Friday, May 07, 2010

'The Last Day' Day 5, May 7th, 2010 - RAFW 'Rosemount Australian Fashion Week'



Arnsdorf
Jade Sarita Arnott
9 AM

Based in Melbourne, and created by fashion designer Jade Sarita Arnott the Arnsdorf tale is that of familiar feelings and intimate moments, appropriating the imagery of memories and reinterpreting them through the objectivity of the present.

The collections are about narrative, both experienced and observed. Touching on moments that tell of brief encounters, about truth, fiction and the in between. Arnsdorf always aims to tell a story.

The name Arnsdorf also holds a story personal to the Jade, with her desire to reclaim a former family name lost to her through history.

Heavily inspired by personal stories and intimate moments. Recent collections have referenced the relationship between the garment and its wearer.
Jade’s interest lies in designing garments with the experience of the wearer in mind. Extensive research has gone into the cutting techniques, construction and garment details, which work to flatter the body – inspired by the idea of garments that people can keep forever, pieces that take on new meaning as they age.

From the beginning, Arnsdorf has been built upon a respect for classic and modern archetypal garments. The Trench Coat, Leather Jacket, Cocktail Dress, Jeans, Tailored Pants etc. layer together to serve as costumes for daily life.



Ms Couture
Juilee Chidne-Tullio
10 AM

In 1993, Juilee graduated from studying Fashion at East Sydney TAFE, Darlinghurst for 3 years. The course coveted various components of design, production, patternmaking, grading and textile design. Juilee worked freelance until 1995 when she joined forces with Alex Perry. Juilee has been caught in the web of Perry gorgeous evening gowns and has been the Couture Manager ever since.

The Ms. Couture label embodies feminine fineries of Lingerie, Corsetry, Torselettes, Nightgowns, Nightrobes, Hosiery, Slippers (with heels of course) and Caplettes. The creative essence is old world decadence encapsulating Venetian Courtesans V’s Bond Girls with a flight of Alice in Wonderland Fantasi. It’s not about the bondage girl- its all about the Bond girl. Luxurious collections are marked with whimsical tales of Butterfly Kisses, Garden of Eden, Enchanted Forest, Ice Queens, Punk Baroque, Femme Fatale, Bed of roses, Winter Wonderland…My worlds of fashion and Lingerie are infused. Detail beautifully handcrafted. Lingerie detailed with delicate and bold fashion elements. Goddesses will be beautifully adorned.




Miss Unkon
Courtney Meyer
11 AM

A MISS UNKON GIRL
A girl that loves fashion to dance, laugh, cry and play in. She loves to create her own style and is influenced by the underground and pop fashion icons and where she is at with her love, life & career. She is passionate about life and making a difference to her world and the environment that we live in.Fashion is her LOVE that never leaves.PASSION is what she puts into her dreams and her world.

LOVE IS LIKE A DREAMLAND, A JOURNEY OF YOUNG LOVE



Miss Unkon is a fashion and lifestyle brand for a girl that loves fashion to dance, laugh, cry and to play. She loves to create her own style and is passionate about life and making a difference to the world she lives in.

After creative director Courtney Meyer launched the label in 2009, Miss Unkon was invited to showcase its second collection at the New Generation Group Show and was labelled as ‘New Generation standout’ for the year by media, buyers and bloggers. With an overwhelming response from some of Australia’s top magazines, newspapers, television networks and websites including Vogue, Girlfriend, The Australian and Channel 9, Miss Unkon has become a world to watch, love and become a part of.
Since the labels debut, Miss Unkon has spread her love to fashion crazed girls right around Australia and is stocked in some of the countries most respected stores and online boutiques.

Miss Unkon has also been worn by high profile celebrities and style icons including Delta Goodrem, Lisa Mitchell and Amy Pearson.

After Miss Unkon marked its spot on the international fashion map in 2009, the label is back by demand at RAFW 2010 with a collection dreamed up in the hearts of all the Miss Unkon girls. This is a collection to take you down memory lane of young love; love doesn’t have to be about falling in love, it can be a story of self discovery,
adventure and the playfulness of youth. The collection captures the moments in time when taking the journey of young love.

Miss Unkon is dedicated to supporting her girls and continues to support many charities including The Amira Project, a foundation that aims to improve the self esteem of young women.

In each of their three major collections Miss Unkon has remained faithful to its dreamlike and creative storytelling aesthetic with delicate fabrics, fantastical prints and a whole lot of love for its wearers. Fashion is her love that never leaves.



SWIM FASHION WEEK
@ RAFW
12:00

The Innovators:
Agua Bendita
Blackbox Apparel
Karen Neilson Collection
Lisa Blue
Lisa Maree (Aust)
Rebecca Manning Swimwear
Roopa Pemmaraju




White Sands
01:00

Leah Madden

White Sands is an edgy, contemporary swimwear and resort-wear line by designer Leah Madden.

Having featured in top fashion magazines including Vogue (USA), ELLE, Glamour (USA) Cosmopolitan (USA), Sports Illustrated, Vogue Australia, Cosmo, Cleo, Grazia, Russh, Frankie, Marie Claire and Harpers Bazaar. White Sands is tipped to be one of the most glamorous, fashion forward collections to come out of Australia yet.

White Sands Fashion Week shows in Australia and the USA, were raved about by key fashion editors, and online bloggers worldwide. Gaining the label recognition as the one to go too for fashion forward swimwear and resort-wear.

Designed for the woman who is a little sexy, a little fun, always fashionable and savvy enough to know quality when she sees it. White Sands is quintessentially glamorous, always with an eye to fashion, and a nod to the carefree style that is so Australian.

An anthology of unique and fashion forward styles. From tiny Brazilian cut bikinis and beautifully shaped maillots, all in exclusive prints on the most divine Italian lycra fabrics, teamed with our signature resort co-ordinates. These uber-chic swimsuits are made to look fabulous both in and out of the water, and each and every piece in the White Sands line is constructed with a commitment to excellent quality and a flawless fit.

White Sands is stocked in high-end fashion boutiques, specialty swim and resort stores in Australia, NZ, The USA and UK, as well as Australia’s premier department store David Jones.


NEW GENERATION
02 PM

By Johnny
Emma Veall
Flowers For A Vagabond
Garth Cook
Khrysalis
Luisa
Fredrica
Nathanpaul Swimwear
Plasidapparel
Sim. me. ri. an






Annah Stretton
03 PM

Based in the Waikato, Annah Stretton has emerged from a background of wholesaling mainstream garments to become a leading force in New Zealand-based fashion design.

