The 16th instalment of Rosemount Australian Fashion Week (RAFW) kicked off today (May 2) with designer labels Zimmermann and Bec & Bridge hitting the runway first this morning.
Zimmmerman, which also celebrates its 20th anniversary this week, opened with a show at 9am at an offsite location, followed by Bec & Bridge at 10am at the Overseas Passenger Terminal in Circular Quay.
The labels are the first of many standout Australian designers set to hit the runway this week, with Kirrily Johnston, Bianca Spender, Alex Perry, Josh Goot, Kate Sylvester and Michael Lo Sordo, also showing in the following days. While a few events will take place off site, most shows will be split between sites at the Circular Quay Overseas Passenger Terminal and the Cargo Theatre.
Highlights for the first half of day one include Alex Perry, set to unveil his spring/summer 2011/12 collection at 11am, Kirrily Johnston at 1pm, and Morrison at 2.30pm.
The Morrison collection, titled “Pret” (“ready” in French), draws on a vibe which is fresh, energetic and crisp, with a mix of relaxed silhouettes and semi-structured pieces dominating the range. The overall look is no-nonsense, clean modern and minimal with a strong use of fabrics such as Italian cotton, silk and linen. Key colours include cream, white and orange.
“I was inspired by the importance of being content in oneself. This is when you can be who you are and not live through the expectations of others,” Morrison Creative Director Kylie Radford said.
Flannel, Karla Spetic and Gail Sorronda will also debut their RAFW collections later this evening, with shows at 5.30, 6.30 and 7.30 respectively.
The Flannel collection – “La Sakura” – sees a reworking of Flannel classics and an expanded evening wear collection by designer Kristy Lawrence. The range, which incorporates 100 pieces,
is light summer collection, cut from luxe fabrics and featuring clean lines. Lawrence has worked with her usual neutral palette but has injected some bolder colours this season, to create a look which she describes as “Asia meets Paris”.
Karla Spetic promises to translate a
bold and optimistic vibe through her spring/summer collection, which
incorporates heavy silks with a bright colour spectrum.
“I found my inspiration through interior design while in the process of moving home. My mind was in redecorating mode, therefore, the shapes and prints very much reference interiors through bold intense colours,” she said.