Aussie fashionistocrats have packed for Paris since the 1990s. Collette Dinnigan (first Australian-based to show on-schedule), Martin Grant, Akira Isogawa, Easton Pearson, Kym Ellery (second to show on-schedule), Aurelio Costarella, Toni Maticevski, Strateas.Carlucci, Lui Hon and dozens of Creative Others, regularly and cleverly use Paris as a portal to the world’s fashion markets. Today, Voxfrock visits a few of the many, continuing a week in which renowned photographer Elli Ioannou gives lense-and-pen glimpses behind the seams of the dream city.
Words and photographs: Elli Ioannou (Main photo, top: Lui Hon)
Lui Hon: “Waters will run, rivers will turn…”
The poetics of fashion echo loudly for Lui Hon. The brand’s current theme is inspired by water; strong, yet fluid and adaptable. That is also the theory behind Lui Hon’s design aesthetic. Key pieces can be worn a number of ways: reversed, up-side down, back to front. Fluid, adaptable. Some have tie mechanisms enabling the wearer to style their garment differently each time they wear it.
Luis Hon is an RMIT design graduate. He got his “big break” as a finalist on the Project Runway reality TV show.
This is his second showing in Paris with brand director and partner, Luka Maich. The couple agree Paris is important, particularly as Europe is more reflective of their brand’s aesthetic than Australia.
Asked about their unique symbiotic relationship, Luka answers: “We are open and transparent about everything that happens in the business and creatively. Of course, Lui is the designer, but each step is overseen by both of us. We are hands on with all aspects of the label. We want, and have to, make it work .”
Akira (Isogawa): By appointment only
Akira has been coming to Paris twice a year since 1998.
He prefers to liaise directly with his buyers. Nothing like keeping it real.
Kit is staying in Paris with long time friend and former Sass and Bide co-founder Heidi Middleton. In the 30 minutes I had to shoot Kit at Heidi’s Paris home, she was finalising pre-production for KITX and also had to catch a flight back to Sydney!
Heidi moved here with her family in 2014, following a life-long dream to return to the Paris of her youth. Kit and Heidi are godmothers to each others’ children, both began their previous brands around the same time in Sydney in 2000, and are still friends, still creating; evidence camaraderie in fashion does exist!
Elli Ioannou, info@voxfrock.com.au
