VAMFF Diary: Discovery Runway presented by i-D
Word of the night: cool
The fash crowd at last night’s runway was at least 110% less glam than previous nights. In a good way. Well, at least for me and my sartorial comfort levels. I’d say approximately 60% of the front row was in sneakers (phew).
Seated opposite the designers, it was refreshing to see how genuinely excited they were to be be involved. Bless. VAMFF CEO Graeme Lewsey introduced the show as a vital initiative to support and nurture Victorian design talent. We agree, so important.
As the show was about to start the lady next to me took a sneaky pic of my shoes (or maybe it was her umbrella, as it also featured. It was a nice umbrella. I guess). Anyway, hot tip, turn your camera on silent if you wanna take covert snaps of your neighbor, I’ve learnt the hard way. It was the closest I’ve come to having my photo taken all week, so I’ll take it as compliment?
ASSK
A luxury-meets-sports aesthetic is what ASSK does best. Low-key cool, almost too cool to care. Even though the collection was styled with blue tarps (you know, the ones that look like Ikea shopping bags), the whole range still managed to look super-premium. I guess that’s the point, hey.
PAI
FJ has a massive soft spot for these guys. We’ve been following them for the past year and sort of feel like proud parents. And they are actually doing something different, going against the grain and embracing creative design. Killing it.
Caves Collect
I’ve been looking for a new backpack for aaaaaages. And I think I’ve finally found one. Thanks Caves Collect. Defs going to snap one of these up. Cave Collect’s accessories were spot on. Tbh I can’t actually remember what their clothes were like, they weren’t memorable. But I think mainly because the accessories stole the show. Claps.
Am.Xander
We picked these guys as one of our top menswear labels to watch in 2015/16 and they aren’t disappointing. Streetwear that’s clean-cut, considered and well-tailored. If I had a boyfriend, this is how he’d dress.
Article. By Courtney Holm
As per above, we called it, Courtney is going places. She also manages to design with a street/sports aesthetic in mind and combine it successfully with tailored elements. Everything looked super tactile. I nearly reached out and felt up a model’s leg to check out the fabrication (yes, the fabrication, nothing else).
Lois Hazel
I first came across Lois’ accessories a few years ago, so I’m stoked to see she’s diversified into apparel. Her relaxed tailoring is very wearable.
Sister
Sustainable faves, Sister, do slouchy silhouettes and minimal-cool well. Their collection isn’t exactly groundbreaking, but they are clothes that I’d wear (safe but still on-trend).
Banoffee x Pageant
When we heard these guys were collaborating we knew it was obvs going to be cool. And cool it was. Banoffee performed live and was a massive babe as per usual. The collection kinda looked a bit ASSK-esque with a luxe, sports feel and genuinely seemed like something Martha would wear. Didn’t see the Pageant design aesthetic coming through so much, the collection totally said ‘Banoffee’ to me.
As wanky as it sounds, this show really reminded me how lucky we are to have such a vibrant creative community in Melbourne. And that we don’t need to look too far for fashion inspiration.
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