Fashion Exposed Sydney Showstoppers
Cutting edge fashion trends and new products were a main attraction at Fashion Exposed and the co-located Bags & Accessories Fair and the Australian Shoe Fair, making these events a must for buyers keen to pick up the latest fashion finds.
With labels showcasing in dedicated menswear, womenswear, allure, junior, streetlab and preview precincts, visiting the stands at these leading fairs gave visitors covetable inside loop on the latest fashion trends.
Directional looks and fashion trends from Australia's top emerging design talent were a key drawcard to the designer competition and launch pad, Debut. The Live Look Books and Salons Shows were also essential viewing to get a feel for fashion in motion and trends coming to life.
Ciccia
London’s Ruth Pinnock used to be head designer for UK giant Radley. Now, all that creativity is being lavished on her limited edition leather bags and accessories label Ciccia (pron. “chee-chia”), whose trademark cat motif and stunning graphics have umpteen devotees purring. Ciccia will have its Australasian launch at Fashion Exposed. Stand 4520.
Two Birds
The birds are Sascha Bartley and Samantha Hegerty, the talented Perth pair whose aptly named label has blitzed in WA since its launch in March 2009. Their Spring-Summer 2010/11 collection, Tricycles and Bicycles, reflects their passion for travel and vintage romance. From cool shorts to flowing dresses, the mood is fresh and feminine. Stand 3434.
Ohara Designs
Sydney sisters Clare and Kash O’Hara made a big splash with Successorise, their luxury accessories range for the corporate man and woman. Now the label with the anchor logo has entered fashion waters with Travel The World By Sea, a fab women’s resort wear collection of silk and cotton coordinates, accompanied by leather bags and shoes. Stand 4544.
La Bagagerie
The shoulder bag inspired by postal carrier bags that La Bagagerie’s founder Jean Marlaix introduced in 1964 is still selling today. It’s one of numerous fashion hits that have made the Paris house now led by Jean’s son, Frederic, an international favourite. The latest collection continues La Bagagerie’s tradition of cutting edge street chic. Stand 4236.
Iron Fist
Iron Fist is by no means an ordinary clothing line, its artwork and styling have set it apart from many of its streetwear counterparts.
Refusing to be pigeonholed into a skate, punk, hip hop or tattoo genre, Iron Fist has grown from strength to strength purely because of its diversity and constantly innovative approach to each season. Renowned for quality product with exceptional artwork from a barrage of some of the world's best underground and street artists, our customer is an individual, a person who creates their own style as opposed to buying it. Stand 1406.
Cherrymorris
Angel wings, a peacock feather, a rose, a swallow in mid-flight. The designs, hand-sculpted in clay before being cast in pewter – some plated in silver or brass – for exquisite jewellery and leather belts, are the work of Sydney’s Nicole Russell, who trained in industrial design at the University of Newcastle before launching Cherrymorris. Stand 4122.
Kagi
Since Kat Gee launched her fashion jewellery label Kagi in 2007, the Auckland-based designer has blitzed in New Zealand. A repeat performance is likely in Australia. Semi-precious jewels, freshwater pearls and other materials including coral, crystal and lava rock are used in collections that range from the dramatic to pure elegance. Stand 4524.
Blu Galaxy Trading
Cross Hatch, Smith & Jones, Ripstop and – very rude, funny graphics - Xplicit. The labels are at the cutting edge of British men’s streetwear. They’ll be making their Sydney debut at Fashion Exposed and judging by the international response, buyers will be queuing up. Distributor, Blu Galaxy, will also show a wide range of cool accessories. Stand 1200.
Eighth Sin
Alberto Simoni sees his creations as “denim art”. The designer behind the popular Italian street label launched in 2004 is not short of inspiration. Eighth Sin’s Spring-Summer 2010 collection, White and Gold, evokes the ’60s with vintage touches for a range of sexy denims, from jeans to cut-offs, plus separates in voiles, silks and printed cottons. Stand 3528.
Little Kangaroos
The upmarket international label for small fashion fans – infants to age seven - greets Spring-Summer 2010/11 with pure cotton casuals and party wear in solids and florals bursting with tropical colours led by red, hot pink, lime, yellow and purple. Boys have not been neglected. Little Kangaroos offers lots of sharp separates including denims. Stand 2558.
Gaetano Cazzola
Opaque, sheer and printed. Crochet, meshes and jacquards. A seductive palette including metallics. Add lashings of class and originality, and you get Gaetano Cazzola, the long-established Italian luxury hosiery house that collaborates with fashion icons including Dolce & Gabbana, John Galliano, Moschino and Yohji Yamamoto. Stand 3528.
