Designer takes flight at Debut

Few fashion labels can claim to have shown their work in national art collections before launching to retail.
But, having snapped up awards for sculpture and ceramics, Victorian artist and designer Gretchen Hillhouse clearly has more than one feather in her cap; the latest being the launch of her self-named jewellery and clothing label at Sydney's Fashion Exposed last month.
According to its creator the label achieved significant thrust at the trade fair, where it starred in emerging designer launch pad Debut.
"Fashion Exposed went really well. I Hillhouse's jewellery collection spans four distinct ranges; 'These foolish things' is a meditation on 19th century nostalgia, featuring jet and carved ivory; while the 'Vintage' collection is a "contemporary interpretation of the vintage aesthetic". The 'Electron' range has a "space age" look hewn from diverse materials including rubber, sterling silver and vintage radio fuses, and the 'Urban amulet' collection uses similarly offbeat elements in a modern take on tribal talismans.
With prices ranging from $60 for a vintage brooch to $220 at the top end of the Electron range, the jewellery has thus far targeted the upper middle market, although Hillhouse is also considering new markets.
"For my latest range, which doesn't have a name yet, I'm playing with uncut diamonds and South Pacific pearls and a new silver and gold material with a wax-like quality that creates a rough hewn aesthetic. I'll be looking at exclusive representation with very limited edition runs and price points starting at around the $400 to $500 mark."
Meanwhile the 'Heloise and Hidegarde' evening and eventwear collection - currently stocked in Castlemaine (Victoria) and Perth - uses organza, silk and velvet in a contemporary reworking of vintage couture, with prices ranging from $220 for a velvet capelet to $600 for a floor length evening gown. While Hillhouse did not write orders for the collection, she did clinch potential deals with around five Victorian stockists; and a lot more besides.
"I think the main thing I got from Fashion Exposed was a lot of useful industry knowledge, and in that sense it really was invaluable."