NATIONAL: Could Rosemount Australian Fashion Week (RAFW) be turning green?
Eco-friendly fashion designer Rachel Bending has urged organisers to revisit plans to launch a sustainable group show at the trade event. The Bird Textiles designer first met with IMG Fashion Asia Pacific at the close of 2007 in a bid to get the program off the ground.
"In discussions at their offices, I encouraged RAFW to go ahead with the showcase and offered my services to help enable them to do so," she said. "They tentively asked me if I would be involved as a media spokesperson for any such show and I agreed."
Emails obtained by Ragtrader revealed Bending had discussed plans for an eco-showcase with organisers in late November 2007. She believed most green designers would not consider a runway show unless it was under the banner of sustainable design or eco fashion.
"There has never been an eco brand on the catwalk at RAFW and without a significant platform, support and backing from organisers it is unlikely to happen," Bending said. "I think RAFW have an opportunity to lead the world and it could be of significant value for them if they took the initiative to go ahead."
Bending believed plans for a show had stalled as a result of concerns over selection criteria for eco designers.
"I recommended they bring in a consultant to advise on the criteria for a sustainable group show to ensure absolute integrity in the process," she said, adding her brand was not only made using sustainable fibres and fabrics but also utilised clean production processes.
IMG Fashion Asia Pacific regional marketing and communications director Graeme Lewsy denied plans for a showcase had ever been formalised.
"I'm not aware of that conversation specifically but I know we have been keen to create a group show that promoted a greater sustainable message. But we can only create such a showcase if the talent and labels exist in the ready-to-wear area and work with us to explore options."
He said while it would be difficult to define specific criteria for a green show, the firm would welcome applications to discuss with its advisory board.
Singapore buyer Coral Kee, who attended the spring/summer 2009/10 instalment of RAFW earlier this month, said she would welcome an eco-friendly showcase. Kee's recently launched Pleien boutique already stocked Australian label Moral Fibre, which was committed to sustainable fabrics and production processes.
"Having products in my store that are made in Australia does [drive] sales - something like this just adds to that point of difference."