Ben Pollitt of Friedrich Gray was named the fashion winner of the Qantas Spirit of Youth Awards.
The SOYA Awards honour young talent under 25 in the areas of music, photography, film, industrial design and visual arts along with fashion and aim to provide mentors who are leaders in the field.
Peter Morrissey judged the final 50 fashion entrants and will mentor Pollitt in developing his label.
"I've always known I can design and be creative," Pollitt said, "I just need to know more about the nuts and bolts of running a business and getting financing."
(This excerpt is from a piece by Jen Melocco that appeared in the Daily Telegraph.)
www.friedrichgray.com
The Qantas Spirit of Youth Awards [SOYA], the leading award for Australia’s best emerging artists, designers, and creatives, can now reveal the 18 very talented finalists competing across six categories in SOYA07.
Over the past four years SOYA has been instrumental in uncovering the best emerging artists, musicians, designers and filmmakers Australia has to offer. The Qantas Spirit of Youth Awards recognise excellence and innovation, and give talented young Australians the financial and professional support they need to share their talents with the world.
This year over 4 600 young, creative Australians (25 or under) entered over 32 000 works into SOYA’s six creative categories. They were all eager to have their work assessed by internationally-renowned, industry-leading mentors (like Bruce Beresford, Marc Newson and Peter Morrissey) and, of course, they could all think of some creative uses for $5 000 in cash and $5 000 in flights from Qantas.
Two of the finalists for the Fashion category are Friedrich Gray and Romance was Born so we're keeping fingers and toes crossed for them both for the 22nd November when the winner will be announced!
ANNA PLUNKETT
Anna Plunkett (label Romance Was Born - above top) is a 25 year old designer from Sydney (originally from Albury) who has turned down an internship with John Galliano, dressed rockstars from Cyndi Lauper, M.I.A to Lily Allen, and presented Romance Was Born (with partner Luke Sales) in their debut Australian Fashion Week show this year. “It’s really difficult to meet older/experienced people within the fashion industry to get advice from when you’re just starting out! A mentor to be there would be most helpful in finding contacts and advice in business structure and different design solutions.” Anna Plunkett, Fashion Finalist
BEN POLLITT
Ben Pollitt (label Friedrich Grey, above bottom) is a 25 year old self-taught designer from Sydney whose dark aesthetic and eye for luxury fabrications has combined in label Friedrich Grey. In April this year, Ben presented his own off-schedule fashion show during Australian Fashion Week, and was named by retailer Belinda Seper as her top young designer to watch. “I would use the mentorship to ask how to run my business more efficiently. How I can increase my profits with the current sales that I have, how to approach a department store in terms of the diffusion line that I wish to make, using Peter’s extensive experience to find production houses that can handle an increase in production levels that will be needed for the business to grow.” Ben Pollitt, Fashion Finalist
www.soya.com.au
This Summer, expect a visit from our most treasured national icon ‘Skippy’…
When cult Brit/Oz label ANT!PODiUM asked their friends at international design collective Rinzen to put a size zero spin on the herbivorous marsupial ‘Skippy’ for a London Fashion Week tote they couldn't waif for the results. Nor it seems could British fashion's big wigs. More than 800 were snapped up within hours…
Not wanting to deny their Australian fans, the enterprising trio behind the ANT!PODiUM label have released limited editions of their unisex Bit on the Side tank (RRP $79), Stretch Your Inclination tee (RRP $89) and Size Matters tote (RRP $149, pictured above) emblazoned with the darkly svelte character affectionately termed ‘Dead Skippy’.
Available at Fat, Alice Euphemia, Alfies Friend Rolfe and Zendie.com
www.antipodium.com
www.rinzen.com
Pop into bright colours and dress your way into Spring with snappy styles from the Limited Edition Metalicus Social Spree collection. This limited edition range of minimalist dresses from Metalicus is a welcome addition to their fashion bodywear basics and has been designed for party fun and festive soirees. Step out during the warmer seasons to turn heads in bold cuts and colours in these easy to wear Metalicus dress styles.
Metalicus Social Spree dresses are instantly classic with a wearable and feminine twist. The ‘Get Back to It’ dress (pictured above) drapes down the back for a sleek sexy look, while ‘Polished Up’ is pretty, preppy and effortless, ‘Garden Party’ flows and frills while the Tuxedo Halter is a sophisticated cut that commands attention. Complimented by the ‘Cover Up’ cardi all pieces come in the Metalicus signature two-way stretch cotton fabric for ultimate comfort. The colour palette packs a punch and is reminiscent of Warhol days with Pop Art brights of mistletoe green, hot punch pink, cobalt blueberry, holly red and classic hues of gun metal grey and black.
The Metalicus Social Spree dress collection is in store now, available from Metalicus retail stores (Melbourne’s GPO, Chadstone and Bondi), selected stockists and on-line at the Metalicus website. www.metalicus.com
Little Hero is thrilled to announce their appointment as Australasian PR for ANT!PODiUM men’s and women’s collections – effective immediately.
