Kiwis target Australian fashion's week of weeks

SYDNEY: New Zealand is making its biggest trade push yet into the Australian market with more than a dozen labels expected to show their ranges during Rosemount Australian Fashion Week (RAFW) later this month.

In what is believed to be their strongest representation to date, 14 brands will show their labels in an exclusive New Zealand designer showroom at the Billich Gallery in the heart of Sydney's The Rocks.

The initiative, which features emerging designers alongside more seasoned industry veterans, will also see RAFW veteran Kate Sylvester return to the catwalk for her first Sydney solo show in three years.

The occasion will mark the first time Sylvester, who recently attended the Sydney launch of department store Myer's autumn/winter collections, has shown her new menswear and eyewear lines this side of the Tasman.

She will be joined on schedule by Annah Stretton and knitwear label Stitch Ministry - designed by former Insidious Fix designer Kylee Davis - both of whom will appear in group showings on day three and four respectively.

Auckland designer Michael Pattison, who was recently awarded the contract to design the uniforms for the "new look" Adelphi Hotel in Melbourne, is not showing on schedule but will be joined in the gallery by other established Kiwi brands Cybele and Lonely Hearts.

Twenty-one-year-old designer Jaeha-Alex Kim, whose explosive debut under his label's title Jaeha at Air New Zealand Fashion Week in 2007 caused a media storm, will also show in the gallery where he will debut his French-inspired spring/summer 2008/09 collection 'Colouring in calms me down'.

Rounding off the Kiwi contingent will be Hailwood, streetwear label Federation, For Good, jewellery brand Kagi, Chelsea Thorpe, Salasai, Sherieyvonne and maternitywear brand Egg.

Australia is New Zealand's largest fashion export market, accounting for 71 per cent of total fashion exports and generating sales of $340 million in the 12 months to December 2007.

By Tracey Porter