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Read More »August 29, 2013
The Fashion Sector has many challenges before it, what do our leaders think about the future?
Richard Evans, TFIA CEO aims to represent the industry to government going forward.
EXPOSED Online editor, Sacha Strebe chats to him about the future of manufacturing in Australia, how we can develop an industry body, and why consumers aren’t buying.
For more information, visit fashionexposed.com
To learn more about the TFIA, visit tfia.com.au
August 19, 2013
After noticing a distinct gap in the market for sensual products for women that incorporated high-end design with an affordable price tag, Emily Bendell realised her calling.
Based in London, BlueBella kicked off in 2006 with the mission of making every woman feel fabulous. Their size range reflects this philosophy starting at a UK dress size 6 to 26 and running from an A cup to G cup. Their core offering is elegant sensual styles that are also wearable, designing with `real women in mind’.
Bluebella will make its official debut into the Australian market at Fashion Exposed trade event this weekend August 25-27 at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre. This is the first BlueBella collection to launch outside Europe, working with Australasian distributor, The Love Group.
The theme for this collection is ‘Tales of Seduction’. It’s about sensuality and intrigue, excitement and intense pleasure, secret liaisons and delicious decadence but also of empowerment and control.
`Tales of Seduction’ is about a woman who knows her own mind, knows what she wants, and feels absolutely fabulous in getting it. She is in control. She is beautiful and feminine, but she is fierce too. She is writing her own story. She is the author of her own tales. Softly playful styles such as Tatiana and Brigitte are all about the bedroom and allow one to be soft and feminine. While provocatively erotic styles such as Lavinia and Eden feature bondage-inspired strapping, but are still beautifully wearable under any outfit. The fun is in knowing how amazing you look under your clothes…’
Don’t miss this exciting new lingerie brand and collection.
Visit BlueBella on stand 3618 during Fashion Exposed from 25-27 August at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.
For more information, visit fashionexposed.com
Register HERE.
August 14, 2013
Jeannyfe Spary details her personal story from a small child with big dreams in the Philippines to launching her new label Harspa at Fashion Exposed this month
I was constantly bullied during my younger years, even when I reached high school and in my university days, because of how I dress or carry myself. These experiences left me feeling as if there was something wrong with me and I thought that’s why they acted like that towards me. So I keep myself busy inside our family home in the Philippines and spent much time drawing, playing with my toys and dolls with my sister.
I said to myself “I will not let these experiences affect my life.” So I prayed for anyone who bullied me that they will be blessed in their lives and I forgave them for whatever they did towards me, intentionally or unintentionally.
My mum usually cuts the patterns in paper and sewed clothes for me and my sister during occasions growing up, she also sewed curtains for our home. I watched her using the manual paddled SINGER sewing machine. I became very interested in what she created from a very young age. When I turned nine, my father who worked abroad sent me six mini dolls that were four inches tall and had six different hair colours. They had tiny dresses of course, so I began cutting different paper dresses and coloured them individually so I could play dress ups with it. I spent many hours doing it because I enjoyed it a lot. I didn’t find friends really but the closest people in my life are still my family.
On my mum’s side, my cousins and aunties always passed on their out grown clothes and mum was so happy because we could save a lot of money, and she would adjust them to fit my size. So I was able to see what she did to all those dresses and I’m so proud of her hard work and creativity.
I got busy making dresses for my mini dolls and used fabric instead. Then she taught me how to wear 2 inches high heels when I tuned 12 years old. Every time I came home from school, she asked me to practice how to walk straight gracefully with a chin up position, she put books on my head and instructed me to walk straight without dropping them.
When I turned 14, I designed and sewed my first plain pink blouse with piping on the edges of the fabric of my floral printed skirt. I wore them confidently at school but nobody knew that I made them. My father also sent me fabrics from the Middle East. I designed my dresses on it, then my mum sewed it and sometimes I would pay my neighbour, who is a dress maker, to do it for me too. When I saw any of my mums old clothes from when she was young, and I liked the fabric, then I would recycle it by making it into another blouse, skirt or dress. My love for wearing them never ends because I’m the only person who has it and people notice that it’s unique.
There is no university or fashion design school in the Philippines, so I took a Bachelor of Science in Tourism instead where I learned about the culture of different people and how they dress, the fabrics they use and create that are specific to their nation. This developed my eagerness to create unique clothes and express who I am.
I joined a beauty pageant contest from 18-21 years old, just to model different clothes designed by different Filipino designers on stage. But after my studies, I worked to help my sister to university and my brother to school because my father stopped working abroad. So I worked in different offices and traveled to different countries and all along I took in the different styles, and heard famous designer names. YouTube is great because I can see the styles from different designers each season around the world.
I then got married at 26 with my Australian husband. I stopped working for myself for almost 9 years to help build my husband’s painting and decorating business and take good care of our three wonderful girls.
As the days go by, I see myself in my three unique daughters, watching them grow play dress up at home. They talk about shoes, bags and dresses to wear and sometimes draw and colour them. I said to myself “it’s time for me to do what I really love to do”. This time it will be great and even better because I have my three girls who are interested too. It will be good to work together even if they are young because they are so creative. So my mind was set to do it and I told my husband “That this time I really have to do what I love to do!”.
