Editor-at-large Julie Roulston brings FashioNZ readers the very best from her fashion beat, each week…
‘Social’ Season Launch of the Week
Zambesi Spring/Summer 2012-13 "Resortwear with an edge of melancholia"
Imagery: Emma Gleason-Rag Pony
Zambesi hosts a very Social launch, online clothier boohoo comes to New Zealand, things get worse at Fairfax, and thinking Fashion Week(s) with Julie Roulston.
Zambesi invited media and stylists to view its Spring/Summer 2012-13 collection at their Vulcan Lane store (empty now they’ve opened the new flagship at Britomart), and mixed it up by inviting guests to style the collection on models against a photo-ready backdrop.
The most extraordinary thing about this simple and incredibly clever idea, is that the Zambesi crew only came up with it the day before the event.
So far Rag Pony, thread.co.nz, Black Magazine, katherineisawesome, Foureyes and Rouse Magazine – plus several fashion tweeters – have taken up the sensational Social Media opportunity, with treatment ranging from simple tweetpics to a 24-shot Facebook album from Black.
The press release describes the collection as “resortwear with an edge of melancholia.” Look for an unexpected prettiness about the womenswear.
Zambesi’s Sydney store’s lease has expired and it closed on Sunday, but Australian fans will still be able to shop online or at the Melbourne store.
What Recession? Launch of the Week
Boohoo is described as the UK and Europe’s fastest growing
online clothing business
UK online fashion retailer boohoo.com and Beat PR showed good taste and a good budget at their launch at Britomart’s District Dining last Wednesday. There was champagne on arrival and a live guitarist; a superb two-course a la (mini) carte lunch, a generous gift, custom cupcakes and a photobooth to finish.
Described as the UK and Europe’s fastest growing online clothing business, the company was launched in 2006 with three staff and six years on employs 270 to deliver its ‘affordable and trend-led” fashion.
New Zealand shoppers can choose from 8,000 styles for men, woman and teens with prices in NZ Dollars and free shipping, and the added bonus of a NZ-based returns centre.
boohoo Joint Chief Executive Carol Kane talks of “ambitious growth plans” including initiatives to “make the purchasing process as easy as possible for our foreign customers.” Neilson NZ recently counted the number of NZ online shoppers at over 1.6 million (49% of the total population aged 18+) – with 32% of those purchases being clothing, shoes and accessories –
Australasian Social media is being managed by Australian company The Defectors and a twitter feed on a big screen was so successful that at one stage six out of nine people at FREE|STYLE’s table were busy with their phones!
Reality TV update – Sally and Jaime Ridge were in attendance (their cameraman not permitted to film in this instance) and although Jaime is in training for her upcoming bout with The GC’s Rosana Arkle, she was able to enjoy her generous lamb main – protein!
Announcement of Last Week
Alyx Gorman, Editor of Fairfax's thevine.com.au
Image: Liam McKesser
It won’t be news to anyone that Fairfax Australia is to shed 1,900 employees as part of its ‘Fairfax of the Future’ initiatives, announced on 18 June. It’s been said that it was just a matter of time.
But repercussions will be wider, with Sydney Morning Herald jounalist Sebastian Hassett pointing out that newsagents, drivers and printers will suffer too, and freelancers concerned that their work may be taken over by the soon to be ex-staffers.
Fairfax boasts some of Australia’s most experienced fashion writers (Georgina Safe, Jan Breen-Burns) as well as some fascinating and often-hilarious rising stars (Alyx Gorman, Nadine von Cohen). Here’s hoping we will continue to read them – be it in print or online.
– As this column was being published, The editors of the Sydney Morning Herald and the Melbourne Age had announced their resignation from Fairfax Media, with "emotional scenes" reported in the newsrooms
Fashion Weeks of the Week
Hairstylist Richard Kavanagh, pictured with
Natalie Cantell in Sydney at MBFWA 2012
New Zealand Fashion Week trended on twitter a fortnight ago as its first press release of 2012 was issued, noting the then-12 week countdown.
There has been a little disappointment at an inescapable crossover with New York Fashion Week (some Australian media will be forced to choose one of the two events) but stalwarts like M.A.C’s Amber D and blogger Katherine Lowe, who would likely otherwise be at the NY event, won’t miss a day of NZFW.
One kiwi who is going up to New York is everyone’s darling, hairstylist Richard Kavanagh. He is keying Tribune Standard and Nomia, with other shows to be confirmed.
Meantime, Australian designer Charlie Brown is the first designer to be announced as showing at New Zealand Fashion Week. Brown’s is also known for her dramatically designed shows, which have featured some of the worlds most high profile models and talent, including Linda Evangelista, Helena Christiansen, Sophie Dahl, Jerry Hall, Jodie Kidd, Jade Jagger and Lily Cole.
– Julie Roulston