In the fashion industry, breaking design limits and taking risks is a must. Moving design beyond the boundaries of what is possible and predicting the future is what makes one designer stand out from another. Tonight, each Fashfest designer, on the final night of shows, proved that they can do just that. Being the finale of Fashfest, expectations were high, and we weren’t disappointed in the slightest.
Zilpah Tart launched the Fashfest finale with absolute glitz and glam. Dresses laced in gold detailing, with touches of Egyptian style – as well as bold blue hues – were clear standouts. This label by Yumi Morrisey is designed with femininity in mind, and her collection is ideal for those that want a professional and confident look. Each piece was instantly deemed wearable by the crowd.
Boho Bird, a label that is inspired by the ever so popular, ‘boho-chic’; showed us that the style we all thought was reserved for festivals, is in fact on style and on trend for the every day. These garments are all easy to wear and are designed for the Australian lifestyle: relaxed, romantic, practical and beautiful. The added touches of glam gold and leather accessories completed each runway look.
A designer that has showed every Fashfest night this week and has empowered many of the women in the crowd to be sexy, sophisticated and chic was Simone Perele. On this occasion, gorgeous lingerie pieces that had dainty and super cheeky features took to the catwalk, and they were equally as graceful as the beautiful and very confident models that wore the designs.
Cameron & James; a menswear designer that designs contemporary menswear with a strong focus on eco fabrics and ethical production was a designer that really stood out. Think raw materials, rough edging, and a minimalistic look and feel. Think edgy, think unique, think outside the square. Standing apart from other menswear designer labels, Camera & James showed us that yes, marble print can be worn on the body (as can oversized white shirts) and slouchy pants and not just reserved for the couch.
Tonight, there was no stopping the creative minds and imagination of the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) students. It is safe to say that the crowd was beyond pleased and ecstatic to see these creative minds be given the opportunity to showcase their talents. This ‘All-Star Showcase’ highlighted many amazing aesthetics and in a few words could be described as being exuberantly creative and unique.
Monochrome madness was presented by Karen Lee, the owner of Assemblage Project; a collection that features simple, sophisticated lines and contemporary shapes. These creative cuts certainly worked and the neck detailing, loose fit and strong sense of craftsmanship all worked absolutely perfectly. To me, this collection felt like it belonged on the runways of New York.
Finally, a strong crowd favourite: Corr Blimey, one of Canberra’s most well-known and long-standing independent fashion labels ended the show with an absolute bang! This was wearable street sculpture at its absolute best. With extremely eclectic detailing, this showcase connected us to a world of outside thinking and showed what really is possible when a designer predicts the future through building on precedent.
Overall, another equally fantastic and extremely well executed show was performed tonight by the Fashfest crew. However sad we are to see this incredible week of design, art and style come to end; remember that there is Day Five – the Fashfest Trade Show that will allow you to step into some of these incredible garments and own a piece for yourself.
Congratulations to the entire Fashfest team; designers, artists, stylists, producers and organisers for your fantastic efforts. Who is ready for Fashfest 2016?
