Australian Graduate Fashion Week
A few weekends ago I tagged along with Terry Dion from Scenes of Sydney to the first ever Australian Graduate Fashion Week where 32 young designers from fashion schools around Australia and New Zealand got the chance to win $10,000 in prizes to help them start up their careers, a big prize that would surely help any graduate during that daunting time that is finishing your education.
Student shows or any young labels shows are always a favourite of mine as they don't yet have to have that commercial appeal or branded style that many established designers have leaving a bigger lee way for them to go crazy.
Although a lot of the designers seemed to stick to old favourites and simple pieces that would sell in a heartbeat some decided to push the envelope just a bit while still staying within the wearable, a task many other more established designers fail to do.
My personal favourite of the show was the runner up Leroy Nguyen from the Fashion Design Studio at Ultimo TAFE (who's alumni include Dion Lee, Christopher Esber, Emma Mulholland, Karla Spectic and Michael LoSordo just to name a few) whose collection was made up of mirrored floral prints on neoprene, lots of white and structural shapes and zips. Although it did allude to collections from other designers, especially Dion Lee, it still had a fresh appeal to it and seriously who could deny that print?
Ellie Mackay, from Perth, was also impressive taking a way more romantic and dreamy approach to many of the ideas that Leroy showed. Again there was lots of white but this time it was much more sheer with panelled outlined with iridescent fabric and almost pearl and coral like details fitting for a collection titled "Submerge". As well as being one of the most gorgeous collections it was also easily one of the collections that best combined commercial ability, technique and uniqueness in a way that seems to fit the beach and summer culture of both Perth and Sydney much like one my favourites from MBFWA Suboo.
Though not one of my favourites winner Emily Scott, from Timaro in New Zealand, certainly meet the shows competition criteria
(creativity, individuality, commercial ability and technique) while producing something that most would love. Long hooded jackets, harem like pants decorated in bright colours and tie dye not unlike the type your uncle who refuses to let go of his youth still wears were a focal point but Scott managed to step away from the Tree of Life vibes and make a much more interesting collection. The tie dye was well done and almost gorgeous purely for the fact that it didn't look like traditional hippie stuff with Scott making it look more like a cloud print on a dusty pink or purple dusk sky. The pants, which the prints were chiefly used on, both fitted and moved well particularly for such baggy cuts. It was the footwear that stole the show, however. Sky high wedges with covered in an almost crochet like fabric in an organic looking tan olive colour were used throughout her show and the little curls of fabric which from a distance looked like little flowers added that little something different that really Emily differentiate from that hippie look.
(creativity, individuality, commercial ability and technique) while producing something that most would love. Long hooded jackets, harem like pants decorated in bright colours and tie dye not unlike the type your uncle who refuses to let go of his youth still wears were a focal point but Scott managed to step away from the Tree of Life vibes and make a much more interesting collection. The tie dye was well done and almost gorgeous purely for the fact that it didn't look like traditional hippie stuff with Scott making it look more like a cloud print on a dusty pink or purple dusk sky. The pants, which the prints were chiefly used on, both fitted and moved well particularly for such baggy cuts. It was the footwear that stole the show, however. Sky high wedges with covered in an almost crochet like fabric in an organic looking tan olive colour were used throughout her show and the little curls of fabric which from a distance looked like little flowers added that little something different that really Emily differentiate from that hippie look.
All pictures are by Terry Dion from Scenes of Sydney and Dominic Spagnolo