A family friend (Neville Harris) saw my shoes and clothing designs, then after a long discussion and planning on our dining table at home, Harspa Pty Ltd (Stands for Harris & Spary) was registered on April 25, 2013. We decided to join Fashion Exposed 2013 with our few passionately-designed clothes, shoes, bags, wallets & bags from our 2014 collection range.
View the Harspa collection on stand 3806 during Fashion Exposed from 25-27 August at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.
For more information, visit fashionexposed.com
Register HERE.
August 12, 2013
There are constant challenges in the ever-changing fashion marketplace, but this is what the City Club brand thrives on.
Since 1948, City Club have become the specialists at manufacturing, wholesaling and distributing mens pants and shorts.
After 60 years, they are now expanding the business to include tailored styles for younger men by interpreting the mens tailoring trends and weaving it into classic collections with quality and value.
City Club is currently sourcing premium cottons, woolblends, technical polyesters and more to continue offering a complete range of styles and fabrics in men’s pants and shorts.
Don’t miss the new collection of slim-fit tailored styles for younger men, as well as new fabrics for the City’s Club’s classic customer, when they showcase the styles at Fashion Exposed from 25-27 August at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.
Be sure to visit C C A AUSTRALIA PTY LTD on stand 4204.
For more information, visit fashionexposed.com
Register HERE.
August 12, 2013
Fashion and design are universal. They’re also fleeting and fickle.
Working with some of the most renowned designers in the world, Cudworth Enterprises has its fingers firmly on the pulse of the global men’s fashion accessory industry.
Purveyors and wholesalers of distinctive men’s jewellery and accessories, Cudworth Enterprises offers the Australian market an expansive range of products. From sage to savage and from stainless steel to sterling silver, only three words guide them in their selection – WHAT MEN WANT
So where did it all begin? And how did they become Australia’s leading wholesaler in men’s cufflinks and jewellery?
Established in 1918, Cudworth Enterprises was a thriving business when new owners purchased it in 2002. Since then, they have continued to expand into men’s jewellery in both stainless steel and sterling silver.
In that same year, they introduced a collection of leather accessories including men’s bags & wallets. Now Cudworth has stockists all over Australia & New Zealand, France and the UK. Brands include Cudworth Collection, Stainless Steel, Hardware by Cudworth, Savage and they are also the distributors for Lanvin-Paris in neckwear and cufflinks.
Next year will mark their 35th year in the industry and they have contributed to the exciting growth in menswear over the years. Now they can easily say their range competes with international brands and they continue to evolve with their leading edge collections. This is attributed to their design aesthetic, which tends to steer away from the usual trends for something original and fresh.
Cudworth International are currently on tour promoting their 2013 jewellery and leathergood collections. This includes showcasing the range at the Bags & Accessories Fair this month.
The leather collections are usually sourced from India but they are looking into Italian leather for 2014. Stainless Steel for cufflinks and jewellery is commonplace at the Cudworth design studio but they are also working a lot more with IP Plating – a coloured plating for steel – to introduce new colours into the collections rather than raw steel.
Visit Cudworth Enterprises on stand 1720 at the Bags & Accessories Fair co-located with Fashion Exposed from 25-27 August at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.
For more information, visit bagsaccessories.com.au
Register HERE.
August 9, 2013
For a designer responsible in creating the iconic Melbourne label DIZINGOF, entirely without formal design training, Haim Bzezinski is surprisingly modest.
A quiet man, Bzezinski tends to shy away from fashion shows and disposable trends, choosing instead to focus on the garments themselves. It is this focus and creativity which has made Bzezinski in to one of Melbourne’s most sought after independent designers.
Born in Israel, Bzezinski and his three brothers were raised by their mother and their carpenter father. For a time the designer worked in carpentry alongside his father, a skill which he still utilizes today, both as inspiration for his work and in designing the DIZINGOF stores. At a young age Bzezinski was uninterested in fashion, instead though his feel for aesthetics and structure was evident in his first love, architecture.
It was this love of combining style with structure which developed into a natural feel for fashion. After leaving home at 21 to travel the world, Bzezinski finally settled in Melbourne, drawn to its independent fashion scene. It was here that he decided to create not buildings, but clothing as carefully designed and constructed as any modern structure.
Astonishingly self-taught, Bzezinski’s designs owe more to the city environment surrounding him than to the influence of one particular designer or teacher. But though he has excelled in his chosen field Bzezinski has not left his love of architecture behind
Designed by Bzezinski to flatter not only his range, but the surrounding area’s atmosphere, DIZINGOF boutiques are as much a reflection of Bzezinski’s innate sense of style as the clothing within them. Truly it is their designer’s background in carpentry and his appreciation of architectural style which have made DIZINGOF boutiques what they are todayture behind
DIZINGOF over the years has remained committed to utilizing not only local design, but local production. The last twelve years have confirmed that creating pieces in Australia leads to not only a better quality garment, but one which helps support local industry. For summer 2009/10, Dizingof’s newest project is taking the brand to the next level within the wholesale industry and introducing Bzezinski’s signature collections to the world.