Phax
To the joy of red-blooded males, the contestants for the 2009 Miss Belgium title wore Phax. It’s the sensationally sexy Colombian swimwear label that has won international popularity and will make its Australian debut at Fashion Exposed. Tropical colours and floral prints dominate a wide range of swimwear styles and resort wear. Stand 3868.
Embody Denim
Why should great designer jeans be limited to the rail-thin? No good reason at all, decided former top plus-size Australian model Natalie Wakeling. Her label, Embody Denim, flatters body shapes from pear to hour-glass and comes in 12 cutting edge styles for Sizes 8-26. There’s also a structured jacket, cool skirt and classy leather belts. Stand 2518.
Ti-Mo
Norway’s Tine Mollatt designs from the inside out, starting with intimates, then adding dresses, skirts, tops, cardies and more – each Ti-Mo piece a marvel of exquisitely detailed femininity. Sole distributor Cinnamon Creations will also present leading French women’s label Lola Espeleta and French contemporary men’s label, Legend and Soul. Stand 3054.
Who’s Charlie
As a child, Sarah McPherson was nicknamed Charlie, so she gave it a twist for her jewellery label. “The look is casual and easy to wear; no glitz,” says the Melburnian whose ranges in plated and sterling silver are embellished with semi-precious stones including white agate, onyx and rose quartz for necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Stand 4124.
Macri
Men’s streetwear designer Nick Macri had two retail stores in his native Tasmania before relocating to the Gold Coast in 2007. Smart move. The talented 26-year-old now has an online store and concentrates solely on his label – a great range of arrestingly printed tees, tank tops, hoodies, polo tops and jumpers. The look is bold, but laid-back.
Stand StreetLab 1.
Annah Stretton
What does the acclaimed New Zealand designer have up her sleeve this time? A great new season collection for her label Annah S, of course - plus Stitch ‘n’ Bitch, her DIY kits for four key garments from the range. “Kick out the husband, park the kids and get the girls over,” advises Annah. Designer fashion sewing circles? A stroke of genius. Stand 2810.
Queen
Christine Boyle loves Fitzroy. It’s where her label Queen is based, so how cool to use a map of the trendy Melbourne suburb for some of her Spring-Summer 2010 cotton prints. Otherwise, the versatile collection ranging from shapely dresses and pants to curved skirts, will feature a subtle Oriental flavour, with lots of soft draping and contrast detail. Stand 3924.
Julie Fleming
Melbourne’s Julie Fleming, who trained in London with milliner to the British Royals, Philip Somerville, can proudly boast her creations have made it onto the cover of Vogue Australia five times. She will present her exquisite headpieces along with luxurious hand-beaded belts and marabou stoles inspired by the 1920s and ’40s. Stand 4420.
RA-RE the Kid
RA-RE THE KID plays with imagination- each piece of clothing becomes the symbol of an imaginary life, something that can be used for playing and for amazing others. An object that becomes alive through the blitheness and spontaneity of the children. They are clothes to be worn to the full because they stand up to a kid’s energetic life. The Rare The Kid boy can’t wait to grow up and surrounds himself with idols to imitate and heroes to be inspired by- making his dreams come true. Stand 2258.
Appana Shirts
Take a long-established men’s shirt label. Let a clever young designer loose on it and – wow! Brett Murray, formerly with Arthur Galan, has rejuvenated Sydney’s Appana shirts with a deft makeover via pure cottons in appealing tones and styles that range from sleek classics to semi-deconstructed casuals. “The fit is fantastic,” Brett assures. Stand StreetLab 4.
Acadeo/Ultra Invidia
The rock-inspired graphics with their strong slogans are riveting. Sydney graphic designer Jake Anderson is the talent behind the sharp, high-end streetwear labels – Acadeo for men; Ultra Invidia for women – that will have their launch at Fashion Exposed. “I have a passion for the faster, louder, artistic things in life,” he confesses. Stand StreetLab5.
Skalli
The opening of Skalli’s first Australian store – in Sydney, October 2009 – had Australian Vogue, Marie Claire, et al, scrambling to feature the fashion jewellery and watches designed by Paris’s Jean Marc Skalli. No wonder. Skalli’s pristine creations are pure modern chic. His new collections fuse Provence and Nordic influences to perfection. Stand 4128.
Frank Lyman Design
Since he launched his signature label in 2001, leading Quebec designer Frank Lyman has won a big following across Canada, the US and Europe. For next Spring-Summer, he celebrates the glamorous, sensual woman with a bold collection full of shimmering, high-gloss fabrics. Colours include citrus, violet, turquoise, fuchsia and black. Stand 4020.
