H&M loves Australia

Karl Lagerfeld x H&M

Versace x H&M

The excitement within the local fashion-conscious community is rising as the first ever Australian H&M (Hennes & Mauritz) store is set to open in 2014. The fast fashion label, known for providing the mass accessibility to the luxurious fashion designs of Karl Lagerfeld, Lanvin, Marni, Versace, Maison Martin Margiela and more recently, Isabel Marant, have a little surprise for keen Australian fashionistas...

Maison Martin Margiela x H&M

News has hit that the multinational Swedish label will release a specially designed collection for Australian customers, aptly named "Australia Exclusive". The collection, according to the press release, has been designed to suit the outdoorsy lifestyle of Australians. The pieces will only be available at the Melbourne flagship store, meaning Melbournians will be in for a fashion riot worth seeing, if of course they aren't there amongst the chaos.

Isabel Marant x H&M

The Australian H&M Flagship store will open in 2014, with menswear, womenswear, underwear and home wares available throughout.

Images courtesy of H&M

Lines of Neoclassicism

The coveted Australian fashion designer label, Dion Lee, has released previews of their collaboration with collage artist, Mason Mulholland, for their diffusion line, Line II. The new collection is called "Neoclassical", and that theme is apparent throughout, especially in the skewed prints that are reminiscent of the exploration of the human form in the Classical period. Classicism is further appropriated in the design of the garments, featuring a more geometric take on the draping that was prevalent in Classical fashion and a colour palette reflective of the Grecian peninsula. Dion Lee has once again demonstrated his ability to creatively influence fashion's future, and this collection will most likely be a hit amongst loyalists and newbies to the label.

Images courtesy of Dion Lee

Vanishing Elephant | Working Magazine #1

The young and coveted Australian fashion label, Vanishing Elephant, has expanded into the world of journalism. Their publication, named "Working", offers loyalists an insight into what inspires the designers Huw, Felix and Arran. Working is a publicly tangible mood board, with Trevor King photography, an exploration of Archival's architecture, Brisbane's Dane Lovett's odd yet humbling artwork and more. It's obvious to see that Vanishing Elephant's ethos and aesthetic is an appropriation and combination of these inspirations whilst flicking through the journal, but the designers have managed to mould an aesthetic of their own. A well-rounded and concise journal is rare nowadays, and Vanishing Elephant have certainly done well. Make sure to download you copy by clicking on the link below.

Read about what Archival's collaboration with the label

Trevor King's atmospheric beach photography

Looks from the Autumn/Winter 2013 menswear collection

TO DOWNLOAD A COPY OF THE MAGAZINE, CLICK HERE

Photography by Christoffer Aguilar

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The Innovators of Australian Fashion

TAFE’s fashion designers are a formidable force within the myriad of young designers in the industry, so it's no surprise that The Innovators collections were no disappointment. Leroy Nguyen started off the show colourfully with kaleidoscopic prints, then as Elissa McGowan took over the runway, the atmosphere changed as the structurally feminine collection was unleashed, with sheer panels in interesting shapes which ran like rivers through white, peach pink and navy blue ensembles forcing our eyes to actively map the clothing. Paul Scott's menswear was next - a daring mix of cityscape prints, vinyl leather and mismatching pattern panels that will surely bring a new dimension to menswear in Australia. Paul’s clever enmeshing of the relaxed mood of Australian fashion and undertones of bold British men’s fashion make for a trendsetting collection for the coming Spring/Summer season. Ying Yuan continued from Elissa's architectural aesthetic, but again quickly changed with Vinh Nugyen’s contrasting menswear to Pauls, which added a more space-aged dynamic to menswear - the abundance of cool mints, midnight blues and stark black a complete opposite to Paul's. Finally, Inder Dhillon's sequin filled beanies and dresses brought a vibrant and eccentric end to the showcase of skill and talent of these young designers.

Photography by me

To view the collections and watch the fashion show, CLICK HERE

Vanishing Elephant in an Industrial Wilderness

In the depths of the industrial Australian Technology Park, Vanishing Elephant unleashed their Spring/Summer 2013/14 collection to a vibrantly mixed fashion crowd, led by Australian supermodel, Julia Nobis. A collection inspired by the impact of repetitive patterns and the structure of industry, the collection complemented the highly manufactured setting of Australian Technology Park yet still separating itself with its tailored elements, cleverly placed paneled patterns and mild contrasting colour palette. The range of patterns against plains, including polka dots and blocky stripes against stark whites and somber blues with hints of orange, khaki and navy are heavily influenced by the cleanliness of Scandinavian fashion, and its respectable that the designers to bring this to the attention of the Australian fashion crowd. Vanishing Elephant, with the help of Mark Vassallo, has successfully achieved in producing a collection that suits the post-punk revival of the fashion forward youth.

Photography by me
To view the complete collection in colour, CLICK HERE
To view the fashion show, CLICK HERE
Visit the official Vanishing Elephant website HERE

Jayson Brunsdon's Walk in the Dark

A collection that exudes both classical elegance and structural sturdiness is hard to come by, but Jayson Brunsdon has managed to create one that succesfully does so. Jayson Brunsdon's Spring/Summer 2013/14 collection has allowed crystalline beauty to fuse with the geometric shapes of modern minimalism. This fusion gives birth to a mysterious, yet undeniably relevant collection to the woman of the future. Amongst the melancholic quietness of Phillip Glass's piano pieces, the collection completely shatters this with the crisp whites, powerful reds and glowing glimmer of crystals which captured our eyes. Overall, the masterpiece that is Jayson Brunsdon's Spring/Summer 2013/14 collection is an embodiment of a woman's loveliness and complexity.

Photography by me
To visit the official Jayson Brunsdon site, CLICK HERE
To view the complete collection, CLICK HERE
To view the fashion show, CLICK HERE