Meet The Designers

Fashion Exposed Melbourne 2011

Introducing the fashion designer, the name behind the label. Find out about their lives, inspirations and their achievements that have brought them here today.

	Andrea Hamblin: Zatini Stand 1908 As teenagers, Andrea Hamblin and her identical twin Nicole loved making clothes. They had the perfect in house models: their small sisters Brooke and Jade – also identical twins. “Pretty unusual to have two lots in one family,” laughs Andrea. Even rarer was the creativity the quartet shared and now lavish on their jewellery label, Zatini. Read full designer profile
	Sabrina De Kauwe: La Maiy Stand 4334 How mortifying to be under-dressed at a swish party. Most adults have experienced that social calamity, but who spares a thought for youngsters in the same fix? Sabrina De Kauwe does. “I hate to go to a dressy function and see kids in totally unsuitable clothes such as cargo pants and jeans that make them feel out of place,” she says. Read full designer profile
	Rachel Bland: Lorissa Stand 3936 Rachel Bland is still pinching herself. “I thought I’d have to wait years for an opportunity like this. It was so unexpected and I’m so thankful,” says the young Melbourne designer. The recent break came when Andrew and Wendy Robinson, founders of plus-size label, Lorissa, appointed Rachel to a design role that would cater to a much-neglected sector. Read full designer profile
	Danielle Gileno and Sinthia Faraj: Kitchy Ku / Urban Alibi Stand 4308 Curvy skirts and wrap dresses. Fur boleros and sleek zippered jackets. Decorative knits and delicate blouses. That’s just a glimpse of the Autumn/Winter 2012 collections of Kitchy Ku and Urban Alibi, the labels launched in 2006 and 2007 respectively by Melbourne designer Danielle Gileno and her business partner, Sinthia Faraj. Read full designer profile
	Haim Bzezinski: Dizingof Stand 4018 “I did all that by hand - very time-consuming,” says Haim Bzezinski indicating the papier mache wall treatments at his Dizingof store at the QV Building in Melbourne’s CBD. Equally striking are the interiors of the Dizingof stores in Harbourtown, Docklands and Brunswick St, Fitzroy. Like the day and eveningwear confections on the racks, all three stores have been designed by the multi-talented phenomenon who has attracted an avid following at home and abroad. Read full designer profile
	Willows in Bloom: Serbian splendour Stand 2304 When the former Kate Middleton attended Prince William’s passing out parade at Sandhurst in 2006, she wore a pair of exquisite hand-made leather gloves by Serbian accessories designer Evica Milovanov-Penezic. It was a small, but potent reminder that Serbia is rich in design talent and craftsmanship, and there will be a much larger one at Fashion Exposed when new Melbourne online boutique, Willows in Bloom, presents seven leading labels from the southeast European country. Read full designer profile
	Desti Saint Stand 2022 Desti Saint’s hand-etched goatskin clutches with their Double Happiness jade medallions and fringed leather tassels are to die for. What stunning evening bags. And so intriguing. What shaped the talent behind that artful blend of East and West, and - you have to ask – is that her real name? “I used to be Desti Russell, then I married a Saint,” laughs the Singapore-based designer whose label will have its Australian debut at Fashion Exposed. Read full designer profile
	Suzie Rose Vella: Pizzuto/Pink Sparrow Stand 3426 Aphrodite may be the title of Suzie Rose Vella’s 2012 trans-seasonal collection for her boutique label Pizzuto, but she had Britain’s hot new royal, the Duchess of Cambridge, firmly in mind when she created the red carpet finery. “I was inspired by Kate’s classic elegance,” says the Sydney designer who has lavished her considerable skills on an array of luxurious silk cocktail dresses and evening gowns that feature exclusive prints by leading textile design house, Karolina York. Read full designer profile
	Churlya Wurfel: VDS Fashion Stand 4136 In May, Churlya Wurfel was thrilled to see one her labels get maximum exposure on prime time TV – especially on the trimmed-down curves of winning contestant Emma Duncan. “Our Scala dresses were chosen for the finale of The Biggest Loser on Channel 10,” says the vivacious talent behind family-owned Sydney company, VDS Fashion. “We’ve also dressed Miss World contestants and have been chosen for the current Miss Cosmo China contest – lots of bling for that one! I design about 10 per cent of our collections and our design team does the rest.” Read full designer profile
	Rosemary Holstein: The Velvet Attic Stand 4318 No two garments in The Velvet Attic are identical in the way prints and colours are combined, but there’s no mistaking the label sold from Port Douglas to Devon, UK. The silk chiffon and lace dresses and tops exude that ultra-feminine, fragile look adored by romantics. There are plenty of them, assures the Sydney label’s founder/designer Rosemary Holstein. “The Velvet Attic has done well since its commercial launch in 2007 and many customers return to add pieces to their collection,” she says. Read full designer profile
	Yiren Wu: Logic & Emotions Stand 4218 In August, Yiren Wu will open his first store in classy Melbourne retail strip, High St, Armadale. It will be a big step for the 29-year-old designer who launched his women’s label Logic & Emotions in 2009. “Those two years have been tough for the fashion industry, but I’ve decided retailing is right for building my brand image,” says Yiren. Devotees of his chic collections would agree. With their fine fabrics and craftsmanship, they’re the sort of clothes that invite hands on appreciation. Read full designer profile
	Ashleigh Elizabeth Hamilton Stand 4024 Where do you find that perfect dress for the races, a wedding or swish dinner party? Ashleigh Elizabeth Hamilton confesses she was stumped. “I couldn’t find anything I liked. Everything was too groovy, too short or designed for the older woman, so I decided to do it myself,” says the enterprising Brisbane-based 25-year-old who will launch her eponymous label at Fashion Exposed. Read full designer profile