Annah passionately creates two designer collections (Annah Stretton and Annah. S) each season under the umbrella of the Stretton Clothing Group. Infamous for being both a left and right thinker, she has a creative, but sharp eye on her company’s bottom line.

With continuing and substantial growth, Annah currently exports to stores throughout Australia, the UK, Ireland, Dubai and USA. With a platform of 27 of her own sites in New Zealand, this well-established vertical retailer has her global growth well under control.

Annah has shown at Air New Zealand Fashion Week since 2002 and at the last three Australian Fashion Weeks. 2010 highlights the first Australian individual show for the designer who is consistently re-inventing and bringing fresh new feminine looks to the runway.




Hussy
Marie Hatzis-Ritchie
04 PM

Today, the Hussy empire encompasses four flagship stores in Australia and Indonesia, an exciting e-commerce business via www.hussy.com.au and a recently launched multi-brand boutique, The Mixed Designer Collective in Sydney’s Darlinghurst. Hussy is a cutting edge brand, synonymous with high fashion and a prestigious lifestyle. The Hussy woman is self assured, alluring and relentlessly eye-catching, with an innate flair for effortless glamour. Tailoring to a wide ranging global customer base, the label offers four seasonal annual collections of key, on-trend styles and accessories.

Hussy incorporates a wholesale network of 70 major national stockists and 40 international retailers. The commitment to excellence in every area is second to none, with a consistent attention on the customer experience & Hussy lifestyle.
Sourcing the highest quality fabrics and finishes, Hussy garments and accessories are renowned for intricate tailoring, design driven techniques, detailed hand embellishments and the juxtaposition of edgy hardware and feminine sass.
There are five state-of-the-art Hussy flagship stores in prestigious locations in Sydney, Melbourne, the Gold Coast and Bali.

The newest Sydney Hussy establishment opened at the end of November 2009 in the high end epicentre of Paddington’s shopping Mecca, Oxford Street. This new location resides within a stunning new build of boutique premises and joins the cream of Australian Designers including Sass & Bide, Zimmermann and Scanlan and Theodore. To coincide with the new opening, Hussy’s former flagship in Darlinghurst transformed into a heady amalgamation of exciting fashion brands, becoming The Mixed Designer Collective. This combines unique Hussy garments with new styles from signature brands such as Nookie, Oscar the Third and Cohen et Sabine. Hussy has recently arrived within Australia’s largest, most exciting shopping centre in the southern hemisphere: Hussy Chadstone, Victoria. The store opened to huge success and resides next to Mimco, Paul & Joe, Gorman and Lisa Ho.






Ksubi
o8 PM

Ksubi (formerly known as Tsubi) is an Australian fashion label, co-founded and directed by surfers Dan Single, George Gorrow, Paul Wilson and Oscar Wright.

Ksubi is pronounced as "soobie" in Australian accents, and "sue-bee" in American accents. The first letter in both Ksubi and their earlier name Tsubi has always been silent.

Created in 2000, Dan Single and George Gorrow, were unsatisfied with the range of jeans on the market and couldn't find pairs that fit properly. Under the name Tsubi, they started manufacturing their jeans and denim.

Ksubi made its international debut in London in 2002, with an installation held in the depths of an abandoned tube station at Aldwych. Following this, Ksubi became a contender in the fashion league with their in-store installation at Selfridges Department store in London alongside the likes of Stella McCartney, Martin Margiela and Marc Jacobs. (Selfridges have since dropped Ksubi due to a string of late deliveries)

Ksubi has four official stores, and their garments, jeans and eyewear are sold in boutiques around the world.

The Ksubi Group quickly grew to a turnover of AUD$19.7 million in 2007, prior to suffering major operational and financial issues in 2008. They currently have 29 employees at their head office in Surry Hills.

In 2006, a collaborative project with U.S. style icon and fashion designer, Jeremy Scott titled ‘Jeremy Loves Ksubi’ was shown at Scott’s New York Fashion Week parade alongside his own collection. The collection received rave reviews from the fashion media, and was made available worldwide from April 2007.

Previewing at London Fashion Week in September 2007 was Ksubi’s latest collaboration—"Ksubi for Richard Nicoll sunglasses SS08," designed by Nicoll, made by Ksubi. The eyewear collection consisted of three styles and draws colour from Nicoll’s collection.

Collaborated in Linda Nguyen's Fall 06 Collection in Melbourne.

Ksubi has three stores in Australia - two in the Sydney suburbs of Bondi and Paddington and one in Melbourne. In 2005, Ksubi opened its first international store in the fashionable New York downtown Nolita district of Soho with a launch party that attracted the likes of models such as Erin Wasson, and the 2 Many DJs crew. Guests were entertained by the DJ sets of Paddy Boom from the Scissor Sisters, The Rapture, Dangerous Dan, James Friedman and Australian band Cut Copy, performing live.

Oct 2009, Ksubi featured in 19 'shop-in-shop' concept stores within David Jones. The Ksubi that is available through David Jones included exclusive lines that are priced lower than their traditional boutique range

In 2006, Single and Gorrow reached an out-of-court settlement with US shoe company Tsubo, who threatened to sue Tsubi following a trademark infringement dispute. Tsubo argued in a New York court that Tsubi's use of the first four letters of its name was a breach of its trademark, which was established in 1998 and had been registered in Australia before Tsubi was created. The dispute settlement terms means Tsubi will keep its name in Australia but will now be known as Ksubi in the rest of the world. While the brand, which thrives on notoriety, was not damaged by the name change, there was a lot of talk in the media about the daunting task facing Single and Gorrow - rebranding the label to the rest of the world and creating a new identity and name recognition for the new brand name, Ksubi.


The label hit headlines around the world in 2001 when they unleashed 200 live rats onto the catwalk, and is now known for its rebellious and attention-grabbing antics, such as warehouse installations, late-night booty bar parties, boat fashion shows (where they pushed all of the models into the water), and, more recently, 2006's futuristic parade and post-apocalyptic inspired collection at Australian Fashion Week.

In 2006, Single and Gorrow designed and released a diffusion line of fashion for Australian chain-store Jeans West called Alba Fan Club. Originally planned as a cheaper and limited-edition label, due to its success and popularity in Australia and New Zealand the designers are now contemplating a wider international market for the brand. Alba Fan Club has featured in the August 2007 issue of Nylon magazine.

