Join our 2022 crew of future fashion journalists and photographers as they report across Melbourne Fashion Week’s packed programme until Sunday, October 16. Here Voxfrock Rookies Kaya Martin and Chrissy Dore are first off the rank with their tour of the groundbreaking FashionXArt show staged in 13 sacred spaces throughout the State Library of Victoria. Scroll down to meet the rookies, then click back for more.
Words: Kaya Martin Photographs: Chrissy Dore
Fringed, leathered, teetering in stilettoed boots; it’s not the typical crowd you’d find milling around the State Library of Victoria. But this is different. It’s opening night of Melbourne Fashion Week and the historic venue has been transformed into a “fashion funhouse”. But it’s not just about the clothes. The immersive FashionXArt exhibition and perfomance is also a celebration of fashion’s links to the art world, enabling designers to use sound, movement, and 13 spaces in the iconic building to elevate the visual impact of their work.
In the library’s Quad Verner set the mood with a rotating trio of models patterned to the nines in optical prints, stark contrast to Mariam Seddiq’s decadence in the next room. Among gilded hanging frames, models sported sculptural metallic tops over lusciously draped skirts .
Jewellery fanatics may have clocked the Monirath accessories in the first two exhibits. Designer Mollika Prak’s “Starfish” and “Archangel” earrings added an ethereal touch. When head stylist, Joseph Romano, asked her to take part, Mollika says she knew immediately she wanted in. “My philosophy from the start of my career is to create jewellery that can be seen as art, where to a point, functionality is an afterthought.”
As we were ushered from room to room, we couldn’t help but feel a thrill of expectation about what or who was around the next corner. Posture Studio showed its textural, layered pieces on slow-moving ballerinas so shrouded in organic ruching and ruffling, their tutus took on a fungi feel.
The venue shone in the Redmond Barry Reading Room where Jasongrech gave us one of the evening’s unforgettable moments in red monochrome.
In the adjoining section, bright fluorescents paired with mechanical music and powerful tailoring by Strateas Carlucci.
A collaboration between the Gapuwiyak Culture and Arts and Aly de Groot offered a display of intricately-woven gunga fibres and bush string coloured with natural dyes.
The show finished under the library’s striking La Trobe Dome. In the cente, a voluminous white organza J’Aton gown matched with black latex gloves and Monirath’s dazzling “Chandelearrings.” An evocative fusion of didgeridoo, played by Johnny Daylight and opera arias sung by Shauntai Batske reverberated through the room.
“FashionXArt demonstrated that all designers are artists,” said Mollika of Monirath, “Exploring the spectrum from campy and obnoxious designs to elevated elegance.”
Meet the Rookies
Journalist, Kaya Martin
Kaya Martin is a culture, fashion and lifestyle writer originally from Vancouver Island, Canada. She says she aspires to tell stories, “That make readers feel a little more connected with the world around them.”
Photographer, Chrissy Dore
Chrissy Dore is an accomplished portrait, fashion and events photographer with a dynamic background in social media and PR. Pausing her lens at precisely the right moment to achieve maximum beauty and effect, she enjoys playing with light, shade and movement.
