By Australia Correspondent Samantha Hayes
Auckland designer Kate Sylvester has been showcasing her designs at Australian Fashion Week since 1997.
Three years ago, she upset the Aussies when she adorned her models with war medals.
Today in a Sydney horse sales ring, Sylvester revealed ‘Into the Light’ – her new spring/summer collection, inspired by moths and motocross.
“They both buzz around the lights on summer nights, so to me it’s a perfect match,” Sylvester explains.
She counts Australia as her most important market alongside New Zealand, so the pressure was on to impress.
Along with Stolen Girlfriends Club, Sylvester has bucked a New Zealand no-show trend this year. Labels like World, Zambesi and Trelise Cooper are notably absent. The reason; cost. Putting on a show at fashion week can set you back up to $80,000.
Making numerous appearances on the catwalk is international model of the moment Julia Nobis.
“I have this personal attachment to her because she looks like my sons,” Sylvester laughs.
“It’s always a privilege to be opening a show and they’re so enthusiastic, it’s cute,” says Nobis.
They’ve also wrangled the head of MAC Cosmetics – Terry Barber – from London.
He has worked on shows for Vivienne Westwood and with the late Alexander McQueen. He’s the man behind the smoky “moth-wing” eyes.
“I learnt this shape from Grace Jones,” Barber explains. “She taught me how to pull an eye almost to our hairline.”
Far from the controversy of 1998 when the Aussies turned sour at Sylvester’s use of war medals, judging by the crowd reaction today, New Zealand’s fashion darling is also much-loved across the ditch.
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