Account Director, Rae Begley, was ANT!PODiUM London’s PR Manager 2004-2006 and is delighted to welcome the brand to her Melbourne based boutique agency. A Sydney showroom is scheduled to open in October 2007.
Following their sensational international debut, ANT!PODiUM 's 'Frilled to Meet You' collection is in Australasian stores now. Their anticipated second collection not only delivers their signature staples and laid-back cheek but also expands on the trio's eclectic experiences. In their latest offering, the label's founders Geoffrey J. Finch, Ashe Peacock and her Fremantle based sister Fenella, have clevely combined their far flung influences; from the throb of London's nightlife and the bustle of contemporary Tokyo to the dramatic isolation of the Australian outback.
Less than a year since the label’s launch ANT!PODiUM has rapidly attracted an international fan base and is currently stocked by Liberty of London, Harvey Nichols and over 65 leading stores in 11 countries. In Australia the label can be found in premium retailers including Alice Euphemia, Fat, Cactus Jam, The Corner Shop, Incu, Bam & Juju, Atlas, Blonde Venus and Blood Orange.
“Taking in eighties hip-hop and seventies Parisian chic, ANT!PODiUM's haute modern cocktail pulls off a modern and polished, not to mention commercially viable, collection. Enticing separates, easy enough to play downtown or take for a stylistic spin uptown.”
Emma Elwick, Market Editor, Vogue UK
“The humour and quirkiness of the great design is only matched by the good humour of the designers. At Liberty we are thrilled to exclusively be selling the first menswear collection by ANT!PODiUM.”
Dan Doyle, Menswear Buyer, Liberty
For further information about ANT!PODiUM or to request samples or look books, please contact:
Rae Begley at Little Hero on 0419 890 888 or rae@littlehero.com.au
Part city gymnasium, part hopscotch pitch, TV were brandishing a seriously smokin’ starter’s pistol on Wednesday 5th September for the Style Wars show at Melbourne Spring Fashion Week showing with their S/S 07/08 collection, ‘Gridnasium’. TV opened the show (which also featured Alpha60, Claude Maus, Kate Hurst, Freidrich Gray, Material Boy and Romance was Born) with 6 super slick models in red metallic catsuits and cheeky black visors.
This season, designers Ingrid Verner and Monika Tvanek have drawn inspiration from vintage sportswear to have even the most resilient P.E. shirkers leaping hurdles, shooting hoops, and going for gold.
The silhouette is fast and free, with sophisticated yet relaxed all-in-ones and second-skin shapes in racing colours. Striding shorts and classic tennis dresses swing in summer knits and silks beside a revival of dance- and active-wear in leotards, leggings, and bodysuits. The sporting vocabulary teams a friendly Sunday morning hit-and-giggle with the glute-busting determination of a Jane Fonda workout.
Geometric grid patterns traverse bold fields of black, white, and lemon, as a concentrated colour palette plays with assertive cut-out shapes, cap sleeves, box pleats, and spots. The wearability of form-fitting Lycra steps outside the aerobic studio to meet the city-slicking town suit uptown with a swathe of summer knits and fluttering silks. A fanfare of stripes streak across a steady involvement of white, while triumphant splashes of motor-racing crimson will out-lap any competition on the dance floor.
With Gridnasium, TV champion an athletic elegance and self-assured sass. Across the collection, body-conscious panels engineer a structured platform to silken pleats breezily cascading the silhouette like a gently lobbed shuttlecock. Whether it’s ribbon-twirling callisthenics or a friendly game of British bulldog, the wearer is readied for action.
To view the show please visit: http://www.six6photography.com.au/Fashion07/Mmsfw2007/05%20Sep/TV/TV.htm
www.t-v.net.au
TV denim styles champion a bold elegance and self-assured sass.
Over-dyed, pre-washed denims duel in a monochrome palette: Starkest White vs Thundercloud Grey. Waists shoot sky high to nudge the ribcage, while legs are streamlined javelin slim. For those cheering on the sidelines, a front-zipping denim pinafore is sweetly dirndl-like with an angular futuristic bent (think The Sound of Music meets Barbarella).
Available in Indigo, Black and Acid Wash in styles: Short Sleeve Denim Jacket retail $320, High Waisted Jean retail $264 and Denim Pinafore retail $300.
TV denim is stocked from September in select boutiques across Australia including Orson & Blake, Incu, Alice Euphemia, Fat, Digging for Apples, Bam & JuJu and Dilettante. Also available at the TV flagship store:
2A Cecil Place Prahran Victoria 03 9525 0355.
www.t-v.net.au
Shining brightly out of Melbourne, Alice Euphemia opened their second store in the former Craft Victoria building on Gertrude Street in Fitzroy on Thursday 26th of July in a flurry of independent style.
Owner Karen Reischieck celebrated Alice Euphemia's first decade with a room filled with 350 plus guests attending a mock wedding which starred designers Romance Was Born's forthcoming collection and Luke as MC. Those in attendance included local designers and crafts people Reischieck has supported over her 10 years in business - Alpha 60, LIFEwithBIRD, Romance Was Born, TV, Schwipe, Mjolk, Maus Cat Berlin and Iggy & LouLou amongst others.
