Australian Fashion Week was an exemplary showcase of the enormous array of talent an innovation that we have available at our doorsteps; from majestic collections to rival European fashion houses, to eclectic street wear that vibes an irreverent Australian cool. This week, Closet Case is all about that particular brand of laid-back luxe that Aussie’s do so well; Witchery’s OCRF White Shirt Campaign, Christopher Esber’s trunk collection, Milk From a Thistle’s AW13 Collection drops and we get word of the debut of exciting new designer on the block Thomas Hulston…
Witchery’s OCRF White Shirt Campaign
We know beautiful wardrobe staples are a must-have. Beautiful wardrobe staples that raise money for a great cause? A must-have right now!
This month Witchery released their exclusive White Short Collection featuring seven women’s and two men’s styles with 100% of gross proceeds going directly to the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation. If you haven’t seen what’s on offer yet, we highly suggest you run into your nearest Witchery or check out their online store this weekend. We guarantee you’ll walk away with a piece you’ll wear time and time again and you will feel great in knowing you’ve helped a worthy cause.
And in a campaign first, the OCRF and Witchery are launchig ‘Unite in White’ where they are hoping to see 1,200 white-shirt-clad people on the steps of Sydney’s Opera House on Wednesday 1st May from 9am – 10am to raise awareness for OCRF. Why 1,200? That’s the number of women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer annually.
To register your interest head to Witchery’s Unite In White page and enter your details.
The Christopher Esber show at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week 2013 was one of the most eagerly anticipated of the fashion calendar- and it more than lived up to expectations! From the impeccably tailored separates in midnight blue and black leather to the sheer metallic pieces with exposed seams, not to mention Esber’s trademark dove grey, the collection was a fashion week highlight.
Thus, it comes as no surprise that the collection has been selected by online e-tailer JASU.com for an exclusive trunk show. In an Australian online first, ten key looks hand-selected by the designer from the recent Spring Summer 2013/2014 collection will be made available for exclusive pre-order on JASU.com.
This is the first time that customers have been able to “shop the runway” directly from Australian Fashion Week, and it seem only fitting that the much revered Esber be the pioneering designer to offer his collection directly to his customers. Hopefully this will be the start of a trend for Australian fashion e-tailing!
The trunk show is now live on site, and will run for the next week.
Exclusive SS13 Pre-Order at JASU.com
Closet Case loves nothing more than unearthing Australian designers that are quietly innovating and imagining to the rhythm of their own sewing machine. Womenswear label Milk From A Thistle have been on our radar for quite a while now, but with the release of their AW13 collection, we are as excited as ever to peruse the whimsical creations that are the brain-children of Sydney-based designer Danielle Atkinson.
Known for its flowing shapes and signature digital and naturalistic prints, this season expands on past themes, introducing textural leather quilting and printed silk to form a directional and covetable collection. A rich colour palette of cherry red, chocolate, French blue and burnt orange are combined in thick stripes on silk shift dresses, blouses and harem pants, creating a variety of wearable options for the cooler months. The colour scheme evokes the autumnal hues of deciduous trees, the vibrant cherry red of winter fruits and the soft creams and browns of a forest at the turn of the season. Alongside these tones are soft grey jersey, acid yellow and a sumptuous mottled grey foliage print.
The intricate grey print also arises in a variety of pieces, from pencil skirts to collared shifts, providing the perfect array of pieces to showcase the unique design.
The garments are all designed and made in Australia, which makes them all the more special. The collection, which dropped online and in stores this week is available from the site, as well as ubercool boutiques like funkis in Sydney and pussycat black in Melbourne.
Shop the collection at milkfromathistle.com
Browse stockists HERE.
Finally, as proof that unique, innovative design can be found off the runways of major fashion weeks if you only take a moment to look, Closet Case was introduced to up and coming Australian designer Thomas Hulston this week.
The designer launched his label with the debut of his SS13/14 collection at a suave soiree featuring French wine, fashion editors and bloggers, as well as Sydney FC players at level 5 of the Whitehouse Institute of Design earlier this week. Hulston creates delectable French-made womenswear, having garnered a love and appreciation of the French textile industry following several visits to the country.
After graduating from Whitehouse in 2011, Hulston began developing his collection with a local factory in Marseille, with a focus on high quality materials and a luxurious minimalist aesthetic. The result of his labours was realised with the revelation of a stunning 21 piece collection, made in France using natural, high quality silk, leather and cotton, and coalescing French influences with those of his native Australia, seen in pieces such as a signature dress featuring a print derived from the sandstone cliffs that hug the Bondi to Bronte coastal walk in Sydney.
The pieces will price between $140- $795, bridging the divide between the affordable luxe and high end markets- a space that metropolitan Australia is ever-eager for (Bassike anyone?) and the french are famous for (the site includes a french language option).
Keep your eyes peeled for more news about this impressive new name on the Australian fashion landscape!
View the debut collection at thomashulston.com
Image: socialdiary.com.au