Wednesday, May 05, 2010

DION LEE & Kirrily Johnston ‘APOCOLYPTO’ - Day 4, May 6th 2010, Thu - Rosemount Australian Fashion Week

DION
LEE

Fashion Week’s most highly anticipated show
First ever fashion show in this iconic Australian location
Backdrop of Sydney Harbour and Harbour Bridge within 3 tiered space
Front row celebrity attendance of Sydney ‘it’ girls including Lara Bingle, Ruby Rose, Gracie Otto, Kate Waterhouse

9 AM


After unveiling his debut collection at RAFW, Dion Lee proved himself as a new designer to emerge from the Australian fashion industry.

The 25-year-old Sydney-based designer graduated from Fashion Design Studio, Sydney Institute of Technology in early 2007 and has already secured himself some stellar stockists to start selling his wares.

Inspired by the construction of clothing, the Lee's work focuses primarily on innovative cut and pattern making. Often woven and intertwined, the young designer utilises structured and fluid tailoring, transparency and opacity and functional detailing to create a modern balance of innovation and wearability.

Dion Lee's Spring/Summer 2008 collection was inspired by the functions of the human body, specifically the concept of mitosis. Using cell division to inform the construction of his designs, layers divide and separate in two, creating graphic, cell-like shapes and functions.

A relative newcomer on the local fashion scene, Lee already holds impressive credentials, having gained industry experience working with Tina Kalivas, and has acquired a host of awards including the 2007 Crosier Eveningwear Award

Dion's third collection shown at Rosemount Australian Fashion Week in April 2009 caught the attention of buyers and media in Australia and abroad.

Dion recently won the Prix De Marie Claire Award for Best Up and Coming Designer this year, as well as the Fashion Graduate of the Year at Mercedes Brisbane Fashion Festival. Dion was also a nominated for the SOYA awards 2008.

The Dion Lee label aims to pioneer a contemporary Australian fashion identity, as the label moves into the international market in the years to come.




Kirrily
Johnston

‘APOCOLYPTO’


Kirrily Johnston’s Rosemount Australian Fashion Week (RAFW) Spring Summer 10/11 Collection imagines the future of the human race, post Apocalypse, at the dawn of a New World Age.

Leaving behind civilization as we know it, the people of the Apocalypto inhabit an urban jungle – a space where roads are torn up by tree roots and sky scrapers are over run with creeper vines and bird life. The wilderness, once tamed into submission, now exists harmoniously with humanity in a world ancient and modern, savage and sophisticated.

Inspired by the colours of the earth, Apocalypto balances a pallet of black, ecru, red, stone, coffee and silver. Each colour has been featured as a solid and as a dynamic stripe to compliment the two stunning sister prints in the collection. Working in unison, the two prints create a connection between past and future; both reference the ancient civilizations of the past as well as the sharp contemporary shapes of the future.

Apocalypto is a uniquely beautiful collection that offers elegant gowns in triple layered silk georgette, fine cotton unisex knit wear, double cotton gauze day dresses, aged leather boleros and sexy asymmetrical pieces each with the signature touch of Kirrily Johnston drapery and volume. With intricate detailing such as hand wrapped embroidery, gunmetal hardware and rustic looking hand oxidized silver beading; each piece in the collection is as luxurious as it is wearable. The accessories story also includes hand detailed platform ankle boots and a stunning range of sandals, belts and cuffs for both men and women in aged leather, wrapped embroidery and zebra skin.

Kirrily Johnston’s recently launched “KJ by Kirrily Johnston” has also been styled back throughout the show, demonstrating the versatility and wearability of each complimentary garment.

Kirrily Johnston’s Apocalypto Collection show will attract Sydney’s leading celebrities including Alyssa Sutherland, Belinda Seper, Michelle Jank, Kate Waterhouse, Miranda Otto, Gracie Otto, Erika Heyntaz Fernando Frisoni, Brendan Cowell, Jonathon Pease, Sibylla Budd, Saskia Burmeistar and Maurizio Terzini for one of fashion weeks most innovative shows.

Kirrily Johnston is distributed to leading international stockists (New Zealand, Canada, The Middle East and Asia), nationwide at David Jones department stores (Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney) and Kirrily Johnston’s flagship stores in Sydney and Melbourne.

10 AM

Manning Cartell - Day 3, Wed, May 5th 2010, 12pm, Rosemount Australian Fashion Week


Manning
Cartell

Highly anticipated 3rd consecutive show from Australian designers Manning Cartell
Sister trio behind the label Gabrielle, Cheryl and Vanessa Manning

Front row celebrity attendance including Jennifer Hawkins, Gracie Otto, April Rose-Pengilly, Kyle Linahan, Bridezilla (Holiday, Pia, Megan and Josh) and Erika Heynatz.
Runway shots of high profile models including Tallulah, Cassi (ANTM), Alexandra Agoston, Julia Nobis, Louise Van Der Vorst and Samantha Harris.
Production elements including flooring and backdrop
Exclusive collaboration with up and coming Melbourne based jewellery designer, Alexandra Blak.
Hair by Alan White for GHD and makeup by Natasha Severino from M.A.C.


Manning Cartell is one of Australia’s most favoured fashion labels, with a reputation for classic styles with feminine detailing and an aesthetic that is elegant yet handsomely edgy.

The result of a creative partnership between three sisters, Manning Cartell’s collective vision and insight into how women want to dress is evident in each collection. The label’s signature of embellishment and texture has been developed alongside sophisticated shapes and strong tailoring. A focus on luxe fabrications and timeless yet quirky styles has made Manning Cartell indispensable to girls and women who value a smart approach to style.

Manning Cartell is such a necessity to its many fans that, since the label’s launch in 2005, three boutiques have opened in Australia. The first two are in Sydney’s Paddington and The Strand Arcade. Most recently, the third Manning Cartell boutique opened its doors alongside other premier fashion retailers in Melbourne’s GPO.

