SYDNEY: Following their show-stopping display at the 2009 Rosemount Australian Fashion Week (RAFW), Romance Was Born will draw on prehistoric times in a bid to impress at this year's event.
Hitting the catwalk on day three, designers Anna Plunkett and Luke Sales reveal this season is themed 'Renaissance Dinosaur' and involves a collaboration with artist Kate Rohde for prints.
Textile-rich pieces teamed with hand-dyed marbled fabric and hand-loomed ikat are all in the offer. Digital prints on super-shiny lycra will add zest, while creative swimsuits are also in the mix.
Plunkett says the pair have avoided controlling colours, preferring them to unfold instinctively.
“But this season we tried to pull back, with some silhouette-inspired pieces in block colours that to us feel prehistoric, which go back with a bright print.”
CDs and imitation dinosaur scales will all add dramatic embellishment.
Therese Rawsthorne will kick start events at 9am, with a womenswear collection inspired by a desert road trip across the US state of Arizona. The 45-style offer has a palette of platinum, nude, blood red and black, with lots of digital and hand-screen prints.
“Colourful, spiky florals and graphic, organic shapes feature,” she says.
Statement items will include a ‘Mirage’ jacket, which is sleeveless with a tailored front and slashed silk back. A key dress has a three-dimensional prism shape at the hip, mixed with a soft silk bodice, while another called ‘Horizons’ is a dramatic, floor-length leather piece.
“Modern, polished and beautiful textures incorporating detailed embroidery, hand knits, leather, silk cotton, linen and wool are included,” she says.
New Zealand designer Kate Sylvester will show at 10am, with a collection that plays with a mix of masculine and feminine elements. The use of cotton mixed with sand-washed silks will emphasise this contrast.
“The trigger was listening to an emphatically masculine boy singing an unapologetically romantic song and I have captured the beautiful spirit of that moment,” she says.
The range blends sportswear with couture, military uniforms and some sexy lingerie. Statement items will include blazers, shorts, a wrap dress, a pencil skirt, a pinafore and trousers. Strong khaki and greys will be balanced with soft corals, apple green and rose.
Manning Cartell will reveal an artist inspired offer at 12pm, with Aubrey Beardsley’s ink drawings and quirky Spanish tales of romance behind the look. This will translate to a couture crossed with street style 55-piece collection.
Draping and design lines have been created through tucks, pleats and contrasting fabrics. Monochromatic shades will feature in prints and block colours, while blue, light sapphire, grey melange and blush will add contrast. A fine cotton guipure lace will appear, along with perforated leather, striped jacquard, light-weight gauze, silk organza and stocking-like jerseys.
Designer Nikita Sernack's Nookie collection will appear at 4pm, with a 1970s Jade Jagger inspired theme. Sernack has injected the young women’s label with a romantic and flowing yet edgy twist. Around 45 outfits will appear, including body-hugging dresses with bow detailing, casual-chic tailored pieces, sheer knits and sporty touches.
The palette will be slightly softer than usual for the label, with peachy corals, latte browns, creams and grey marl. Silver, black and jade green will add impact. Silks will be strong, along with cream and black lace, denim and jersey.
Other labels showing on day three include Alice McCall, Bianca Spender, Phos Phoro, Jayson Brundson, Anna & Boy, Karla Spetic and Konstantina Mittas.
For more information pick up a copy of Ragtrader's RAFW special edition, available now.