A local fashion label will buck a national trend as it unveils a unique initiative this month.
Melbourne-based brand Cylk has confirmed it will debut a new 100 per cent Australian made capsule collection at this year’s L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival (LMFF).
The ‘Made in Melbourne’ capsule collection is also part of a wider strategy to support the Australian manufacturing industry as more production moves offshore.
Cylk said the fresh range is the first step towards increasing the percentage of each seasonal collection made onshore - from 50 per cent to 80 per cent - over the next 12 months.
The locally produced collection is comprised of digitally printed silk, a selection of winter coats and jackets, and water repellent trench coats.
Prints throughout the collection follow Cylk’s design ethos of of raw elements and natural fibres and are inspired by rock and crystal formations.
The collection will be displayed at Cylk’s flagship store, 497 Chapel Street South Yarra, during LMFF, in addition to a collaborative artistic installation by local artists Bec and Maddie Sharrock.
Cylk will also form part of the L’Oreal Paris Runway show, presented by Cosmopolitan Magazine, on March 22, 2013.
Commenting on the initiative, Cylk founder and creative director Keshia Abeysekera said the brand is responding to market demand.
The brand also referenced recent Roy Morgan research findings (July 2012) which indicate that more than half of the population purchase products made in Australia, based on country of origin.
“At Cylk, we are passionate about supporting local industry; this has always been integral to our ethos. When many manufacturers are relocating offshore, Cylk is responding to this desire of the Australian consumer to buy locally made by bringing more of our production home to Melbourne,” she said.
“We are delighted with Cylk’s upcoming participation in LMFF. The festival is such a celebration of Australian fashion and it is a fitting platform to showcase the brand and our new ‘Made in Melbourne’ capsule collection.”
The brand's autumn/winter 2013 collection will be in store from this month.