In addition, Manning Cartell’s continued runway presence at Australian Fashion Week since 2007 is evidence of its standing as the modern woman’s go-to store for the perfect outfit for any occasion. A knack for balancing classic wearability and understated glamour highlights Manning Cartell’s refreshingly modern approach

Bianca Spender ‘LOVE AMOUNG THE RUINS’ - RAFW, May 5th, Day 3, 2010


Bianca
Spender



“Where the quiet-coloured end of evening smiles, Miles and miles” Robert Browning

For Spring/Summer 2010/11 Bianca Spender takes a romantic journey. A unique and modern blend of Pre Raphaelite draping and carefully defined structure create a new poetry. Colours take their cue from gloaming - soft nudes and icy greys through to intense golds and cobalt blues. Finest chiffons glance against stiff cotton metals as ruched silks enwrap the body. Beauty and loss, love and wistfulness spirit through the forest in a twilight dance.

In collaboration with Alex Kershaws (video), Kris Keogh (music) and Anna-Wili Highfeild (artist), Bianca Spender’s first stand alone RAFW SS 2010/11 Collection show will certainly impress the Australian fashion world as ‘the’ designer to watch.

The debut RAFW show will attract Sydney ’s elite celebrities including Miranda Otto, Gracie Otto, Claudia Karvan, Erica Heynatz, Charlotte Dawson, Pip Edwards, Natalie Barr, Mira Vukovic, Michelle Jank, Lizzy Lovette and Carla Zampatti.

Bianca Spender is exclusively available at selected David Jones department stores nationally and the Bianca Spender flagship store on Oxford Street Paddington.




Bianca Spender is forging a reputation for intriguing modern clothes with a fiercely independent attitude. Her collection is known to mix structure with fluidity, resulting in looks both sophisticated yet spirited. Intelligent pieces often draped from a single piece of cloth are an important source of inspiration.

Of paramount importance to Bianca in the design process is finding a sense of balance. With references ranging from art to music to historical dress Bianca seeks a new modernity.

A lifetime's exposure to the fashion industry and mentoring from her mother, acclaimed designer Carla Zampatti, encouraged Bianca to pursue fashion. Study in Sydney and three years of internships in Paris fortified her ambition to have her own label.

A fresh approach, Bianca's eye for detail and strong focus on shape, form and tailoring has given her a distinct signature style that is gaining a discerning and loyal following.


Creativity is contagious. I love how you delve into another world and are invited to experience beautiful things.

Tuesday, May 04, 2010

Day 2, May 4,2010, RAFW - Rosemount Australian Fashion Week

Camilla and Marc
09:00 AM

A brother and sister duo is the driving force behind label ‘camilla and marc’. Although only established this year, the team have always existed in philosophy.

The label is based on strong ethics of tailoring and a firm sense of history.

Since graduating from the Whitehouse Institute of Design in 2002, Camilla was awarded a scholarship to pursue a master’s degree in Florence, Italy.

In January this year, Camilla was invited to present her collection as part of the inaugural Cruise Fashion Week and walked away with the winning prize, a fully sponsored show to launch her label on return from Italy.

Marc brings something different to the partnership. He is a qualified Engineer and is near completing a Masters of Commerce.

The labels initial collection is modest but selective. Both designers believe in building a strong foundation in the marketplace. Quality and uniqueness is the key to the range.


Rosemount Australian Fashion Week - Off-site show
camilla and marc -Individual designer show - Spring Summer 2010/11 Collection
Tuesday May 4 / 9am / 467 Pitt St, Haymarket

VISION OPPORTUNITY:
- Spring Summer runway presentation of camilla and marc’s Spring Summer 2010/11 Collection in Parisian style salon room
- Designers Camilla Freeman-Topper and Marc Freeman
- Front row celebrity attendance of Sydney ‘it’ girls including Lara Bingle, Gracie Otto, Kate Waterhouse
- Globally inspired collection featuring bright colour & print
- Swimwear collection also featured
- Debut of camilla and marc accessories line – Jewellery, Bags, Shoes


Camilla and Marc for Blackberry
Camilla and Marc are making digital fashion history this week, being the first Australian designers to launch a Blackberry application. The application that launched yesterday not only provides its users with Camilla and Marc information while on the move but also includes a blog, wish list section and an online shop.

The most exciting part of the Blackberry application however is the alliance with RAFW with its users having the opportunity to purchase limited edition items as they come down the runway at the Camilla and Marc collection on the 4th of May.

Marc Freeman says of the application, “We are completely addicted to our BlackBerry’s as well as the use of mobile apps and have always seen the BlackBerry brand as an unbeatable pioneer in mobile technology. With this app we wanted to push these boundaries and become the first to offer exclusive limited edition items to purchase during our fashion week show as well as providing our fans and loyal customers the option to buy Camilla and Marc as and when they desire.”

To download the application simply visit the Camilla and Marc website www.camillaandmarc.com/blackberry or log on to the BlackBerry App store. The first 1,000 users will also have the opportunity to access the exclusive Camilla and Marc BlackBerry Messenger group.


Zimmerman
10:00 AM

This quintessentially Australian label stays true to its original vision: sophisticated femininity, strong silhouettes, clever colour combinations and delicate original prints.

Sisters Nicky and Simone Zimmermann founded their eponymous label in 1991. They fast won a loyal following – smart, sartorially savvy women with an eye for quality fabrics and clever cutting.

Maintaining a reputation for being elevated yet casual, confident with a twist of fun; there’s a certain energy and lightness to a Zimmermann piece that you won’t find elsewhere.

Zimmermann present their ready-to-wear collections each year at Australian Fashion Week (May), and the Miami Swim Fair (July) in the US. They maintain showrooms in Sydney, London and New York and most recently have opened a Spring/Summer concept store in SOHO, NYC.

Internationally, Zimmermann has focused on swimwear, which found its footing with the fashion elite. Zimmermann swimwear’s bold original prints, beautifully made one-pieces and sculptural bikinis create a new point of reference in flattering, sexy and stylish swimwear. As the Sydney Morning Herald so nicely puts it,

“If Sydney was personified, she’d be bronzed, brazen and…wearing a Zimmermann bikini, so synonymous has the sunny label become with Australian style.”

The success of the swimwear resulted in increasing demand from international retailers and press for Zimmermann to make ready to wear collections available outside of Australia. In 2007, Zimmermann launched tightly edited collections to the Northern Hemisphere market to great success.

Nationally and abroad, the label receives extensive and enthusiastic editorial coverage and has graced the pages of magazines including: Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, Elle, W, Glamour, Nylon and Marie Claire. It’s also been a regular feature in international swimwear bible, Sport Illustrated.

