Bernadette Olivier – Changing How We Wear Fashion
When Bernadette Olivier (Faulkner, 2000) walked the corridors of Santa Maria College, she probably did not imagine she would one day be leading the world’s largest peer-to-peer luxury fashion rental platform. But today, as CEO and Co-Founder of The Volte, that is exactly where she has landed, combining style, technology and sustainability to reshape how we engage with fashion.
Memories That Shaped Her
“I loved my time at Santa Maria,” Bernadette shares. “These friendships are something that has given me immense confidence throughout my life.”
Her time on stage and the track left a lasting impression. “I loved theatre arts with Hal Davies, so the Year 12 production was definitely a highlight. I was also a cross-country runner, and that love of running has continued throughout my life.”
She describes Santa Maria as “a really safe and nurturing environment in those years where you are finding your way and growing up.”
A Career that Grew with Curiosity
After school, Bernadette pursued a Law/Arts degree at UWA. While she didn’t see herself as a future lawyer, the experience proved invaluable.
“University is really about learning to think critically and independently and problem solve – it’s not to come out with an out-of-the-box job.”
Her path took her to London, where she trained at Cleary Gottlieb before joining TPG-Axon, a New York hedge fund. It was a steep learning curve.
“It had a sink-or-swim culture where you really had to step up even as a junior. At times it was incredibly scary and I spent an enormous amount of time absolutely terrified, but I learned so much.”
Those early years laid a strong foundation, many of her former colleagues remain close friends today.
Spotting an Opportunity in Fashion
“I started The Volte because I could see first-hand that fashion was broken. Beautiful pieces were being worn once, shoved to the back of wardrobes, while women kept buying more and more. It didn’t make sense financially or environmentally.”
What began as an idea has grown into a movement. The Volte empowers women to rent and lend designer fashion, earning money from their wardrobes while reducing waste.
“The Volte was never just about building another marketplace. It was about unlocking the value sitting idle in every wardrobe, and proving that fashion could be shared, circular, and income-generating.”
From Marketplace to Global Platform
Since launching, The Volte has scaled quickly. It is now backed by eBay Ventures and globally partnered with eBay. In the wake of COVID-19, Bernadette and her team launched Seamlist, a resale infrastructure platform now powering major retailers including David Jones, Seed and Cotton On.
“It proves that what we’ve built isn’t just a marketplace, it’s infrastructure that can transform the way products are bought, sold, and valued.”
What Balance Looks Like
As CEO, Bernadette splits her time between strategy sessions, investor calls and deep work. But these days, work isn’t everything.
“After years of running myself into the ground, I understand that building something sustainable also means building a sustainable life.”
Ocean swims, exercise and quality time with her three children are now essential. And some friendships are still going strong.
“Decades later, we’re still close – being with my Santa Maria friends feels like oxygen.”
Her Take on Trends
“I secretly love sequins and bright colours, I think fashion should be fun and unapologetic sometimes. But one trend I could happily see disappear forever is cut-outs. They’re just not flattering on me, and I’d much rather feel confident than be constantly adjusting an outfit.”
From a nurturing school environment to leading a globally recognised fashion tech platform, Bernadette Olivier’s journey is a powerful reminder that curiosity, courage and compassion can lead to extraordinary places.
As she proves, fashion can be circular, purposeful, and still a whole lot of fun.
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Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.
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