Austrade media release
Thursday, 1 May 2008
Rosemount Australian Fashion Week (RAFW) is exceeding international buyers’ expectations according to Austrade’s Senior Export Adviser, Ms Lucy Coward.
“The international buyers have been excited by the designers’ collections and Austrade has received positive feedback with many of the buyers scheduling meetings immediately after the shows,” Ms Coward said.
“It’s great to see the established designers such as Jayson Brunsdon, Akira and Wayne Cooper return to RAFW as well as new designers show.
“Australian fashion has a look and feel of its own and in our experience this appeals to the buyers. Perhaps the distance also adds a special element,” she said.
United Kingdom – buyer perspective
Mr Graham Goble, Managing Director of London based fashion company The Designers Emporium, is looking to source Australian designers for their forthcoming London and Manchester-based retail boutiques and online fashion business.
“The shows at Rosemount Australian Fashion Week have exceeded my expectations. I think the collections have been very well-rounded,” Mr Goble said.
“It’s good to come and see how Australia and the fashion industry supports up and coming Australian designers. The Australian retailers and government go to great lengths to support growth from within and this should be an example to other countries. I look forward to introducing the Australian designers to the UK market,” he said.
Mr Goble’s favourites have included Lee Matthews, Bettina Liano, Anna Thomas and Melanie Cutfield and he was impressed by the glitz and glamour of the Alex Perry show. “Alex Perry does exquisite evening dresses,” he said.
Indonesia – buyer perspective
Indonesian-based Australian Ms Susan Whyte has returned for her third RAFW buying for her store Funky Princess.
Funky Princess currently stocks Alannah Hill, Camilla and Marc and Willow and this time around Ms Whyte has enjoyed Kirrily Johnston’s and Jacqui Alexander’s pretty collections.
“I’m looking for ready to wear and for designers who can provide consistency in their collections. I also like to develop a strong and ongoing business relationship with the designers,” Ms Whyte said.
Ms Lana Carine Octavia from La Vie en Rose stocks Mink Pink, Bracewell and Manning Cartell.
Ms Octavia is a first time RAFW visitor and has taken to the clean lines of Nicola Finetti and flowing dresses of Lisa Ho.
“Australian fashion appeals to the Indonesian market for its new and edgy designs,” Ms Carine Octavia said.
Ms Octavia also enjoyed the Alex Perry show.
“Alex Perry’s amazing collection shows various range of feminine styles and pastel colours with close attention to detail. Truly stunning,” she said.
Ms Lucy Kurniawan runs a high-end boutique, Lucy House, in the Grand Hyatt plaza in Jakarta.
This is her fourth time at RAFW where she regularly calls on Austrade for assistance at the event.
“More Australian brands have been popping up in Indonesia and I hope to see more of this,” Ms Kurniawan said.
“My regular customers are wealthy and have their own individual styles. They are getting to know the Australian designers and which ones work for them. My personal favourite is Lisa Ho.”
Ms Yana Handali from boutique store, Velvet, is attending her third RAFW. She arrived ahead of the event to meet with her current suppliers. Velvet only stocks Australian designers.
These include Mad Cortes, Marnie Skillings, Ginger & Smart, Jayson Brunsdon, Melanie Cutfield, Fleur Wood, Moss & Spy, Nevenka and Eileen Kirby.
Velvet signed new Australian designer Rose & Ruby for the first time this year.
“We always find Rosemount Australian Fashion Week useful in keeping up to date with Australian fashion and we are open to seeing emerging designers as it is important for us to keep our store’s collection dynamic,” Ms Handali said.
Ms Handali says consistency in cut and sizing is important and pricing is also a consideration.
“There are some designers we are working with who have kept their pricing competitive in line with the rising dollar to keep the ball rolling.”
Singapore –Austrade senior business development manager perspective
International buyers from CK Tang, Antipodean and Epitome are regular attendees to RAFW.
Mr Mark Chau, Austrade’s Senior Business Development Manager, in Singapore said the spring/summer collections are the main event these buyers want to come to. “Singapore buyers look to these collections as they are best suited to the climate,” Mr Chau said.
Mr Chau says the mainstay designers in Singapore include Zimmerman, Ksubi, Lisa Ho, Alannah Hill, Wayne Cooper and Tina Kalivas.
“Most of the Singapore buyers know Australia and emerging designers such as Manning Cartell, Shakuhachi, Thurley, Yeojin Bae and Bec and Bridge will likely appeal to this market. Designers with unique points of difference are what Singapore consumers are after.”
USA – buyer perspective
Lyne Butterworth from PlanetTogs in the USA aims to open an online fashion store that only stocks international designers from places other than the fashion stalwarts of Paris and Milan.
“My client is the professional woman who wears Gucci on her day off. I’m looking to find an alternative brand and hope to source an up-scale Australian designer here at Rosemount Australian Fashion Week.
“There are a tonne of Australian designers and I know there are many emerging in the US but it would be great to see more of them,” Ms Butterworth said.
For more information on Rosemount Australian Fashion Week: www.rafw.com.au
ENDS
Media contact
Caroline James
Mob: +61 413 481 579
For further news and information from the Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) visit www.austrade.gov.au/mediacentre. |