MELBOURNE: Effeminate womenswear label Cylk is about to get a whole lot tougher.
The Victorian-based brand has appointed Michael Hockey as its new head designer - a ragtrader who headed his own menswear label for five years. Primarily self-taught, Hockey had his first ready-to-wear parade at Australian Fashion Week in 2004 and has since been featured in Vogue Australia, Yen, Oyster, The Daily Telegraph and UK trade publication Drapers. He has worked with a number of young Australian labels including Stephanie Cranford, Mad Cortes and King Gee Red Label.
The designer said he aimed to introduce a tailored look to Cylk's seasonal collections. The label's autumn/winter 2008 range takes inspiration from the figure of Mary Magdalene, sourcing its regal colour palette from early biblical art. Rich reds, antique golds, dusty silvers, warm violets and burnt blacks are infused into full fashion knits, jersey dresses and spun silk basics. The range features classic shaped sweaters in wool and tencel, lambs wool and angora and a plush wool/cashmere overcoat.
The collection will hit stores in February/March 2008.