tuhi international.: Sydney Fashion Week

Day two of Sydney Fashion Week kicked off with a bang! After a double shot of fashion week's life blood and a ham & cheese croissant, the novelty of day one had worn off & I was ready to see some serious talent.

Photo by Macushla Burke

Rachel Gilbert set the pace for the day and reminded me what fashion shows were all about- great garments, sexy models, a thumping soundtrack and most importantly, a point of difference. Her show was complimented with a solo violinist who reinterpreted versions of hip hop tracks by Kanye West, Nas and Fat Joe. It was a nice contrast to the elegant designed clothing. With the use of green, yellow, sequins, ruffles, evening gowns & shoulder pads- I was impressed with how she tied everything together. As a result her show set the bar very high for shows to follow.

Two off-site meetings during the day reminded me that creative fashion isn't just about runway shows. Down a few back alleys and through a large red barn style door brought us to the Melbourne Metal Collective made up of six jewellery designers. Five labels which challenged my appreciation for fashion with the use of healing crystals, leathers, feathers and even human teeth!

Next stop- Graz Mulchay, who previously designed for Ksubi Eyewear, talked us through his latest solo eyewear collection. Somehow, the catch up ended with me being photographed with a monkey mask. I must give props to Graz for being the only guy I know that can rock an Akubra hat, an iconic Australian head gear.

It was refreshing to see more designers use the space more constructively with additional props, lighting and displays to help create an environment and experience at each show including Nookie & Sara Phillips.