Waiters dressed by Romance Was Born in lab coats and glasses poured Australian sparkling, Little Creatures beer and handed around cup cakes throughout the evening and there was elbows out from the ladies for the throwing of the bouquet! Loreal Melbourne Fashion Festival Festival Director, Karen Webster made the official opening speech commenting on Reischieck's invaluable contribution to Australian fashion and her dedication to nurturing young talent by breaking many designers such as Josh Goot and Toni Maticevski into big names. The overflowing community of people present at the event reflected the impact Alice Euphemia has had on Melbourne's design scene.
Alice Euphemia - 114 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy 03 9417 4300
www.aliceeuphemia.com
The founders of Alter, Jono Wallace (front left on keys) and Dan Whitford (front right standing by) are not your typical creative services proprietors. Wallace is a designer who guest lectures at the Monash University Faculty of Art & Design in Melbourne, while Whitford is the front man for internationally acclaimed music act Cut Copy.
Alter was a concept in the pipeline since the design duo met at Monash University in 1999 but temporarily put on hold while both gained experience with leading practices Cornwell and Richard Blackman Design. The studio has since proved to be a winning design combination for Wallace and Whitford; they benefit from making every expression an opportunity – be it a one colour poster, a three dimensional display, a TVC or a website.
Whitford comments, “We’ve both got our strengths and they seem to generate interesting results when combined. Part of our approach is to accept that we live in a post modern world saturated with imagery and references so why not just enjoy it, celebrate it and swim around in it for a while.”
This acceptance of an overload of imagery is referenced in much of Alter’s work where images are cleverly layered and details are rich with graphic folly. Bold shapes, bright colours and a playful aesthetic are elements within the work that offer Alter a distinctive voice; a stark contrast and reaction to the minimalism expressed in the 1990’s. Alter collage and compositions are a departure from the tired doodles that dominate youth marketing. A balance has been struck between over-the-top and naïve images and forms, resulting in work loaded with reference, be it decorative, whimsy or wit.
Alter has carved out of a strong signature in music for cult brands like Modular Recordings, the Ministry of Sound and Virgin Festival. More recently Alter have demonstrated their creative application across mediums through their campaign for the MTV Music Awards. The diversity of their work also extends to the Portable Film Festival as well as ongoing projects for fashion stables including Levis, Adidas, Mambo, Stussy and General Pants.
The MTV project is a prime example of Alter’s expertise when executing a large scale campaign to communicate an overall concept for a brand. Alter developed the entire creative for the MTV Music Awards. Their work was applied on the show itself, TVC’s and currently airing on MTV Overdrive (new broadband TV channel). The campaign comprises of a number of visual elements including photographic imagery, illustration, animation and a TVC production of a carefully placed red carpet…
As identity design moves from being a curious aesthetic to a company asset, there is a trend for graphic design practices to behave more like a well oiled professional services machine, than workplaces for creative and subsequent strategic thinking. Alter is a studio that speaks through the work it produces and the people who produce it; which has grown since its inception to 4 designers and a freelance team. Wallace and Whitford’s youthful enthusiasm shines through their work as they communicate ideas with a very distinct balance of message, form, image and detail.
www.alter.com.au
Hot on the heels of Australian Fashion Week, designers Monika Tywanek and Ingrid Verner have all eyes glued on TV; their boutique label pairs a fresh, eclectic, and unexpected aesthetic with a sophisticated silhouette.
Beaming out of Melbourne, TV opened their first flagship store in Prahran in spectacular style this week with their guest list of around 250 influential style starters spilling out onto the street. TV teamed with Moth Design and Organic Studio to create the window installation and artwork throughout the space while the Semi-Tough boys known for their "To all the People we Love" parties set to work spinning records for the night.
"Our shop is a little off the beaten track," says Ingrid. "It suits us just fine" adds Monika.
The collection hanging from the TV racks demonstrated the duo's talent to meld razor-modern cutting techniques with tactile natural materials, embodying both playfulness and finesse. Concentrating on fit, fabrication, and wearability, TV's attention to form creates a laidback and polished style that feels like a hug, but looks like a knock out.
"We're working to reinterpret basic items in an interesting way," says Verner, while Tywanek describes their approach as "Clean and concise using geometric silhouettes."
In March 2006, the dynamic duo launched their label (then known as Tvanek.Verner) at the Melbourne Fashion Festival. As the ultimate toast to their stellar debut, TV were awarded the esteemed Tiffany Designer Award, with festival head Karen Webster lauding their collection as "Garments of superb quality with an air of quirky innovation."
TV - 2A Cecil Place, Prahran, 03 9525 0355
www.t-v.net.au
The name Begley originally appeared in Gaelic as O Beaglaoich where beag means little, and laoch means hero. First Anglicized as O’Begley, it now appears mostly as Begley, and occasionally Bagley.
Ben Pollitt of Friedrich Gray was named the fashion winner of the Qantas Spirit of Youth Awards.
