Here we’re finally showing some of the beautiful images we did for new Aussie designer Kacey Devlin late last year. Having just graduated from the fashion course at UTS, Kacey is set to launch her own label – a very modern, utilitarian collection of mix-and-match pieces able to layer up and make them your own. We had great fun shooting this, photographer Maja Baska captured Samantha from Priscillas in a series of action shots – what we didn’t know beforehand was that Samantha was ballet-trained, and so each leap was perfectly poised with beautiful hands and feet! She was truly amazing.

Also the fashion film was made by Costa Vakas, to encapsulate the collection – using smoke effects and a turntable. Note to self: check for fire alarms before using smoke!

Kacey is set to show her range in March as a finalist in the 8th annual iD International Emerging Designer Awards in Dunedin, New Zealand. So keep an eye out, she is one to watch!

Sportsgirl have announced their new designer collaboration: two capsule collections to be released in selected stores by budding fashion graduates Ana Diaz and Jessica O’Connor. ‘The Graduates’ collections are comprised of a 10-piece range based around the designs of their graduate ranges from 2011. Brisbane designer Ana Diaz’s label Diaz takes a retro angle with 70′s influenced shapes and colours inspired by Giallo cinema from Italy. Jessica O’Connor’s label Outpost focuses on knitwear, playing with traditional knitting techniques and inspired by far away places.

The Graduates collection will be available in store from 2nd March or online from 27th February.

While you’re at it, you can also check out the photo shoot and fashion film we made last year featuring Jessica’s garments.

Congrats girls! And I’m sure we’ll be seeing plenty more to come from these new Australian designers.

The 2011 UTS graduate fashion parade took place last December – a yearly showcase of shining new talent ready to be unleashed onto the world. This is where young fashion designers debut their thesis collections to an audience of industry guests and peers, and a place where the potential stars of Australian fashion are emerging. This year we were most impressed with the ideas being presented, not to mention the quality of production of the garments – many collections would be right at home nestled alongside established designers and take the notion of “student fashion” to a whole new level. Here is our pick of a few names to watch.

Natalia Grzybowski

Amazing digital prints in sculptural shapes made Natalia’s collection a definite standout. Not only was there a beautiful artistry to her interpretation of florals, mirrored and perfectly placed on the garments, but the clean lines of each piece mixed with 3D details gave them a great balance. She finished with a diaphanous sheer gown that was lovely in its softness as a foil to the rest of the collection. In other news, Natalia was just named the recipient of the Australians in New York Fashion Fund scholarship – a most amazing opportunity to intern in New York this year!

Kacey Devlin

Kacey Devlin is set to launch her debut collection ‘Inceptionism’, jumping from studies straight into starting her label. She’s a bit of a dynamo! Based around a draped, layered silhouette with pieces that transform according to the wearer’s interpretation, her aesthetic is thoroughly modern and picks up on an androgynous silhouette. Check back for more on Kacey, as Absorb produced her lookbook and campaign video, which we will be sharing soon!

Matt Dolan

Girly, architectural and a little unsettling is the collection by Matt Dolan, taking reference from fundamentalist religion and bringing out its dark side. Using latex and printing on it, which sounds near impossible, resulted in latex skirts and our favourite – latex trousers! Some very nifty technique was showcased, like here the jumper has 3D looking shapes formed underneath the fabric with bonded foam. Also stay tuned for lookbook and video for Matt Dolan by Absorb.

Danielle Kremer

We love colour! And Danielle Kremer’s collection was a lovely ode to vibrant hue. A very summer-bright collection with pops of fluro and some great graphic style prints. She also used hardware and woven rope overgarments taken from rock climbing attire, and managed a really nice balance between sportswear detail and a quite feminine, contemporary collection. Danielle also won the 2011 NSW Business Chamber Textiles, Clothing and Footwear award, giving her $10,000 to help start her complementary accessories range ‘LIFT’.

We’re envisioning very promising future careers from these graduates: definitely names to keep note of as Australian fashion keeps growing year by year. If students are graduating with this calibre of talent and skill, we are surely in for some fresh new fashion legacies.

Our christmas angel from a recent shoot for Rachel Zuch. By Maja Baska.