	Catherine Manuell: Catherine Manuell Design Stand 2400 “We have digitally printed poppies and hydrangeas; cherries, strawberries and tomatoes in our new collection – all very colourful for the new season,” says Catherine Manuell, the dynamic Melbourne designer who transformed luggage into a fashion statement with wide international appeal. Her striking use of colour, prints and textiles, from faux reptile leathers to silk velvet, had its origins in a different area of design. “I started with millinery,” says Catherine, who was in her early 20s and fresh from a stint from London, when she began making the fetching headgear that was soon selling in major outlets including Sportsgirl, David Jones and Witchery. Read full designer profile
	Jackki Ngo – M’Agapi Stand 4419 There were high expectations for Jackki Ngo. The family business? Certainly not! University and a profession was the way to go, decided her Vietnamese-born parents. “They were clothing manufacturers and eventually it all caught up with me,” says the Melbourne designer. “I did courses in pattern-making and garment construction, and knew I had to do fashion.” The passion has become solid reality with her label M’ Agapi, which will have its official launch at Fashion Exposed. “My husband Bill chose the name,” says Jackki. “He’s Greek and ‘m’agapi’ means ‘with love’ in Greek.” Read full designer profile
	Kathy Subic – Zeega Stand 3518 Two years ago, Kathy Subic created a women’s collection “just to test the market.” Not surprisingly, it went down a treat. The clothes, in pure natural fabrics were beautifully made, down to hand-stitched buttons and the styles were classic and flattering. Everything about that first Zeega collection suggested a veteran pro. The impression was accurate. “I’ve been in fashion for more than 35 years,” says the designer whose skills, including pattern-making, were in high demand during the era that produced icons such as Norma Tullo, Prue Acton and Adele Palmer. Read full designer profile
	Lauren Ferry – Oktoberdee Stand 1908 The quirky brooches, necklaces and collar pieces; the inventive neckwear including that clever silk and leather hybrid, the Cravelle – Lauren Ferry is never short of a creative brainstorm for her label, Okt-Ober Dee, though finally, she has put on the breaks. “With so many products, I felt my brand was getting a bit confusing for consumers, so I’ll be showing only handbags at Fashion Exposed,” says the 29-year-old Geelong designer who trained in industrial design at RMIT. The bags, in Italian leather with contrast detail in eye-catching prints, are her main line and their popularity has grown steadily since she launched Okt-Ober Dee in 2005. Read full designer profile
	Milena Zuliani - Milena Zu Stand 2408 As a girl, Milena Zuliani loved knitting and crochet. Years later, she was astonished to discover a community in eastern Bali which used crochet for making copper baskets – a craft originally brought to the Indonesian island by Indian traders. Milena swiftly recognised the basket-makers’ potential: the perfect artisans to assist her in her painstaking work. “They were hesitant as first, but they mastered my techniques and have been working with me ever since,” says the Bali-based Italian jewellery designer whose hand-crafted mesh creations have won her a wide international following. Read full designer profile
	Lauren Roberts - L'S Design Stand 2534 When Lauren Roberts began designing jewellery eight years ago, she soon had an eager response from boutiques, though her output was modest. "My studies got in the way; I was still at high school," she explains. In January 2010, the now 24-year-old Melbourne wunderkind was finally able to devote herself to her passion and launched her label, L's Design. Her collections remain limited, but that's because each piece is handcrafted and unique. Read full designer profile
	Terry Jones & Rachael Henderson - MerinoSnug Stand 4832 To Australia's woolgrowers and garment industry, Terry Jones is a hero: the Victorian knitwear pro who has long championed Australian wool and refused to manufacture offshore. And to numerous lovers of quality classic knitwear for men and women, his label, MerinoSnug, is a wardrobe staple. Now a new direction at the long established Seaford-based family company is bound to add further cachet to MerinoSnug at home and abroad. "We'll be presenting our first trends-focused collection at Fashion Exposed," says Terry's co-designer Rachael Henderson, who also looks after sales, marketing and branding. Read full designer profile
	Amanda Fox - Dames & Divas Stand 2514 The original owners of the vintage silk kimonos collected by Amanda Fox, couldn't have imagined in their wildest fantasies how their garvments would eventually be transformed. Wedges and ballet flats, bags and hair accessories, jewellery ranging from bracelets and brooches to necklaces and rings – all feature the exquisite Japanese silks. "Everything in my limited edition kimono range, Veisha, is handmade," says Amanda, who launched Dames & Divas in Perth in April 2009 and moved to Melbourne ("my favourite city") two weeks later. Read full designer profile
	Jessica Russ - Jessica T Stand 2016 Who would be daring enough to blend Ancient Egypt and the Industrial Revolution for a launch collection that offers jewellery, handbags, wallets, scarves, hats, hair accessories and footwear to boot? Brisbane's Jessica Russ has the nerve – and the talent to pull it off with exceptional style in Antiquare in Giza, the debut collection for her new label, Jessica T. "I've always been fascinated by the exquisite craftsmanship and decadence of the ancient Egyptians, and have juxtaposed that influence with the vintage feel of early industrial innovations such as telephones and typewriters," explains the 26-year-old designer. Read full designer profile
	Khim Gan-Dean - Kimik Stand 2826 Like numerous university students, Khim Gan-Dean had a part-time job. "Friday nights and Saturday mornings at Sportsgirl," she recalls. It didn't end there for the Malaysian-born Monash University economics graduate. She became a PA at the chain's head office in Melbourne, moved into stock control and then became a fashion buyer – first for Sportsgirl, then Myer and Daimaru. For almost two decades, Khim bought for almost every category of women's fashion – Australian and international labels - then in 2004, started her own product development company. Three years ago, it spawned a whole new career. Read full designer profile