The collections are stocked in stores internationally. USA stockists include the iconic Barney’s, Saks, Bloomingdales, Henri Bendel and in-the-know fashion chains such as Intermix and Hilary Rush. Zimmermann is also featured on the world’s premier online stores such as Net-A-Porter and ShopBop. And the likes of fashion houses Marks & Spencer (UK) and Be Be (US) have commissioned Zimmermann to develop in-house lines of swimwear with future international collaborations currently in the pipeline.

In Australia, Zimmermann maintains 12 stand-alone stores in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast, working with the highly acclaimed designer Don McQualter to create seductive and dynamic retail destinations.

In 2008 Zimmermann also launched their online boutique at www.zimmermannwear.com. David Jones and other high-end retailers stock the ready-to-wear and swimwear lines.


Sara Phillips
11:00 AM

Using her signature youthful wit Sara Phillips draws on an almost endless tapestry of childhood memories to create collections with a modern, yet slightly off kilter
take on femininity.

After growing up in the industry it was a natural progression for Sara to study fashion design under Nicholas Huxley at the prestigious East Sydney Design Studio.

Following graduation, Sara worked for established design houses Jayson Brunsdon and Saba before launching her own eponymous brand in 2007.
With a rich tapestry of childhood memories driving her and the ability to design from the heart Sara’s collections illustrate a modern femininity with just the rightamount of strength and fragility.

The common threads that draw each collection together are print, soft tailoring and a penchant for luxurious fabrications. The use of deliciously soft suede’s, unique feathers and hand drawn prints has built a cult customer base for the brand in its short lifetime.

Rejecting trend, Sara cleverly balances classic tailoring with fluid shapes with an individual creativity and an unsurpassed passion for attention to detail. Bringing all of these elements together Sara Phillips creates a new romanticism for the modern, free spirited woman.


Little Joe Woman
12:00

THE LITTLE JOE LABEL was launched from New York in 2002 as a wholesale company wholesaling to 80 exclusive boutiques and department stores worldwide. Following three years of success in New York, life led co-founders Gail Elliott and Joe Coffey to Sydney after deciding to further expand the budding fashion label in Australia.

In 2005 the first Little Joe Boutique was opened in Sydney and marked the beginning of a rapid expansion of the business. Today, Little Joe has firmly established itself as an retail based operation with 7 stores in Australia. Each boutique exclusively offers the Little Joe collection as well as a range of complementary labels that Gail has sourced from around the world.

As the company's operations have grown so the philosophy behind the label has evolved. The Little Joe offering is now a complete range of ready to wear fashion, with three collections a year Fall/Winter, Spring/Summer and Resort and a new drop in store every two months. Little Joe, originally known for its gorgeous camisoles and slip dresses is now all grown up, boasting a collection of not only camisoles and slip dresses, but a range that can complete a woman's wardrobe, including suiting, silk and cashmere knitwear, sleepwear, jewellery, jackets, leather, furs.

Little Joe prides itself on its high quality garments made from beautiful fabrics, designed to be worn for seasons to come. This wearability reflects the timeless nature of Little Joe garments, which are true investment pieces for women who place importance on sophistication, elegance, luxury and value.


One of the Australia’s Hottest Designer’s, Gail Elliott. Will launch her new little Joe Women Spring Summer Collection.

GAIL ELLIOTT rose to fame in the 1980's and continues today to enjoy a stellar career as one of the world's top models.

Gail has enjoyed an incredibly rewarding career shooting editorials, covers and advertising campaigns for magazines including Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, Elle and Marie Claire.

Gail has also walked the runways for all of the most talented designers - Gianni Versace, Calvin Klein, John Galliano, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Ralph Lauren, Gucci, Prada and Marc Jacobs to name a few. As well as worked with photographers such as Mario Testino, Steven Miesel, Patrick Demarchlier, Arthur Elgort, Craig McDean, Peter Lindberg and JC.

As a teenager in London, Gail began modelling at the behest of her ballet teacher. She was quickly signed by an agent and went to Japan, where the 17 year old matured into a professional model, learning to speak Japanese along the way. A year later she arrived in New York and promptly booked her first job with Steven Meisel.

More than 20 years later, Gail continues to travel the globe on modelling assignments using the opportunity now to gather inspiration for her ever growing fashion label - Little Joe.

After a successful international modelling career in the 80’s and early 90’s during which time she worked with Gianni Versace, Calvin Klein, John Galliano, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Ralph Lauren, Gucci, Prada and Marc Jacobs just to name a few, Gail Elliott started her Little Joe Woman label working from New York alongside her husband, Joe Coffey, in 2002. As a husband and wife partnership the label has evolved so much from the sexy little slip and lingerie line that they started eight years ago. This is Little Joe Woman’s first ever show at RAFW and a host of celebrities & fashion industry VIPs will be in the front row to celebrate & show their support.

GUESTS: Gail Elliott and Joe Coffey ,Samantha Harris , Louise Van Der Vorst , Alyssa Sutherland , Kelly Landry , Terry Biviano , Sandra Sully , Deborah Hutton , Tracey Grimshaw , Kate Waterhouse & Luke Ricketson , Kate Ritchie , Laura Csortan & Chris Iannou , Melissa Doyle , Leah Wood & Jack McDonald ,Michelle Glew-Ross & Tim Ross ,April Rose Pengilly ,Lindsay Rodriguez ,Liz Cantor ,Carla Zampatti ,Kathy Ward – Chic Management ,Victoria Campbell – Lancome ,Geraldine Dielenberg – Jimmy Choo






Sabatini White
01:00 PM

Sabatini White is Sabatini’s premium label launched in Paris over 5 years ago the label has been featured in only the best boutiques and department stores worldwide. Sabatini White has a loyal following due to its unique, directional and quality focused garments.

This family owned business has been operating since the 1950’s, proving its longevity by maintaining pace with technology, individuality and style. Designed and manufactured in-house to maintain both quality and inspiring originality.

Each Sabatini White piece moves effortlessly from day to evening, reinforcing that it’s all about style and ‘love of chic’.

Modern knit dressing has developed and changed the face of fashion, and Sabatini
White has been the leader in creating progressive and adventurous collections with each new season it presents. The white collection is complex and innovative, yet simply elegant. These subtle characteristics also infuse the range with a dose of French charm.

Showing at London and Paris fashion weeks, Sabatini White has cracked the tough European market and caught the attention of key buyers and media alike. Sabatini White has proven that they have what it takes to make a mark both nationally and internationally.