We can’t believe how quickly this year passed by, lots of projects, new collaborations and a few competition wins as well! It has been busy and challenging and fun, and we hope to make next year even better. But for now, time for a little recharge before heading back into it all in January. Thankyou to everyone who was involved in Absorb: the makers and collaborators, the tech support behind the scenes, and the readers and watchers who have given their interest and attention. It means so much to have that positive feedback and to be encouraged to keep doing it! So happy and safe holidays and check back in 2012 for some great new stuff: A few things we’ve filmed this year to be released early next year, as well as some big fashion films we’re planning that will be screening at a few select places throughout the year… We’re also in the process of upgrading the website!

Happy 2011! Bring on 2012….

Chiara x

New shoot by Anna Pogossova featuring model Jennifer from Chic. Get a winter vibe happening with a preview at some new-season pieces – we’re all for a bit of man-style action in dreamy pale colours.

Pol Design silk tshirt.

Left: Pol Design blazer. Right: Victoria & Woods blazer, Cylk shirt and pants.

Left: Victoria & Woods shirt. Right: Steele top, Pol Design pants, model’s own boots.

Victoria & Woods blazer, Cylk shirt.

Pol Design blazer and silk tshirt.

CREDITS:

Photographer: Anna Pogossova

Stylist: Chiara Bianchino

Makeup + Hair: Stephanie Gangi

Model: Jennifer @ Chic

Fashion: Cylk, Pol Design, Steele, Victoria & Woods.

Ankle boots have been big for a few seasons now, and with our Aussie climate heading into summer, the short boot still works without you feeling like you’re sweating your legs off. We are Obsessed with the boots coming from label Friend Of Mine, with their metallic detailings and just the right amount of chunkiness. Their Claw Boot is a definite favourite. And that dusty blue hue is the sort of colour you end up not being able to live without. Add a little bit of a summer tan and something floaty and you’re set.

Subfusco heels.

Emma Mulholland crop top and shorts, Sabatini cardigan, Arlecena boots.

An Ode to Noone top, Ginger + Smart skirt, Emma Mulholland skirt worn underneath, Born In June rings and necklaces.

Elliot Ward fear jumpsuit, Lulu Rouge heels.

Lovers + Collaborators top, Gorman shirt worn underneath, Christopher Esber skirt, Lulu Rouge boots, Emma Mulholland necklace, Born In June rings, stylist’s own stockings.

Elliot Ward Fear jacket, Gorman shoes, stylist’s own socks.

Lovers + Collaborators dress, Emma Mulholland skirt, Subfusco heels, Born In June necklace, ring and belt.

CREDITS

Photographer: Rodney Ye

Stylist: Chiara Bianchino

Makeup: Chereine Waddell

Hair: James Nash

Model: Angelique @ EMG

Fashion: An Ode To Noone, Arlecena, Born In June, Christopher Esber, Elliot Ward Fear, Emma Mulholland, Ginger + Smart, Gorman, Lovers + Collaborators, Lulu Rouge, Sabatini, Subfusco

We went along to the Mother + Father AW Press showings the other day and came across this footwear label Soles – and after looking at the mountains of choices on their website promptly fell in love with these Aztec printed boots. The print is in leather, and those tangerine colours are perfect for summer fun in the sun – or to brighten up the rainy summer days we’ve been having.

Take a look at their stuff here.

Elliot Ward Fear dress and shoes.

Ginger + Smart top, MAN necklace.

Left: Elliot Ward Fear dress. Right: Ginger + Smart blazer, MAN necklace.

Christopher Esber jacket.

Elliot Ward Fear skirt, MAN necklace.

Roxanna Zamani dress.

Credits:

Photographer: Anna Pogossova

Stylist: Chiara Bianchino

Makeup + Hair: Chereine Waddell

Model: Emilia @ Chadwick Models

Fashion: Elliot Ward Fear, Ginger + Smart, Roxanna Zamani, Christopher Esber, MAN.

What happens when you put Terry Richardson in a room with a stylist, a whole bunch of socks and creative director Jen Brill? This sounds like the beginning of some dirty story but no, the result of this is a very fun and colourful campaign shoot for Swedish label Happy Socks! The project has brought together a bunch of up and coming New York talents in music, fashion and film to showcase the Happy Socks range styled up as jumpers, pants, even bras. Who knew a sock could have so many applications? We love the outcome!

How COOL are these platform brogues by Kobe Husk? We just used them on a shoot today and had to share some Friday footwear love. They are a pale mint green/grey and this odd mix of dorky and cute and desirable. Kobe Husk are a new footwear label based in Sydney and their AW2012 range is really nice – a base of key styles in so many colours and textures. We have our eye on the zebra ponyhair boots..