No.l.ita Pocket
No.l.ita Pocket takes inspiration directly from childs imagination to create clothes that make them feel like little women but more than anything a gorgeous little girl with a somewhat cheeky spirit. Each No.l.ita Pocket collection represents many worlds and lifestyles- clothes for dancing in, trend and elegant dresses for pretending to be a star and outfits to imitate their idols. The added value of the No.l.ita Pocket collection is the craftsmanship that sees each garment as a skilful blending of creativeness and raw materials to create a unique end product. Stand 2258.
Leg Avenue
Inhibitions are banished at Leg Avenue, the intimate wear label for sensualists. Spring-Summer 2010/11 will see the launch of the glamorous vintage-inspired Burlesque collection, awash with satin, lace and frills in rich colours. Leg Avenue is part of Australasian group Piccone, established in 1995 by dynamic CEO Suzy Humphries. Stands 3158 & 3858.
Underwear of Sweden
The vintage-inspired new season collection by Sydney-based Swedish lingerie designer Helene Pilhage is rightly titled Romance. Colours include cerise and ivory, and the label introduces pure organic cotton, plus bodywear in fresh florals. Helene will also exhibit hot Swedish women's wear labels Koola Anna and Rules by Mary. Stand 3464.
Dada & Co
The label that bears the name of the early 20th century art and literature movement and is designed in Milan, heralds next Spring-Summer with a beach/resort-inspired collection in delectable hues from peaches and cream to lime. Details such as frilled pockets and silk-edged cuffs enhance the beguiling art-based range that includes bags and scarves. Stand 3022.
Vanguard
Los Angeles' urban jungle and London cult groups have provided Vanguards' Jono and Sam Cottee with rich fodder. The Brisbane brothers behind the edgy street label that's creating excitement from New York to Tokyo, have plenty of fresh inspiration for next summer. They will make their Fashion Exposed debut with a 60-piece men's collection. Stand StreetLab7.
Enjoy
Think Paris' Left Bank. Add sophistication and you get Enjoy, the French label for the 30-plus market that is blitzing in Europe and rapidly winning devotees in Australia. The subtle bohemian flavour is evident in often handmade, vintage-inspired touches. Clearly obvious are the fine fabrics and styling that is quintessentially French. Stands 2842 & 2838.
Jana Simo
Big things are expected of Sydney's' Jana Simo, the Czech-born former structural engineer who trained in fashion in the UK. Her launch collection promises to deliver. Fine Italian cottons and linens head the chic-casual range of coordinates from dresses and jackets to pencil skirts. A soft palette includes naturals, pinks and greens. Stand 2732.
Firefly
What began at the Sydney market scene in 2003 has grown into one of Australia's favourite resort wear labels thanks to designer Wendy Morton-Edwards. Her Ibiza-inspired tops, dresses and caftans in plain and printed cottons and silks feature classic, flattering shapes and details including shirring, pintucking and embroidery. Stand 3154.
Kooey
The Perth-based swimwear label that has had the American fashion media cooing with delight, follows up its recent hit Kimberley range with a fabulous new collection to be launched at Fashion Exposed. Its inspiration is Western Australia's famous marine park, Ningaloo Reef, whose exotic colours and sea life are celebrated in super sexy style. Stand 3772.
Pink Stitch
Hip and easy-wearing for day. Edgy glamour for night. The formula works a treat for Sydney designer Maryanne Petsinis’s label Pink Stitch. Her new collection, Vintage Romance, includes chic basics, maxi dresses, tulip skirts, sequined and studded party dresses and – sure to be a winner – the Ex-Boyfriend Jacket, lined in leopard-print silk. Stand 3448.
April Marie Swimwear
April Hewat is making “a bit of an impact” in Europe. The Melbourne swimwear designer whose riveting creations were chosen for the Australian finals of Miss World is sure making one at home. April’s Spring/Summer 2010 collection includes her exotic EcoAbstract range, lots of frills, new animal prints and bikini tops for the well-endowed. Stand 3864.
Gisu
Since she launched her label in 2006, young Wollongong designer Gisu Mobarhani has rapidly made her mark with her chic, feminine collections. For day, Gisu will offer a sharp military look in colours ranging from cream to navy and purple. Eveningwear is chic and sexy, with features including corseted bodices and strikingly detailed skirts. Stand 3450.
ViX
Brazilian beach and resort fashion icon, Paula Hermanny, named her company in honour of island idyll Vitoria, famed for its fabulous vistas and beaches. Her three brands offer bikinis and one-piecers – ViX, with its cutting edge design and details in tortoiseshell and jade; the young, sassy Sofia, and Hermanny, for the cool sophisticate. Stand 3872.
Marion Liese
For Spring-Summer 2010/11, Marion Liese expands on the seductive themes of her Debut Award-winning collection, A Dark Romance. The South African-born, Melbourne-based designer of luxury lingerie has plenty of fresh enticements in black, platinum, flame red and neutrals for the season. The collection will include leisurewear. Stand 3738.
