The Southern Hemisphere is certainly stepping up in the sustainable style stakes! First, New Zealand announced their very first ethical fashion week, and now the countdown is on for Australia’s inaugural Indigenous Fashion Week (AIFW), being held in April 2014. AIFW is all about showcasing the best of aboriginal Australian design from across the continent, celebrating the world’s oldest surviving continuous culture—on the catwalk. Fronted by well-known Australian model Samantha Harris, the week is going to be one of Sydney’s most stylish.

The goals of AIFW are not just about what’s on the runway. It’s equally about ideals beyond fashion like a focus on fair trade, supporting the economic development of Indigenous artists and highlighting ethical practice.

Here, we take a look at three of the emerging designers who will get the chance to showcase down under in 2014.

Lilla Gagliano

Lilla Gagliano is the creative force behind Kaninda, a stylish label from Australia’s western state. Lilla has both Indigenous and Italian heritage and her designs reflect her passion for both her cultural heritage and the world of fashion. She also draws inspiration from living in the beautiful Pilbara country. A textile and batik designer, she produces her own fabrics (including hand painted silks!). Even though Kaninda was born in 2004, Lilla’s debut collection didn’t show until Perth Fashion Week 2012, but received positive reviews.

Natalie Cunningham

Hailing from Australia’s aptly named Sunshine Coast, Natalie’s Indigenous and Greek heritage influence her unique design. Initially, she started out as a model, but it wasn’t long before she turned her hand to design, launching her eponymous label in 2006 at just 24. Famous for her love of eccentric fabrics and her homage to the 80s through the use of pops of exciting color, Natalie certainly does things differently. She is also committed to supporting positive images of women in fashion, particularly given her experience as a model. Rumor has it this talented designer is set to release an Indigenous swimwear and resort wear line in early 2014.

Caressa Sengstock

Caressa is the edgy, unique fashion label from Caressa Sengstock. Caressa began working in the fashion industry in 2009, around the same time as she started to take art classes, which tapped into her creative flair. All of her fashion pieces have been inspired by her own paintings, depicting ancient Dreamtime stories. Her skills really got noticed when a Rainbow Serpent dress that she designed turned heads at the Indigenous Awards night in Sydney. Following this, she was then asked to design a dress for an Australian music awards night and from there, she really took off. One of her recent collections, Spirit Tree, depicts a Dreamtime story about the journey from death to heaven, in which the use of sequins represent the dots in the roots of the tree, as souls traveling into the trunk. The way she pays tribute to ancient stories through contemporary design is just one way this designer stands out.

Images: Caressa, Natalie Cunningham, Kaninda, AIFW

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The post 3 Aboriginal Australian Designers (plus Indigenous Fashion Week Coming in 2014) appeared first on EcoSalon.

InterviewAussie rules green fashion from Kuwaii Spring/Summer ’11.

Australia is the latest country to embrace the growing wave of ethical fashion. During this month’s Australian Rosemount Fashion Week, event director Lucia Labbate stated, “The Australian fashion industry is well placed to make the most of the trend towards more ethical fashion. It boasts a diverse and vibrant scene of well known brands that still have considerable manufacturing capacity here in Australia.”

While homegrown designers such as Collette Dinnigan and celebrity favorite, Sass and Bide are familiar Aussie brands, Australian design is not well known to a larger audience beyond its casual, outdoor aesthetic. So when I came across the spring/summer collection from emerging Australian eco-brand, Kuwaii, I was not expecting to fall so hard for its subtle, cerebral style. The line’s name, Kuwaii, is the Japanese word for cute – its aesthetic is anything but. Its sophisticated, chic styling is as impressive as designer Kristy Barber’s commitment to design for a growing, Australian ethical fashion scene.

Kirsty shared her sustainable fashion journey.

What is the eco fashion movement like in Australia?

There is definitely a growing movement here towards greener and more sustainable fashion. It needs to gather mainstream momentum to have real force. The main challenge is competing with non-sustainable products for market share and also being able to compete in price.  We’re a small market here too, so it can be difficult to source great eco fabrics. That said, several of our eco labels are thriving.

How does the Australian fashion industry promote and support sustainable designers?

There’s Spirit of The Black Dress, a competition especially for emerging designers with a sustainable focus. The Council of Textiles and Fashion Industries have launched a recent sustainability initiative.  There is also a lovely new Australian magazine I really like – Peppermint – it’s really worth checking out.

How did Kuwaii get started?

I won the student fashion designer of the year award at the L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival directly after graduating from school. The prize was assistance to begin a label. My concept was for a more old fashioned and slower fashion – a return to quality throughout all processes. I wanted to occupy the middle ground between quality, integrity, substance and innovation in design, always with our ethical principles intact.

What are some of the line’s eco credentials you’re most proud of?

I have a strict non-disposable rule in term of fashion. I buy only ethical, Kuwaii or vintage clothing. Kuwaii comes from my own personal response to mass produced fashion. I’m trying to provide an interesting alternative. Overall, I strive to create designs that are timeless, interesting and well made and as tough and beautiful as their wearers are. Another focus is ensuring that our designs are  as trans-seasonal as possible, meaning with the addition of a pair of tights or slip,  you can wear them all year round. We use sustainable fabrics such as tencel, lyocell, Cupro and remnant leathers, and cut using a geometric system to provide minimum waste. We produce locally, pay above award wages, recycle studio off cuts and you may even you may see me running around on my 1970’s Peugeot studio bike to pick up buttons once in a while!

Can you tell us about the inspiration for the Spring Summer ’11 collection?

The 35 piece collection was inspired by Rudolf Steiner‘s Blackboard Drawings from the early 1920’s. Drawing upon Steiner’s investigation into all things spatial and linear, some of my favorite pieces are the softly draped bow-tie front dresses, a skirt and shirt made from delicate 50’s inspired randomly-chaotic silk print, and our striking tailoring in soft linen cotton.I’ve designed everything to be mixed and matched with our previous collections and the existing wardrobe items of our customers.

The Spring/Summer ’11 Collection called Love & A Question, is available for purchase online at  www.kuwaii.com.au

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