Above: From desert doof to business lunch, France Frederiksen’s diverse range modelled by Nicole, Alana and Jayne.
It’s recycling at its most refined and at times most playful. From heirloom lace, vintage kimonos, linens and silks to old tablecloths, curtains, jumpers, unpicked, cut up, restructured, even boiled to make “fashion statements” from the gorgeous to the outrageous. The name of the process, Sustainable Couture, is also an event and once again it packed out the Aviation Museum last Thursday, the opener of a five-day celebration of textile arts.
The Beanie Festival is the anchor, and tonight Aboriginal designers and models get on board with a multi-collection show organised by Hannah Trindorfer, including the launch of The Forkleaf Collection by Batchelor Institute students, at the Doubletree Hilton (6-8pm).
Right: Prasadi and Krysta ready to party in Sinead Pogue finery.
Now in its sixth year, Sustainable Couture is more of a movement than a group. Three of its core creators – Franca Frederiksen, Philomena Hali and Simone Gascoigne –gave strong showings on Thursday while also welcoming three new faces – local milliner Margaret Johnson, Judi Bilki from Elmore in central Victoria, and Sinead Pogue, as Irish as her name but who has lived and worked around the Territory.
The range was as broad as the theme, Outback Finery, but there was not a drizabone or akubra in sight. The Outback these days is a multicultural place and it was interesting to see this emphasis emerge on the runway. – Story and photos by Kieran Finnane
Below, from top: Umeema Curtis modelling “modern tribal ceremony finery”, designed by Simone Gascoigne and Franca Frederiksen. • Sarah in a Gascoigne gown fashioned from a doona cover. • Dachma models desert colours by Sinead Pogue. • Judi Bilki’s bride. • Raceday-style headpiece and sunhat by Margaret Johnson, modelled by Ruby and Monica. • Tunic dresses by Philomena Hali, modelled by Kura and Kim. • Dachma and Prasadi in Gascoigne creations.
