Fashion’s Finest – ‘The Australian Five’
By: Hope Wilkos, Writer/Blogger
Photographer: George Whylie
Videographer: Maxine Nolan
Photos Courtesy of: www.harpersbazaar.com, www.russhmagazine.com, www.xpress.mag.com
New York City will be transformed to the ‘Down Under’ from January 24th through January 27th as “The Australian Five” make their way to the city of great culture and design.
This stylish event is an alliance of The Woolmark Company and Australians in NY Fashion Foundation (AINYFF). It is commonly known as G’Day USA Initiative. Five Australian designers will be given an extraordinary opportunity to display their fashion talents in a more intimate and personal setting at the Crosby Street Hotel near Soho. Respected industry professionals will be able to preview the designers’ fabric innovations and design skills.
There will be an elegant cocktail presentation on January 26th and the designs will be launched for all to view and admire.
The designers are all unique in their own innovative ways. Christopher Esber is from Sydney, Australia and began his fashion career in college. A boutique fell in love with his collection and that was the beginning of his success story. He uses neutral colors to bring out the beauty of a woman in sheaths, shift and tuxedo coat dressing and much in the way of tailored style.
Brazilian born Fernando Frisoni designs both a signature menswear and women’s wear line. From 2003 through 2006, he was a stylist with his own street style page “Urban Style” in the Sydney Sun Herald. His collections are avante-garde inspired with relaxed tailoring.
Kim Ellery of Perth has an extensive background as Market Director at bimonthly Aussie style glossy ‘Russh’. She launched her very first collection in 2007. Ellery’s inspirations for many of her collections are created by fellow artists. Tailored outfits in pastels are some of her most elegant pieces.
Hailing from Macedonia, Magdalena Velevska premiered her first collection at Rosemount Fashion Week in 2009. She is extremely creative and has developed her own fabrics. She is a designer of exploration. The colors of her most recent collection are bright and electric and pleats abound. Before venturing out on her own, she gained experience with established labels.
Lastly, Michael Lo Sordo is a graduate of East Sydney’s Fashion Design Studio and became heavily involved in fashion in 2008. Before deciding to branch out on his own, he worked within a group show.
This is the perfect way to spread the word to international markets and share some very individualized talent and creativity.
Since these designers are new to the American market, Conde Nast’s Asia Pacific Editorial Director at Large, Nancy Pilcher, will be doing the mentoring. There will be loads of fashion excitement during this four-day event and prior to the introduction of the designs, there will be a seminar on breaking into the U.S. retail market, hosted by fashion favorites, Julie Anne Quay, V’s Executive Director and Brana Wolf and Laura Brown, Editors of Harper’s Bazaar and Richard Christianson of Chandelier Creative. The Australian consulate will host this informative seminar.
We can’t wait to see what is in store for us…………….
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