SYDNEY: Buyers who attended Rosemount Australian Fashion Week (RAFW) say it is the new crop of designers who are attracting their attention.
Urban Outfitters UK buyer Aimee Brown said she found the Christopher Esber and Dion Lee ranges particularly inspiring.
“Dion Lee is too high end for us but I am here with the buyers from Selfridges [UK] and netaporter.com [UK] and it would be more suited to them as a higher profile label,” Brown said. “Hopefully they will pick it up.”
Brown met with designer Josh Goot off-schedule to discuss stocking his diffusion line, Goot, in the urban apparel chain, she said.
“We are super interested and we will meet in London in June to discuss it further.”
US-based Ron Robinson/Fred Segal vice president for buying and merchandising, Karen Meena, said she will decide which labels to pursue when she returns home. She noted that relatively new brand Flannel was “beautifully crafted and original”.
“Nookie was a line that I felt was true to its Bondi Beach origins, with light, flowing fabrics, young flirty styles and sunny colours,” she said. “'Songs for the Mute' was a men’s line with lots of subtle original details and fits executed in luxe fabrics.”
Next season Meena would like to see more men’s apparel on the catwalk, along with more leather goods and accessories.
“There was a lack of colour in the designs; too much black and nude,” she said.
New Zealand store owner Carol Young of Verranda Young placed orders with Alice McCall, Friedrich Gray and established brand Zambesi. She also intends to pursue growing label Therese Rawsthorne.
“The reason I have placed orders with the above is they have an edgy style but with a lot of femininity,” she said.
Jean Brown owner Amber Long said she is out to increase the amount of Australian labels in her group of Brisbane stores. Long placed orders with Kirrily Johnston, Miss Unkon and Bassike, as well as off-schedule labels Rachael Ruddick and Mrs Press.
Bessie Head buyer Nat Denning was particularly impressed with the originality of Romance Was Born and Ellery, along with Zambesi menswear.
“Prices have been slightly more competitive this season with some brands,” she said. “Smaller suppliers always struggle with lowering prices which does make it difficult to compete. However, original product most often combats this.”