Magdalena Valevska
03:00 PM

Creating for women of the ‘Twenty 10’s’ is the focus of emerging brand Magdalena Velevska. The Spring Summer 0910 collection is a creation of charming ingénue. Coloured with urban, clean, and refined attributes, the collection depicts on a new age of modernism and curiosity. The Spring Summer 0910 collection will celebrate a new decade and all it’s offerings to fashionable women of the 21st century. With slight nostalgia for the past and a yearning curiosity for new days to come, the collection is a wardrobe ritual of mixed provocative ideals. Taking direction from Romanesque draping and combining this element with strong shouldered 40’s silhouettes makes the collection lavish and sexy, yet youthful and modern. The vision advocates a stylish play on colour, print and silhouette that can sustain the dynamic and speed of the coming decade.

Magdalena was born in Macedonia in 1980. Her initial influences were the realities of common socialistic lifestyle and the creative surrounding housed by her parents; mum an architect and dad a musician. Magdalena grew up drawing, playing the piano, singing and made her first dress when she was only nine. Migrating to Australia in 1991 Magdalena realised her dream whilst spending a week with the Zimmermann sisters during the very first Australian Fashion Week, May 1996. She then was accepted and enrolled at the University of Technology, Sydney and went on to complete a degree in Fashion and Textiles. Snapped up by PR agent Lisa Lane (Fast Lane PR) as her pick from the graduating show, Magdalena was offered a year with the agency to help launch her brand. Attention from the media and editorial pages soon followed with Melissa Hoyer from The Daily Telegraph dubbing the designer as “one to watch”.

To ensure future success in her dream career, Magdalena precociously went on to work for designers Akira Isogawa, Pablo Nevada and Wayne Cooper before accepting and integral role with Australian designer Nicola Finetti. Over five years Magdalena’s role in the company grew from strength to strength, working closely with the Australian media, national and international buyers and finally being appointed as the head designer for the Nicola Finetti brand.

In 2008 Magdalena took on a new role as a senior designer for Lisa Ho and worked on 4 of the most recent collections, including Summer 2010, as well as designing the Winter and Spring 09 Third Millennium collections.

Wanting to creatively express her own vision for stylish women of today, inevitably Magdalena Velevska the brand was born.

With a sales schedule launching the collection to boutiques and department stores nationally in early April, the brand is destined for every success.


Women’s Ready To Wear
Breathless
Gary Yang Collection
Leigh Schubert
Sally Koeswanto

00:04 PM


Flannel
05:30 PM

Kristy Lawrence

Award winning Australian designer Kristy Lawrence has always had a definite design ethos and in her new label, Flannel, has found the perfect medium to translate her vision into a signature range of fashion and home wares.

A designer who is happier on the beach with her children than on the runway for her latest collection, her signature Flannel label is about lifestyle, about family, about effortless elegance and pared back style.

Summers spent growing up on the beaches south of the Western Australian capital of Perth, instilled an early appreciation for comfort, for simple luxury and natural beauty, which is very much reflected in her choice of fabrics and materials and in her desire to create a lifestyle range that is as relaxed and effortless as it is beautiful.

In 2007 Kristy began her new “family” business and was joined by sisters Brooke, Anna and Cath, who added their expertise in sales, marketing and production.
The success of the initial capsule Flannel collection combining luxury with casual. Fine silks with lace trims, slips and shorts in embroidered cottons and delicate hand knits in a palette of milk and cream, was immediate.
Two Flannel concept stores opened in Perth in 2007 in quick succession to meet growing consumer demand and were followed by the opening of a Sydney flagship store in the boutique village of Woollahra.

Each store is unique and housed variously in an old art gallery, corner store and butcher shop and with their white washed walls and vintage architectural flair, they reflect Flannel’s chic bohemian personality.

Flannel’s Summer collection was premiered at 2009’s Rosemount Australian Fashion Week where the positive reaction was instantaneous.
Flannel stood out immediately in an industry full of imitation and mass production with its hand crafted focus and attention to fine detail, with inspiration drawn not from following others but from a woman glimpsed in the street, a look, a gesture, a vision.

The Western Australian born label was catapulted into the spotlight after being awarded Fashion Week’s Rising Rock Star by an international panel of fashion designers and judges.

The judging panel were impressed by the label’s understated European styling and high production values declaring “that was so beautiful, so beautifully put together, that we thought we can’t leave it in Australia, it is export quality fashion that is incredible for the Australian market”.
Kristy returned from an extremely successful trip to the US with Agency and PR representation, floor space in Fred Segal Fun and an invitation to show as a premier designer at Coterie in New York.

Flannel is now stocked on the shelves of prestigious stores worldwide.
From its earliest incarnation Flannel has been about creating and sharing the things Kristy loves to have 
around her.



Nicola Finneti
06:30

The Nicola Finetti label was launched in Australia in 1995 and has been selling nationally in leading boutiques and giant department store Myer ever since. The Nicola Finetti accessories are also stocked in Myer. Nicola Finetti has now secured leading stockists in Singapore, Dublin, Dubai, Kuwait, LA, New York and Moscow. Nicola Finetti is the latest label to gain cult status and inspire interest around the world

Nicola Finetti also has one flagship stores in Sydney, which has an established client base that spans through to celebrities such as Naomi Watts, Rose Byrne, Jennifer Hawkins, Dannii Minogue, Dita Von Teese, Kristy Hinz to name a few.




Friedrich Gray
07:30 PM

Friedrich Gray
Ben Pollitt

Friedrich Gray is a dark, brooding character, an atypical neo-gothic hero.
Alter ego of designer Ben Pollitt, Friedrich Gray is the character upon which the label is based.

Friedrich’s exploits form the inspiration for each collection, which is based on a narrative, another chapter in the life of the fictional protagonist.

The dark horse of Australian fashion, Pollitt’s story has been unconventional from the outset. He launched a clothing label with no formal training in fashion and refuses to be dictated to by established concepts of design, rather entering into the creative process with a more instinctive approach.

Pollitt studied industrial design and building construction in Sydney, before relocating to New York. The idea for the label germinated during years spent in New York, and upon Pollitt’s return from to Australia, the first chapter in the Friedrich Gray tome was writ.

Armed with a strong vision and design sensibility, Pollitt started out labouring by night on his label, while working as a delivery van driver during the day for the Corner Store’s Belinda Seper.

