Australian fashion showcase pops up at PMQ for Business of Design Week, providing a platform for emerging labels
Seven rising stars of Melbourne’s design scene, as well as three Hong Kong-based brands, present a mix of ethical fashion, timeless luxury, men’s tailoring and wearable art
Stylistas on the hunt for something a little different from the city’s usual fashion fare need look no further than PMQ in Central, where, from December 3, seven rising stars of Melbourne’s design milieu will peddle their wares in a retail pop-up alongside three up-and-coming Hong Kong designers, as part of Business of Design Week.
“Australian brands have the advantage of having both the exposure to international fashion and yet being slightly removed. This cultivates a uniqueness in their products and brand identity,” says Carla Woidt, a board member of the Australian Fashion Council (AFC), which is behind AFC Curated.
Visitors to the week-long pop-up will have the chance to meet Melbourne-based designers such as Lois McGruer-Fraser – known for her sustainably made clothing line, Lois Hazel – and Courtenay Tyrrell, who creates quirky accessories for Maude Studio.
“Having grown up in Hong Kong, and attended primary school there, it is exciting to return, this time with my business, and begin a new relationship with such an incredible city,” says McGruer-Fraser.
The showcase is a homecoming of sorts, too, for Shanghai-born Vincent Li, who spent time studying fashion in Hong Kong and whose Prêt-à-Porter menswear range combines Western and Chinese influences.
AFC Curated is aimed at giving a leg-up to young, independent designers, who often struggle to compete with international labels.