wide and in major department stores. The label was also exported to New Zealand, The South Pacific, Noumea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Hawaii and the USA. Keri Craig was showcased at Expo 85’ in Tsukuba, Japan promoting the pending Brisbane Expo 88’.
Keri Craig continually graced the pages of every national newspaper, and, Australian Business and Industry Magazines. Publicity was also garnered on the covers and pages of every glossy magazine including Vogue, Vogue Living, Mode, Mode for Brides, Woman’s Weekly, Woman’s Day, New Idea, Cleo, Sheila, Cosmopolitan, Bride to Be, Queensland Brides and Australian Bride.