Foremost in the self-taught designer’s mind was the desire to articulate something. His starting point was a singular aesthetic ideal of what a garment would look like and how it would sit on the body.

Pollitt showed his first solo collection at Australian Fashion Week in April 2007, and the same year was named the winner in the fashion category of the prestigious Qantas Spirit of Youth Awards 2007. The label’s role in the chronicles of Australian fashion was quickly established.

The label assumed its own personality, characterised by understated style with subtle details.

Cuts are individual and timeless, and clothing fulfils a function as well as meeting the stringent requirements of form.

With an almost obsessive adherence to his distinctive creative vision, Pollitt has created stylised moodiness with his exacting and experimental use of fabric. He experiments with weights and drapes of fabric, making leather soft, silk stiff, and sometimes fluid. Fabrics are selected for the tactile experience of the wearer.

Unusual constructions offer movement and panels provide a strong visual effect. Jeans are skintight, jackets slim-fit yet flowing, and tanks trail in the wind. Sleeves provide an unexpected dénouement to a garment, super-fine cottons are zipped and draped to create androgynous shapes for layering.

Androgyny is a utility of the clothing, not a theme; Friedrich Gray garments are created to push the boundaries, with subplots to be interpreted by the wearer, male or female.

He draws influence from moody music, listening to experimental bands while he works to allow his imagination to roam unfettered. Designing is an all-consuming process for Pollitt, and one that takes him to places of great light and darkness.

Collaborating with Australian artists including Scrapwall for prints, Pollitt also works on an ongoing basis with Think Positive to create the one-off digital prints for his collections.

The designer is preoccupied with delivering timeless relevance rather than a seasonal application, with quality fabrics and meticulous construction rather than trend or price.

Pollitt’s designs overstep a seasonal, trend-driven approach to fashion, comprising of elements of both summer and winter attire for his conceptual collections that meld seamlessly together from season to season. Garments are part of a continual, evolving body of work, rather than being broken up into seasonal ranges.


Alex Perry
08:30 PM

Alex Perry is Australia’s most glamorous designer, by virtue of his magnificent gowns and sensational red carpet eveningwear.
Alex Perry knows how to make a woman look and feel glamorous, and after doing so for over seventeen years, the brand has become synonymous with luxury, prestige and quality.

In 1992 Perry opened his first atelier creating one of kind explosive gowns, jewelled corsets and masterfully tailored sheaths, which soon became his trademark signature.
Perry has become a red carpet favourite amongst his celebrity following, which includes such Perry Girls as Jennifer Lopez, Nelly Furtado, Rihanna, Eva Longoria, Natalie Portman, Miranda Kerr, Elle Macpherson, Sarah Murdoch and Megan Gale.

Alex Perry has shown annually at Australian Fashion Week since 1997 and his shows continue to be touted as one of the most highly anticipated events on schedule.

Located within Sydney’s iconic Strand Arcade, the Alex Perry flagship store showcases all aspects of Alex Perry including Haute Couture, Red Carpet, Brides and the Ready-to-Wear collections.

Perry’s great sense of humour, quick wit and candid responses are “made for television”, and he has developed into an accomplished media personality. His public speaking talents are frequently sought, most recently featuring on Australia’s Next Top Model Series Five on Foxtel.


Ellery
09:30 PM


ELLERY is the go-to label for Australian it-girls. Since launching her eponymous line in 2007 the designer’s effortlessly hip aesthetic is fashion’s newest asset.

Strong signature silhouettes, daring combinations of textures and unique hardware detailing, create ELLERY’s distinctly modern vibe. The Ellery girl is fierce and super confident. Tailored Virginia blazers, slouchy brocade pants and easy-chic mini dresses are the signature uniform of models, editors and style-setters alike. ELLERY’s collections are the ultimate tool in mastering the elegant and relaxed, “Off-Duty Model” look.

Working with imported Italian brocade, lace, the softest leathers, luxurious sheer jersey, silks and crepes, her collections offers serious sophistication with signature ELLERY appeal. Embellishments are hand designed to enhance the designer’s collection themes. The designer’s muse is individualistic and decidedly feminine. ELLERY adorns luxurious fabrics with unexpected details adding dimension and personality to each piece.

Graduating from studies in Fashion Design and Production in Perth, Kym continued studies in Fashion Illustration and Sketchbook building at Catherine St. Martins, London. Upon returning home from London, Kym pursued an interest in styling and began work at pinnacle magazine Russh Australia.

Having started the label Ellery whilst still working on the Russh editorial team, Kym has since left to focus solely on Ellery as she has seen the label successfully grow. With leading editorial in Vogue Australia, Harper’s Bazaar, Madison, Russh Australia, Marie Claire and the Sunday Magazine, Ellery has developed a celebrity fan base as well with Kelly Rowland, Madonna, Theresa Palmer, Isabel Lucas, Jess Hart, Abbey Lee, Catherine McNeil, Myf Shepperd, Jodhi Meares, Sarah Murdoch, Jennifer Hawkins; Lara Bingle all wearing the label.

November 2008, Ellery was a finalist in the SOYA, Qantas Spirit of Youth Award. Sponsored by Vogue in March 2009, Ellery was nominated for the L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival Designer of the Year award.

Monday, May 03, 2010

Stolen Girlfriends Club - RAFW - Rosemount Australian Fashion Week, 3rs May, 2010, Day 1, 9.30 PM


Stolen
Girlfriends
Club


Stolen Girlfriends Club (SGC) began as an art exhibition. The exhibition titled, “Stolen Girlfriends Club” consisted of “a collection of acrylic on canvasses” and art pieces, originally taken from the windows of old houses. At the time, SGC’s creators; fostering a desire to create clothes for themselves, were thinking about creating a line. People who had viewed their exhibit had taken to the name Stolen Girlfriends Club, so it was a no-brainer, that Stolen Girlfriends Club would become the name of their new line. Starting out, none of SGC’s designers had received an education in fashion; two had even struggled as professional surfers for eight years. However, the desire to learn and work hard was there.

Each SGC collection has been an advancement in the right direction. To date, this collection is their most complete line and a near perfect example of the type of line they wanted to create. With their fifth collection titled, “Pretty Vacant”, designers Marc Moore, Luke Harwood, Dan Gosling, and Zan Mirkin have brought “together inspiration from late 70’s punk, Marie Antoinette, Siouxsie & the Banshees and The Human Heart. In an era when nearly everything has already been done Stolen Girlfriends Club has mixed together a melee of ideas in an attempt to avoid clichés, and has done just the opposite. This collection is bordering on Punk Romanticism and unashamedly celebrates 80’s icons in the form of Safety Pins, Tartan, Lace, Hearts, Faux Fur and Animal Print.”

