The Spirit of the Black Dress has returned for its second year as an official event in the L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival. On the back of last year’s success, The Spirit of the Black Dress continues to demonstrate an increasing appreciation for Australian design.
Combining a group of independent graduates from different backgrounds, with a passion to raise the profile of emerging fashion, a unique collection of garments have been created around the concept of the iconic black dress. Last week we saw the collection on show as part of the Flash Catwalk on Flinders Street and the event will continue on with a Fashion Photography Exhibition. Showcasing innovative emerging designers, the finalists were selected by a panel of industry judges including Janice Breen Burns, Karen Webster, Joe Saba, Roger Leong and Emer Diviney.
Co-organiser of the event, Jane Hayes, says that the concept for The Spirit of the Black Dress was born when they noticed a gap in the market for providing a platform to emerging Australian fashion designers. The team behind the event have always been passionate about supporting Australian talent and feel it is important to promote the quality of work produced locally. “There was also a need to push the message of sustainability in Australian fashion,” she said.
The idea to develop a theme around the black dress came as a decision to project a common staple wardrobe item that can relate to a wide range of people. “It is also an even platform for the designers to create their dresses; no one has the advantages of colour to bend the eye. The designers have to think outside the square to create different textures and lines to make their creation stand out from the crowd,” said Ms Hayes.
The Spirit of the Black Dress provides the selected designers with a great boost to their career and it often presents future opportunities within the industry. Starting with a wide range of media coverage and local events to gain exposure, the event solely focuses on each designer. “There is no other event that gives emerging designers the ability to be the centre of attention, have the opportunity to meet leaders of the fashion industry and to develop a network,” said Ms Hayes.
As a result, the designers get the chance to network within the fashion industry and with the general public for the duration of the festival, which helps them to establish their label.
“We not only focus on helping our emerging designers to promote their creative sustainably-driven designs but we also like to encourage them to develop business acumen,” explained Ms Hayes.
According to Ms Hayes, the event appeals to the design and sustainably-savvy individual. The Spirit of the Black Dress caters to people “who not only thinks of clothes as something that adorns the body but as an expression of art and individuality,” she said.
Visitors to the exhibition will gain an insight into the creative consciousness of local designers and can see the assortment of talent produced from our own backyard. “It is a keyhole look in to the future of Australian design,” said Ms Hayes.
The exhibition, set against the backdrop of Sorrento beach, bursts with creativity and each viewer only has to look at the beautifully crafted photos and dresses to feel inspired.
The ten finalists chosen for the 2010 event are:
Cheryl Chee
Melina Hollway
Maja Karlsen Mueller
Michelle Czech
Alexis Belcher
Oliver Wilkinson
Renee Bock
Shagun Maheshwari
Tia Carrigan
Melissa Mahony
The Fashion Photography Exhibition is a free event and runs from March the 12th – 21st between the hours of 12pm-6pm at Georges on Collins, 195 Little Collins Street, Melbourne.
Visit: http://thespiritoftheblackdress.com.au/
Image credit: Jaclyn Adams
