Australia’s most fashionable faces have once again descended on Sydney’s Carriageworks as Afterpay Australian Fashion Week returns for 2023 this week. Getting the party started, Lesleigh Jermanus hosted her debut runway show for Alemais.
With references ranging from dreams, pure imagination and “how bees see flowers” to Return to Oz and David Bowie, the show was immediately electric. The brand – which has become a fast favourite for its party dresses and elegant silk sets – is just three years old but the Resort ’24 collection cements its status in the Australian industry.
As the roaring 2020s continue to deliver a longing for the return to glamour in our wardrobes, there is a mood of splendour taking over new-season collections. And Alemais is in on the fun. “As a child I was enthralled by how dark and mystical the story [Return to Oz] was. Watching it again as an adult I was so inspired by the opulent costumes, set and soundtrack,” Jermanus says.
Models dripping in sequins, swathed in white fringe and radiating glamour courtesy of high-shine metallic fabrics and caped silhouettes sauntered down the catwalk alongside quintessential printed styles. Those familiar with the label will know statement sleeves are a signature – but this season brings a new dimension to shoulders across dresses and tailoring. Highlighter-hued shoes grounded hems high and low. Listing the rest of the colour palette would be akin to reciting the rainbow, but a powerful feminine energy united shades that spanned soft pinks to midnight blues.
Nervous, excited and slightly terrified. This is how Jermanus described her emotions in the lead up to the show. You wouldn’t know it from the looks that confidently flooded the catwalk.
“I never underestimate the power of collaboration and an incredible team,” Jermanus says. “Being able to invest in local talent and grow our team has been one of the most rewarding experiences of the past three years.” Alemais called upon Australian-born, Paris-based stylist, costume designer and creative director Catherine Baba – a fellow colour lover – to style the show. Jermanus also worked with a number of local artists to create printwork for the Resort ’24 collection: Jedda Daisy Culley, Meagan Boyd and Yvan Guillo’s vibrant graphics detail tops, skirts, tailoring and dresses this season.
The soundtrack, which was curated in collaboration with Gary Sinclair from Tactile Music, added to the dreamlike experience at the show. And while we don’t necessarily hear sound in our dreams, there were elements that offered a glimpse into what our psyche might experience: surreal, unexpected, fragmented, discombobulating, familiar yet not.
Alemais is committed to making more sustainable choices and employing ethical practices each season, hence the new collection embraces low-impact materials. Half of the styles are made from organic cotton, 100 per cent of the prints are created using a digital technique that reduces water and waste, and a capsule range is crafted from orange fibre, a material made using Sicilian citrus juice by-products. The Resort ’24 collection will be available to shop via the brand’s website and at stockists, including The Iconic and David Jones later this year.
Afterpay Australian Fashion Week runs until May 19.
www.aafw.com.au
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