New fashion award draws some unexpected nominees
SYDNEY:Respected fashion designers Carla Zampatti, Collette Dinnigan and Leona Edmiston will go head-to-head with the likes of Nicole Kidman and Elle McPherson for a top industry accolade.
Organisers of Rosemount Australian Fashion Week (IMG Fashion) and the NSW Government have released an initial list of nominees for the inaugural Australian Fashion Laureate Award. Eligibility for the award – which was developed to recognise outstanding achievements in the national textile, clothing and footwear sector - was open to persons who have, over time, made significant contributions to the growth, development and promotion of the Australian fashion industry.
The initial list of nominees included retail powerhouse Belinda Seper and designer labels Easton Pearson, Peter Morrissey, sass & bide, Toni Maticevski, Akira and Dinosaur Designs. Sydney TAFE Institute pioneer Nicholas Huxley also received a nomination along with icons Maggie Tabberer, Jenny Kee, Jane De Teliga, Karen Webster, Richard Bailey and celebrities Nicole Kidman and Elle McPherson.
The voting panel consisted of retail, designer, media and industry delegates such as David Jones executive Colette Garnsey, Myer executive Judy Coomber, Collette Dinnigan, Harper's Bazaar's Alison Veness-McGourty, In Style's Judith Cook, Australian Fashion Council general manager Zoe Edquist and L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival event director Karen Webster.
Each panel member was asked to nominate three candidates on a 3-2-1 basis – three points for the top vote, two points for the secondary vote and one point for the final vote - together with a short statement supporting their nominations.
The five candidates with the highest number of points from the total votes cast were then eligible for selection as the Australian Fashion Laureate. Once collated, voting panel members would again be asked to vote on five candidates and decide the ultimate winner.
The Australian Fashion Laureate will be formally announced on the eve of RAFW at Government House on October 8.
By Assia Benmedjdoub