Small experimental wildly expressive labels are key to Melbourne’s unique fashion heritage. Independent Runway, a highlight of The PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival, is where many of the best muster. Voxfrock Rookies Chrissy Dore (photographer) and Kaylah-Joelle Baker (journalist) report from Melbourne’s melting pot runway, presented by Fashion Journal.
On the Collingwood Yards open air forecourt, upbeat psychedelic tunes pound out as models strut from the upper to lower floor. Gizzy Taye is watching from the sidelines, feeling inspired. “The whole thing was cool,” she says, “Individual people actually doing different and unique work.”
One of Gizzy’s favourites among the show’s 18 brands is Youkhana. She says simply, it can; “Embody everything”. And sure enough, Youkhana’s hand braided red satin dress is a show-stopper, sent off with approving cheers.
The Social Studio, renowned for its inclusivity and ethical choices, shows patchwork mixed-print designs with visible stitching and strong vertical lines.
Wackie Ju and RAMP TRAMP TRAMP STAMP play distinctly different games with cut-outs, ruching, drape details and sheer layers over exposed undergarments.
Endearing satin frocks in bold hues by Dominique Healy echo elegant soirées before SUKU Home’s intriguing knitwear and re-imagined sleepwear.
Next up, a vivid and eclectic mix of designers and designs: APRES STUDIO’s vintage patchwork jeans, Muse the Label’s silk sheer puffed sleeved ensembles, ERIK YVON’s bold and eccentric collection.
Penny Sage, Par Moi and KA-HE focus on simple detailing and patterns, SPEED shows relaxed tailoring and Stella Vendetta takes it to the next level with tie-down straps and double-belted dress pants.
VERNER x Yarra Youth presents a collaborative project, a pod collection by Yarra Youth Services teens with designer Ingrid Verner mentoring: co-ordinates with bold surface lettering and patched on sketches. Alix Higgins follows suit with text prints and splashes of colour.
Reinvention takes on new meaning with Moss Tunstall’s hand painted denims, before Toile Studio’s model, in one of its signature multi-functional upcycled designs, closes the runway, disappearing into a glimmering tunnel.
MEET THE ROOKIES
Chrissy Dore (below) is a photographer, social media professional and publicity consultant with 12 years’ experience in public relations for lifestyle brands. This is her third turn on the Voxfrock Rookie crew.
Kaylah-Joelle Baker (below) recently graduated with her Bachelor of Communication (Journalism) and aspires to create fashion and lifestyle content while continuing to report community issues in her current job with Melbourne CBD newspaper, Hyperlocal News.