We had a quick chat with the Dizingof designer before he showcases the current collection at Fashion Exposed from 25-27 August at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.
What’s the best part about working in the fashion industry?
All of the amazing opportunities that arise to be apart of exciting events, and meeting interesting people.
What inspires you? How does this influence your design/business?
Unique shapes, not only from a fashion environment, but from architectural structures. Luxurious fabrics, beauty and femininity.
Are you working on any special projects/ranges/collections at the moment?
We are starting to resource unique fabrics from all around the world for our upcoming Summer 2014 range.
What kind of materials do you source for your product range? Why?
Fabrics of a unique texture and quality is our motto. As an Australian based manufacture we are very proud of our unique products. Touch our garments, and you will understand.
What can we expect to see when visiting your stand at Fashion Exposed?
Garments of outstanding design and quality. We are known for our uniqueness and versatility.
Don’t miss DIZINGOF on stand 3916 during Fashion Exposed from 25-27 August at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.
For more information, visit fashionexposed.com
Register HERE.
Like Dizingof on Facebook.
August 5, 2013
Established in China in 1992, Marceleofino (parent company of Ausmarc) began as a small workshop harboring only five employees. After years of operation it has become one of China’s leading uniform manufacturers and a prestigious brand.
In a bid to expand to the Australian market, Marceleofino began operating under the name ‘Ausmarc’ in 2011. Behind all the glitz and glamour of the fashion industry lies a world of creativity, competition and passion. It is these things that push them to continue bringing customers the best quality and style.
At Ausmarc, their customers are their inspiration and pride themselves on delivering satisfaction with forefront quality and craftsmanship. To uphold this quality philosophy, they source a diverse range of fabrics to cater for every customer’s need. Ranging from classic suits to casual shirts.
However, if the customer requests something specific, they will endeavour to fulfill the customer’s needs.
Ausmarc are showing the current summer collection along with a new range of suits and accessories at the upcoming Fashion Exposed.
Expect the newest fashion trends along with the best quality and prices. If there’s something specific you have in mind, talk to their team to arrange the right look and feel for your store.
To celebrate Ausmarc’s second year at Melbourne’s Fashion Exposed, they are offering free shipping for orders over $200.
Visit AUSMARC PTY LTD on Stand 4200 during Fashion Exposed from August 25-27 at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.
For more information, visit fashionexposed.com
Register HERE.
March 11, 2013
Online retailing is now a mainstream sales channel with new technology changing daily to meet the needs of the competitive consumer.
Discover how online entrepreneur, Kath Purkis of Le Black Book & Her Fashion Box used regular data analysis and sell-through reports to continually adapt and change her e-tail model to exceed consumer expectations and flourish in a highly competitive market
Kath Purkis top tips:
1. Know your customers – Do your research and know what problem you are solving.
2. Be your brand – Be the face of your brand, have all employees as brand ambassadors & create a positive company culture.
3. Be the trend setter – Set the trends and take a risk, lead the pack and don’t follow the crowd.
4. Minimal clicks mean maximum sales – keep it clean and simple, don’t over-complicate the conversion funnel to sale.
5. Disrupt or be disrupted – Don’t get left behind, take risks and create as opposed to replicate.
February 14, 2013
The face of Australian retail is changing. In fact, it’s not just us. It’s a global retail phenomenon. The integration of online, both e-comm and m-comm with shoppers getting social, there’s so much more to being a retailer today than ever before.
But one traditional, tried and tested tool is visual merchandising. In this digital age, VM is being called upon to re-invigorate the in-store space and attract the online consumer back to bricks-and-mortar.
No longer just a simple window display, VM is a completely physical and personal experience and one that’s super difficult to replicate online. It’s the one place consumers can touch, feel, and see the merchandise up close. And it doesn’t need to cost the earth either. Exciting VM is possible on a budget.
Megan Tregilgas crafts in-store `experiences’ for the modern retailer under Visual Metier. She creates inventive and eye catching windows for some of Australia’s most prominent retailers.
BOOK NOW!
We are thrilled to announce Megan as a key speaker at the Fashion Exposed Business Seminar for the March Sydney event. Megan will share her personal VM insights and tips that are sure to entice your customers and guests during all seasons and occasions.
We had a quick chat with her on why VM is so crucial; what are the key principles of good VM design; and simple tips and tricks we can implement in-store now.
Head to fashionexposedonline.com.au
January 22, 2013
Image source: biography.com
Short, sharp and business focused, the 2013 Fashion Exposed Business Seminars will equip you with the tools of the trade, industry tips, strategy for business success and effective selling techniques that will not only see your business survive, but thrive.
These complimentary seminars will be held in 45 minute sessions within the event covering Trends, Digital, Business and Visual Merchandising.
Seats are limited, so reserve your spot to avoid disappointment.
For more information and to register, visit fashionexposed.com