MELBOURNE: Thurley has moved on from a tumultuous spring/summer 2009 season, unveiling a strong new look for the second half of this year.
Designer Helen O’Connor said the brand’s summer 2010 range is themed around ‘The Butterfly Effect’, and draws on the idea that a small environmental change can unleash a major impact.
“I have sought to capture the shape of the butterfly through drape throughout the collection, which has lead to a fresh new direction for Thurley,” she said.
Now in production, the new season’s offer follows a media beat up last year, which suggested at a copyright squabble between the label and designer Collette Dinnigan.
This erupted after the David Jones summer 2009 catwalk show, where it was claimed in a newspaper report that Collette Dinnigan said Thurley’s designs reflected her work. O’Connor reportedly denied any link.
The summer 2010 collection embraces featherweight silk georgettes and chiffons throughout. O’Connor said these are designed to capture the fragility of a butterfly wing and movement.
“I have chosen a lace for the Lace Wing dress and camisole as I felt it emulated the microscopic view of a butterfly wing’s texture,” she said.
A neutral colour foundation includes nougat, black and taupe, which is juxtaposed with bright red, canary yellow and peacock blue.
O’Connor said she scoured French vintage markets to find hand-craftwork inspiration for the range. Custom coloured enamel coated beads have been hand stitched into clustered floral shapes on many of the garments. Bugle beaded cut-away detailing and fine chain trims are key. Block colours, ombre and blurred digital prints further push the theme.
O’Connor is looking to open a Melbourne retail store for Thurley later this year. Her label is currently stocked in around 80 boutiques across Australia and internationally.
For more information on what designers will unveil for summer 2010, pick up a copy of Ragtrader’s special Rosemount Australian Fashion Week issue.