Day Four Australian Fashion Week – A Day of Firsts

It was a day of many firsts, tears and happiness as Fashion Week led the way with a day embracing individuality and diversity. It has been a week of surprises , for me by far the most emotional show of Fashion Week has been the Adaptive Clothing Show, my first show of today. Then followed the Curve Edit led by the iconic Robin Lawley. Dyspnea embraced all, with their gender fluid, body diverse colourful party time show. Lastly was the first ever parade at the Powerhouse Museum where newcomer, the colourful Jordan Gogos created a carnival atmosphere and surprised all with a collaboration with Jenny Kee AO. 

I had seen the Adaptive Clothing range of Carol Taylor Designs at Brisbane Fashion Week, but for adaptive clothing to be seen by the world at Australian Fashion Week was a milestone occasion. JAM and Christina Stephens united with the purpose of being the voice that brings strength and unity of message to mainstream media, retail and the fashion industry. Designs were colourful, functional and at times downright glamorous. Joyous models, like Lisa Cox , proudly modelled clothes adapted for their needs and the accompanying colour filled videos let them share their stories. By the end of a beautiful show there was not a dry eye in the room. We all left knowing that we had witnessed something special.

Another first for this Fashion Week was the Redken Room where you could go and have your hair done during the week by booking a free appointment. Redken stylists from all over the country went through a rigorous selection process to be considered for the role. I was lucky enough to meet Stacey from Melbourne and Rachel from Adelaide, who created some bouncy curls for me. I was so grateful to them for taming the frizz after I’d been drenched on my way in.

Thanks to my new friends at Ticketek I managed to snaffle a seat to an in conversation with Mary Lou Ryan and Deborah Sams from Bassike. We were treated to a sneak peek of their new range by way of a recent video campaign they’d shot up on Hamilton Island. It was a proud moment for this Queenslander. Surprisingly there was more colour and playfulness than ever before from Bassike. Deb said, “ This was deliberate and something I’d thought about a lot during the past few years. “

Bassike’s signature styles with a focus on sustainability and Australian manufacturing remain strong and they hope to expand further overseas to become a household name , as they are here in Australia. They concentrate on quality goods and love designing welcoming bricks and mortar stores to provide their customers with a unique buying experience. From an idea spawned when these these two designers were flatmates, to a beloved and enduring fashion brand, Bassike is an Australian fashion industry success story.

Another first for me was the Torannce show. Torannce is a Melbourne label with a dedication to timelessness with deep throws to eccentricity, opulence and modern sleek. They are available at Myer, the Iconic and worldwide. Out of all the shows I have seen this week this one was the most appealing to my own aesthetic. Dare I say, for a Victorian brand it had an almost Queensland feel.

I loved the pretty dresses in floral prints and pinks, the edgy leather dresses and pants and the one shoulder or voluminous sleeve tops. This show was vibrant and bouncy with a great soundtrack. I loved the pretty ruffles, the covetable prints and pastel hues. Swimsuits were a delight. I could go on and on…. Thank you for inviting me to your show, Torannce. I am always delighted to find a new label to share with my friends and readers.

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