Tucked away in 1000£ Bend is the Melbourne Spring Fashion Week Emerging Designers series’ RMIT Student Exhibition. A dynamic space that provides an alternative platform for showcasing fashion, escaping the confines of a runway or lookbook.

 

Here, there are “no models, just an idea.”

 

 

With 17 students on exhibition, the space has been transformed into a stage of diverse ideas curated by the helping hand of Moth Designs. The exhibition demonstrates the exceptional strength and character of the current emerging fashion talent in Australia.

 

The array of mixed media installations on show offers a different perspective towards fashion design. As one exhibiting student Cadia Belante pointed out, “everyone finds their own way to interpret fashion.”

 

 

Cadia’s display deals with rejuvenating used sleeping bags into a sustainable, renewable fashion piece. Retaining the integrated elements of the sleeping bag such as toggles and zippers, she has transformed the mundane item into an innovative vision.

 

“Obsessed with the excess,” Cadia states when questioned on her concept. The pieces not only embrace the eco-friendly fashion movement but also present themselves with an explosion of on-trend Spring/Summer patterns and colours.

 

 

The highly conceptualized ideas don’t stop there. Exhibitions range from Cryptic Species – a range of silicone and pool table felt dresses that mimic the silhouette of stingrays and underwater creatures – to Luxe: ‘Live’ which explores the art and design of footwear.

 

Another standout exhibit is Danielle Vidoni’s Skin which utelises latex and silk crepe de chine, which explores the raw elements of the female figure.

 

“There is a truth in the naked female body that is often lost beneath a layer of cloth.”

 

Performance pieces such as FFFAAABBBUUULLLOOOUUUSS and architectural works such as a small model bedroom constructed in the center of the space also draws the creative eye. Exploring the sense of homely comfort and security that clothes can provide, the model bedroom acts as an analogy to the simple act of dressing oneself.

 

It’s clear from seeing the wide range of displayed works that a new wave of innovative design is emerging from our local students.

 

Undoubtedly, there are exciting times ahead the local fashion industry.

 

Head down to 1000£ Bend at 361 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne CBD to see the Student Exhibition. Open between 10am till 6pm everyday until the 9th of September, free entry.

About The Author

Darby-Perrin Larner

Darby-Perrin Larner writes about clothes, people paid to pose and designers. Once he finished high school, he packed his bags and moved to Melbourne in pursuit of something different. Now he juggles university, contributing to Couturing.com and his side project, DASH. Darby digs fashion, music from A-trak to Zee Avi, and has an expensive film habit.

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