Two exciting local fashion events this week for me, was attending the Made in Melbourne, (MIM) Melbourne Spring Fashion Week show and also the launch of Olive and Finn, a new online store that promotes emerging designers that work within the Australian & New Zealand industry. Event like these get me really excited because as well as supporting local industry, they, hopefully, bring new talent to the forefront and encourage buyers to take a risk, step away from the chain stores and buy something new and different.
The MIM runway show incorporated a couple of tricky and very customer friendly, impulse buy, easy to use sales techniques…such as a QR codes in the handbook. All of the designers for the evening (Lisa Tatanto, Tai & Amaya, Cadelle Leather, Stella Blanche, Ichu Jewellery, ARON, Sleep’n Round. Mina Katusha and Kathryn Beker) had items for immediate sale via iPhone and android handsets. As someone who suffers from bouts of little to know self-control when it comes to nice things, this was incredibly tempting, especially seeing the garments sail by you, worn by gorgeous people!
I have a sneaking suspicion that there was many attendees at the The Olive and Finn launch in Collingwood that also where lucky enough to be at MIM. Director and owner, Olivia Howard describes Olive & Finn as “more of a style hub, than an online store”.
“It was a little bit of a selfish venture to begin with – basically I wanted to be able to wear the best of the best that no one else had or knew about!” she said.
I hear you sister.
“The relationship between some designers and the retail stores seem to be a cold business transaction. Many of the designers struggle to find a retailer that doesn’t come with a million conditions,” she said.
Keep an eye on the site for lots more additions of emerging designers that will be added in the coming weeks.
For MIM, a fabulous array of designs and designers and a vibrant and enthusiastic crowd made this event a must do on the MSFW calendar…and you with any emerging fashion event I encourage a rash purchase because you never know which, (probably all) of the designers we’ll be seeing at main events in the years to come.
I wore ‘Tuning the Tunic’ , a fabulous, mod piece by Andie Meredith to MIM and a necklace by Emily Green.
* This post is also featured on Melbgirl
love local fashion 