FASHFEST Opening Night…it’s time for the big reveal!

Posted on 30 April, 2014

When FASHFEST throws on the sound and light at 7pm this evening, the editors, reporters, photographers, videographers and bloggers will be in full swing covering Canberra’s premier fashion event.

Who is sitting in the front rows? Who is enjoying a glass of bubbles in the VIP Moët & Chandon bar? Who is posing at the media wall? Who has the best outfit on and is it a local design?

That’s front of house.

Behind the scenes the atmosphere will be ‘controlled chaos’, but that’s all part of Fashfest as an ‘event’. This is no ‘ordinary’ fashion show. The guest experience is deliberately designed around a different theme each night. Tonight is the artist, followed by the scientist, philosopher and visionary.

More than 40 designers are involved in FASHFEST 2014 (some participating in collaborations), 70 models, 70 makeup artists and team leaders—all under the guidance of Karen Mathias from M:Artistry. Around 30 hair artists from salons across the city will be spraying, curling, straightening and smoothing, under Director Hair, Wayne Friend, from Form Hair.

The stars on show tonight are The Darling Sisters who love beautiful femme fashion with a vintage flavour. Two other sisters, Taliya and Danielle Blom, of label Reneira, will launch a collection of individually crafted statement garments that are sophisticated, feminine and edgy.

And speaking of sophisticated, Rockstars and Royalty’s glamorous, couture gowns and cocktail dresses are jaw dropping and guests will see them worn by the Face of FASHFEST, Belinda Riding, and special guest model, Olympian Alicia Coutts.

Alicia Coutts wears Rockstars and Royalty. Photographer: Andrew Campbell. Hair: Form Hair. MUA: Karen Mathias, M:Artistry

Celebrating a wonderland where there are no rules is designer Zoe Brown of label Wnd.Lnd whose creativity is always inspirational. And Rohit Bhargava’s ‘Group 14’ collection of designer garments throws the spotlight on the quality designs available through his online platform, StageLabel. It’s StageLabel’s inaugural appearance at FASHFEST and this curated show will not disappoint.

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For the first time, FASHFEST is designing its own line of contemporary swimwear featuring an urban edge. This collaboration involves JETS Digital and British fashion designer Shelley Campton. Three local artists and a graphic design company were commissioned to produce designs that have been digitally printed on fabric. The swimwear itself was then designed and made in Canberra— fashioned around the event’s four themes. Organisers believe this type of ambitious collaboration has never taken place before in an Australian fashion show.

And last, but not least, FASHFEST celebrates graduates from the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT). These students are the next generation of Australian fashion professionals. They have been given a platform at FASHFEST 2014—one show on Wednesday night (seven designers) and one on Thursday (nine designers)— to test the concepts for the graduating collections they have created while at CIT.

So here’s the big question about FASHFEST. Do you have your ticket? It’s not too late…get them here!