Karen Neilsen one-piece, mesh dress and fur stole handmade by stylist, Asos boots, model’s own sunglasses.

This is a recent test shoot we did with photographer Anna Pogossova. We had lovely Phoebe on board, represented by Chadwicks, and she was a delight all day! The feel for this shoot was a sort of hyper-colour retro, using some amazing pieces from Estate of Mind, a fantastic boutique in Surry Hills carrying emerging Australian designers – see credits attached.

Emma Mulholland @ +ESTATEofMIND cropped jacket and pants, stylist’s own backpack and sunglasses, model’s own boots.

Left: Emma Mulholland @ +ESTATEofMIND cropped jacket and pants, stylist’s sunglasses, model’s own boots. Right: Karen Neilsen one-piece, vintage raincoat, +ESTATEofMIND turban.

Emma Mulholland @ +ESTATEofMIND shirt, Tight Tigers @ +ESTATEofMIND shorts, Lulu Rouge boots, Stylist’s own vintage Armani sunglasses and handmade fur stole.

Right: Karen Neilsen one-piece, vintage raincoat, +ESTATEofMIND turban.

Emma Mulholland @ +ESTATEofMIND shirt, Stylist’s own vintage Armani sunglasses.

Photographer: Anna Pogossova

Stylist: Chiara Bianchino

Makeup: Chereine Waddell

Hair: Doran Lu

Model: Phoebe @ Chadwicks

Thanks to Sylvie at +ESTATEofMIND.

Last week we went along to Luxe Studios for the Door 121 press day, and what a lovely showing it was! Viewing the winter season ranges for next year, there were some definite standouts to keep an eye on as well as some great footwear and accessories collections. Strong colours for next winter seen in many collections are jewel tones of dark red and green and a return to mustard yellow as a highlight hue. Victoria + Woods had some very covetable knits and leather skirts while jewellery label MAN has moved on from black and white to deep purple and that mustard, adding in crystal pieces to their knotted rope necklaces. We also love Pol Design – they keep coming up with more great knits in yummy speckled weaves.

And the shoes. If you didn’t know, shoes are our weakness and Door 121 is not helping remedy this! Lulu Rouge are doing editorial-worthy heels and boots – check out the blue booties we have already styled in a shoot. A couple of newer labels to look out for doing lovely things with leather are Sole Society and Kobe Husk, and at binge-worthy prices too.

A new label we were introduced to blew us away with its charm and environmental angle: Karmatique features pretty sheer skirts and blouses and the cutest lingerie sets. And what was really sweet was the gift of a pair of cotton embroidered knickers in recycled cardboard box given with sustainability in mind. Organic just got ultra pretty.

Things have been busy lately doing a bunch of new shoots for ourselves and a few others. Here are a few quick pics behind the scenes etc. The results of each will be unveiled over this month and next.

We shot model Emilia @ Chadwicks in this scultpural dress by Roxanna Zamani.

These Elliot Ward Fear wedges made her the tallest girl on earth! Emilia was such a darling to work with too.

Another shoot with photographer Anna Pogossova. Model Phoebe @ Chadwicks was old school cool with a touch (or more) of hypercolour.

Setting up stuff for a very elaborate submission shoot.

so. much. stuff.

On set doing a fashion film and lookbook shoot for new designer Kacey Devlin. Sammie @ Priscillas was suspended off the floor and spinning around – can’t wait to show the finished video!

There are lots of other new projects coming up! If you’re looking for some collaboration opportunities or would like to assist on a shoot, get in touch! New ideas are excellent and a good assistant is like gold. x

Monster Children is a magazine/gallery/website that plays between the lines of surfer and skate culture, fashion, photography, and just generally cool stuff. This year they held their first ever photography competition to a huge response from amateur and professional photographers alike. Out of the different categories: girls, travel, action, music and lifestyle emerged some fantastic images, and the student section was a definite standout.

And so we’re proud to say our amazing collaborator Mark Trzopek won Girls! This is his winning image above, of his girlfriend and muse Holly. Mark has been taking beautiful pictures both here and overseas, as well as working in graphic design. We’ve pulled a few more of his images from his website trippin-out, go have a wander over and be immersed in a world of weekend wanderings, dreamy Byron Bay and hazy polaroids. x

You can buy the Monster Children Photo Annual from next week, keep an eye out at the newsagent.

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