Christopher Esber - RAFW - Rosemount Australian Fashion Week, 3rs May, 2010, Day 1, 8.30 PM


Christopher
Esber

Christopher approaches fashion in both a logical and experimental mind, and constantly develops new ideas for fabric in structure and embellishment;
developing modern options for women through experimental refined tailoring and off beat pieces.



To the everyday person, the sight of a woman dashing past in a suit, stockings, white sports socks and trainers is just another picture that makes up the blur of the daily commute. But to fashion designer Christopher Esber, this banal scene was the starting point for his SS2010/2011 collection.

The 2007 Ultimo TAFE Fashion Design graduate isn’t one to shy away from the complex. Previous designs have featured complicated pattern cutting inspired by the Fibonacci sequence and artist M.C. Escher. This season sees no respite. Although inspired by something so straightforward as an office worker’s garb, it is actually the process of then clarifying his subsequent thinking that has challenged the designer.

Esber insists his ideas are, “very fluid and the process is much formulated.” The son of a Mathematics and Science teacher, he approaches his work methodically. “Design first, [then] fabrication options, all throughout the patternmaking process.

Bec & Bridge , Day 1, 7;30 pm, May 3rd,2010 - RAFW - Rosemount Austrlian Fashion Week


Bec &
Bridge


A strong friendship forged at Fashion School was the foundation for Sydney based designers Becky Cooper and Bridget Yorston to launch their label bec & bridge in 2003.

Their design aesthetic captured the attention of buyers and media alike and before long bec & bridge was appearing in the pages of leading magazines. The hype had begun and it was only a matter of time before David Jones realized the brands potential and secured the label for its young designer fashion stable.

Last year bec & bridge were successful in their bid to show their first individual show at RAFW, impressing the audience with a sharply executed production and stunningly unique pieces that stood out from the pack. The show catapulted bec & bridge to new heights and attracted celebrity fans including Rose Byrne and Jennifer Hawkins. The current winter 09 collection 'Crest De Camalette' - featuring an opulent, edgy mix of lace, faux fur and shimmering metallics is testament that the future is bright for these rising stars.

Aurelio Costarella - Day 1, 6.30pm, RAFW, Rosemount Australian Fashion Week, May 3rd ,2010


Aurelio
Costarella



For over twenty years Aurelio (Ray) Costarella has been creating exquisite women's wear. His designs have been admired and worn by a plethora of international stars and local heroines. The creative behind Aurelio Costarella (ready to wear) and Aurelio Costarella Couture has always been based in Western Australia and is earning a formidable reputation internationally as he turns his local Company into an international luxury brand.

In 2006 Aurelio Costarella was invited to represent Western Australia at G'Day LA Australia Week in Los Angeles and also to hold couture showings at Hollywood's infamous Chateau Marmont.

Costarella Design Limited was floated on the Australian Stock Exchange (code CLD) in 2007, an Australian first for an individual Fashion Design House.

Also in 2007 Aurelio Costarella became the first Western Australian based designer to be invited to produce a Solo Show at New York Fashion Week, an honour that was bestowed upon him again in 2008 following rave reviews in the Big Apple.

Bassike - 5.30pm, Day 1, May 2010, Rosemount Australian Fashion Week (RAFW)


Bassike

The name is intended to say it all: Bassike, a label of lust-worthy proportions born out of the simple desire to provide wardrobe staples that could be worn with ease (and a certain degree of non-chalance). The brainchild of close friends Deborah Sams and Mary Lou Ryan, it stepped onto the Antipodean design scene in July 2006.



From that point on, it has flourished; and what began as a breezy collection of organic cotton-jersey T-shirts, dresses and trousers has since rounded out into more softly tailored territory. The intention however, lives on: current, eternal and effortless, each piece is designed to work seperately but also in conjunction and although new styles have been added - namely wool, jersey, cotton shirting, denim and leather - beauty still belongs to the wearer. With Bassike, personal style resonates.



Three years on, the cult-label is stocked in premium retailers throughout Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the UK and Europe. It is also available through the online boutique, www.bassike.com.

Sunday, May 02, 2010

"Lisa Ho" opens Day 1/May 3rd 2010 at RAFW - Rosemount Australian Fashion Week


LISA

HO

Show to be opened by Indigenous model and Vogue Australia covergirl Samantha Harris & closed by Australian supermodel Alyssa Sutherland at New South Wales Art Gallery at 09:00 AM.

Lisa Ho (born 1963) is an Australian fashion designer born in Albury, on the New South Wales and Victorian border.

She began sewing at age four inspired by her grandmother, a tailor, whom Ho says she 'probably drove mad'. Ho made patterns out of newspaper and by age 10 had a sewing machine at the end of the kitchen table 'that nobody was allowed to move,' which she used every day to make things for herself and four sisters. She later trained in fashion design at East Sydney Technical College, graduating in 1981 and spent a year working for another company, which she 'hated', before going out on her own.

Like many of Australia’s fashion designers, fresh out of college in 1982, Lisa Ho started her career at the Paddington markets with her designs that quickly brought her retail and media attention and began the Lisa Ho brand.

The Lisa Ho brand has continued to build into one of the most recognised brands in Australia and has a strong celebrity following with the signature pieces being worn by Delta Goodrem, Bec Cartwright, Sarah Wynter,Elle Macpherson, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Olivia Newton-John and Jennifer Lopez. Her international reputation was first recognized during the Sydney 2000 opening ceremony, which featured a special Lisa Ho designed segment celebrating her role in Australian fashion. Lisa was also asked to design the gown worn by Olivia Newton-John for her performance to welcome the Olympic athletes. Ho now employs 70 staff, which doesn't include outworkers, who man 11 signature stores and head office. Her label is also stocked in more than 250 boutiques worldwide, and she is seriously thinking about opening a store in Los Angeles.

From the glamour gowns of Lisa Ho to the surreal seaside knits of Romance Was Born, injected some fun and fantasy into the mix of looks on offer at Rosemount Australian Fashion Week.

Mrs Ho, who has a store at Marina Mirage shopping centre, said the Gold Coast and Queensland had shown strong support for her label and she hoped the trend would continue.