RAFW muscles up for new generation designers

SYDNEY:Rosemount Australian Fashion Week's (RAFW) graduate showcase will have an unexpected twist this year. The TAFE NSW Fashion Design Studio collections, staged annually as part of the spring/summer schedule, will feature an all-male cast of fashion designers. Christopher Esber, Spencer Webber, Dion Lee and Guy Hastie have been hand-selected by an industry panel to partake in the high-profile runway parade.

The spring/summer 2007 instalment featured the works of four female designers; Marsha Vetolskiy, Sara Algars, Carli Turland and Kim Deters.  Following on from the success of last year's format, participants will showcase their work to industry at 1pm before staging a public display at Macquarie Place in Sydney at 6pm on May 1. 

Esber, whose tailored pieces reference surrealist and mathematical works, said the parade provided graduates with unrivalled exposure to influential buyers and media.

"It's really like an introduction for us four designers to the industry," he said. "I plan to sell my range at this year's parade so it's really important for me to feel like I've found my place in the market."

Esber believes the more commercial aspects of his collection – which include locally produced shirts priced at $200 to $300 – will appeal to buyers while more conceptual pieces would suit editorial fashion spreads.

Futurist designer Hastie said graduates were already feeling the crunch in the lead up to the event. "One of the most difficult obstacles in putting the range together would have to be the time management – managing time between work and still being able to focus on design and be creative without the restrictions of a school schedule."

The designers will showcase their graduate collections on site at RAFW at 1pm on May 1 followed by the Marriot Hotel sponsored public show at Macquarie Square from 6pm. RAFW will run from April 28 to May 2 in the city of Sydney.