We went to the Jurassic World runway and here’s what happened

Jurassique.

It’s hard to find a human on planet earth that hasn’t heard of Jurassic Park. It sits as a cinematic icon of our time. And like many cinematic icons before it, contemporary Hollywood beckoned, demanding they rinse this cash cow for all its worth, in the form of a remake.

2015 saw Chris Pratt hit the gym, shred his dad-bod and appear in the fourth instalment of the Jurassic World series. And now, four years later, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom will see the return of favourite characters, dinosaurs, and hopefully Chris Pratt’s abs.

What does this have to do with fashion, you ask?

Well, clearly I did something very right in a past life, because last night I was privy to Australia’s first ever film-fashion industry runway collaboration – which was just as amazing as it sounds.

Seven of Australia’s most expressive designers put on a runway in collaboration with Jurassic World, providing the Australian fashion community with a deeper connection to the blockbuster franchise.

When commuting to this event, I literally had no idea what to expect. My housemate plus one and I spent the drive to Carriageworks brainstorming potential scenarios. Would there be dinosaurs? Would there be a movie screening? Would attempting to make these polar opposite subject matters intersect be a complete fail? And most importantly, would there be food?

Before I continue, let me answer your most pressing question. Yes, there was food. Canapes and nibbles mostly. And secondly, yes, there were dinosaurs.

The event was a spectacle: Two moving dinosaurs created an arch for attendees to walk through, guiding us into a museum-like hub of fun and information.

The large runway was cast off to the side, ready to showcase the seven Australian designers in their finest form.

It’s worth noting that we were sat just behind the speakers, and let me tell you, whoever comprised the soundtrack for this runway deserves an award of the highest accolade. Just a small disclaimer, any positive reviews about the event/film may be skewed by the number of bangers that were played alongside the fashion.

Sarah Joseph Couture

Black, lace, embroidery, sheer were the key descriptors here. Each piece was bespoke and clearly tailored to perfection. It’s the kind of figure-hugging couture that I imagine Mariah Carey just lounges around the house in, you know, watching Netflix etc.
Song: ‘Smack my b*** up’ – The Prodigy

A.BCH

The title given to this Jurassic-inspired collection was We.Can.Save.Them. Not exactly sure what that means, however, we can only assume it has something to do with founder Courtney Holm’s entire design ethos. She operates with the aim to hold ethical manufacturing principles to the highest standard. She used this runway to depict a lot of crisp white shirts and tailored ensembles.
Song: ‘Encore’ – Jay – Z

Ewol

The only way I can describe this collection to someone who hasn’t seen it is by saying that every moment I lived prior to it was akin to Dorothy in monochrome Kansas. And every moment after was Dorothy in Oz. Sequined face masks, bedazzled trains, silver drop-crotch pants – it was like every coloured dream I’ve ever had come true.
Song: ‘House Work’ – Jax Jones

Keegan

It’s a hard brief to make dinosaur paraphernalia look chic, however, the design team behind Keegan made it happen. The highlight of this minimal collection was a white cropped turtleneck featuring a drawing of a dinosaur, definitely some of the brand’s finest work.
Song: ‘Mas Que Nada’ – Sergio Mendes

Leah Da Gloria

This collection was clearly inspired by the combined textural and colour palettes of the movie’s habitat. Earthy tones and prints were very Indiana Jones, juxtaposed with the sleek silhouettes that were both elegant and contemporary.
Song: ‘Bang Bang’ – Nancy Sinatra

Vincent Li

As soon as I saw Vincent Li’s menswear, all I could imagine was Ross Geller rocking the khaki cargos on one of his palaeontology digs. The panels, layers and earthy colour palette definitely took audiences into a world of Jurassic archetypes.
Song: ‘Ticking Bomb’ – Aloe Blacc

Lunar Sand

Closing the fiesta, this unique and edgy brand showed a highly intelligent use of jungle prints, dinosaur skeletons and the famous Jurassic World logo. The collection encompassed swimwear, children’s swim and activewear, putting an edgy spin on what’s often considered a feminine category of apparel.
Song: ‘New Dorp. New York.’ – Sbtrkt

jurassicworldmovie.com.au