MELBOURNE:Melbourne's foremost nurturer of emerging fashion talent has revealed a busy schedule for the remainder of the year.
Kicking off on June 1, Fashion Incubator (FI) would host member label Ella’s instore fashion parade, titled 'Be moved by the clothes you walk in,' an FI spokesperson confirmed, adding the following month would see FI team up with the Victorian Design Festival to host a couture parade. FI label Lenko's stand-alone store would also be revamped in time for a full scale promotion during the festival, the spokesperson said.
In September FI would also participate in Melbourne Spring Fashion Week, hosting streetwear, formal and eveningwear parades in which burlesque dancers would form a highlight, while the latter part of the year would also see the launch of a major promotion of FI designer Josua Andreas.
Meanwhile the re-modelling of Fashion Incubator's retail gallery - located on Level 2 of shopping centre Melbourne Central - would take place during July and August, with a view to boosting the brand presence of FI's growing membership.
Current FI designers included hand printed label Do-It-Baby - a collaboration between Colin Sheppard and Brett Gillespie, Ella by Pamela McGraw, Alice's Looking Glass by Alice Dessenfly, Zephyr Graham by Zephyr Huang, Side Show Design by Elizabeth Sterry and Merilyn Kumar, Sarva by Sam Argyrou, Ryan Whelan (men's suiting and tailoring), Omnicron by Antony Schrapel, Lenko by Dana Lenko, Grin and Wear it by Frieda McGirr, Chroni by Emma Vick, Check by John Prikyl and the work of milliner Ann-Maree Willett.
In line with its profile of promoting innovation, FI had recently launched its own brand with a debut green collection. FI also promoted collaborations between its designers and established fashion businesses.
Aside from its resident designers, FI welcomed students from high-school and university wishing to gain skills and insight into the fashion industry, the spokesperson confirmed.
The incubator currently employed volunteers in the fields of retail, fashion, public relations, marketing, brand management and advertising. It had taken on students from as far away as Europe, including a young marketing graduate from Germany who had played a key role in revampting the organisation's brand management strategy and website.