Da Cruz’s collection oozed femininity, sophistication and softness through her masterful use of delicate fabrics such as chiffon, lace and silk. These materials were all hand dyed using natural products to create the wonderful palette of dusty pastels. Her inspiration came from an image of a deteriorating wall... Read more >>

Long hours, dreadful pay, no superannuation, definitely no annual leave and extremely uncomfortable conditions. This is the work day reality of most workers who make the clothes we wear. It’s been debated for many years; the ethics of outsourcing production to less developed countries in order to save a buck. Some of these factories can operate as sweatshops.
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The chances are you don’t feel guilty when you pick up a bargain Prada handbag in Thailand, only glee as you imagine showing it off to envious friends and relatives at home.  Of course it’s not the real thing. And in some indirect way you know you’ve just ‘stolen’ from the Prada family themselves. So what, you think, it’s a multimillion dollar company, they aren’t losing anything.  But what makes this any different to downloading music illegally? Read more >>

As the old masters of fashion begin to step down from their roles, a rift has opened for a new generation of young designers. Gone are the days of pleating, folding and draping rules- these designers are willing to take risks and bend the rules to change the face of fashion as we know. And no one does this more so then Leanne Dempsey.
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A sunny Saturday morning stroll through the markets in Sydney's seaside suburb of Manly is enjoyable in itself, but stumbling across the treasure trove of sartorial goodness to be found in the "Maske" stall will undoubtedly make your day just that much more exciting. Exaggerated frills, quirky prints and surprising colours and shapes abound, Maske is full of gorgeous garments just waiting to be unveiled. Read more >>

Elementree is a lifestyle streetwear label, based locally in Perth, and created by the graphic designers from Treehouse Collective. Hand-printed designs for guys and girls, made and targeted towards a youth market is the concept behind the label. Elementree is a business stemming from a passion for design, and a combined love in street art, photography and music. Read more >>

Let’s face it - the biggest impediment between the youth and fashion is finance. Between uni and paying the rent, you won’t find me at Gucci on King. But do dollars really equal fabulous? I’m off to the fashion capital of Australia to find out...Read more >>

Award winning fashion graduate and one of Western Australia’s most prominent fashion designers Leanne Lim is stepping out in style this summer and she is one to watch.  If you are looking for something unique to wear to a special occasion then her fashion line is destined to turn your head. Read more >>

“Once we’ve seen all the second hand shops in Guildford there’s not much else to do”, well do not fear, Storia is here. ‘Storia’ – Spanish for ‘Story’- is a fitting name for the newly opened ‘merchant of wares and stories’, situated on James Street in Guildford- one of the first established streets in Western Australia.  The name, as described by the shop’s mission ‘was born from a passion of knowing the whole story, the real story…and to ask whether the balance was right.’ Read more >>

Looking and feeling fashionable on the beach or by the pool is always something I struggle with and I’m sure I’m not alone.  Well, not for much longer girls! Bernice Sara swim and resort wear provides a glamorous and refreshing take on designer swim and resort wear.  Read more >>

Sam Donaldson, at the young age of nineteen years, is a creative, talented designer soon to emerge on the fashion scene. He currently studies Fashion Design at Bentley TAFE where he is venturing into his final year in 2011.  I’m talking to Sam while he is working tirelessly finishing his garments for his year-end portfolio. He is exhausted, but is determined to put the finishing touches on his collection.

When Sam tells me about the course, he says it has been a tough two years and if it weren’t for his life long dream to become a designer, he would have dropped out by now. He puts this down to his difficulty with keeping his confidence up in an industry where female and gay designers are the prominent suppliers for the industry world wide. He confirms convictions that females communicate on a completely different level to straight males.

“[You] definitely have to watch what you say,” he says, “it’s definitely about learning the charms of getting along with women on a seven day basis” Read more >>

La Belle by Claire is a West Australian jewellery and headdress designer who is extremely passionate about her job. Claire prides herself on her unique range. Each piece is handmade and has a distinctly different design making it special. Read more >>

Designer Ebony Harding is the designer behind collection Little Gracie. Her collections are vintage styles from times gone by, generations of heartfelt tradition, passion, appreciation based on treasures, gifts and talents shared and handed down by her family. Read more >>

When asked to interview Belle Bijoux it was something I couldn’t say no to.  Like Belle, I have a love for leather accessories, especially handbags! Belle is the creative genius behind luxury leather accessory label, Belle Bijoux.  The distinctive signature lacing featured on Belle Bijoux designs is an exclusive trademark which makes it so recognisable.  Her designs have been worn by the likes of Cate Blanchett, Jennifer Hawkins and Jessica Simpson, to name a few. Belles designs have featured in high end magazines such as Grazia, Marie Claire and Harper’s Bazaar. Belles latest collection, Carmen, is inspired by the late, great Carmen Miranda. Read more >>

Launching Betty Sugar on Perth’s fashion-forward set at FORM Gallery on Friday November 5, Betty Tran has once again shown herself to be an unstoppable force in the fashion industry.

Tucked away down an alleyway in King Street, a red carpet promised a very exciting beginning to the launch of Betty Sugar’s 2010 Summer Collection, aptly named Temptation. Beyond the gallery doors a fashion-forward crowd mingled over wine and gathered around eye candy in the shape of toned and tanned male models serving sweets. All I can say is I pitied the curious on-lookers who had to watch it all from the other side of the gallery doors. Read more >>

Located inside and towards the back of Urban Records in Leederville, lies Urban Depot. Composed of mainly clothing and jewellery, Urban Depot sells something for everyone. The store stocks both women’s and menswear, giving both genders the chance to dress to impress. However, most of the clothes sold in the store are aimed towards the ladies. The women’s wear section in the store sports some nice clothes, with trendy jackets and dresses... Read more >>

I’ve always been fascinated by why people dress the way they do, but never thought beyond to what point we start caring more deeply about what we put on our back. I recently came across a rather odd fashion partnership on my public transport journey to university. A young girl sat preoccupied with her colouring-in book, a My Little Pony pencil case resting on her frilly pink dress. Her outfit was completed with a girly cardigan, black party shoes and pearls on each wrist. Read more >>

Feminine fashion doesn’t get any sexier and sophisticated than styles from the 1940s and ‘50s and with everything from lingerie to ‘housewife’ dresses and pencil skirts, Burlesque Baby is the place to visit looking for something both feminine and flirty. With an eye-catching exterior in candy pink and a gorgeous window display it’s hard to walk past without ducking in to see what new stock they’ve got in. Inside, with its boutique look and feel and walls. Read more >>

The phrase ‘vintage clothing’ often conjures up images of bad clothes left over from the eighties; the outfits your parents wore that you cringe at in old photos. But it’s not always the case. Around Perth lie a few stores which stock hidden gems from the past and redefine the term ‘vintage.’ Located down the eastern end of the New Arcade off Rockeby Road in Subiaco lies the store Lucy in Disguise. Read more >>

The internet, a gateway to endless possibilities, is quickly emerging as a quick fix for every shopping need. In just seconds you can be shopping in France, America, Australia, and everywhere across the globe... Read more >>

Perth has long stood in the shadow of all things in Australian fashion. Sydney and Melbourne have routinely taken the limelight in fashion weeks and designer showcases across the country while Perth is slowly forgotten. Until recently... Read more >>