Last year at STYLEAID a new innovation from Aly May (STYLEAID stylist supremo and parade coordinator) closed the parade with a bang! It was an idea that sprang from the desire to showcase some of the emerging talent that was coming through the various design schools here in Perth before the students graduated and to give them the freedom of expression that sometimes gets lost when trying to create and make a commercial range, which is so necessary once the designers get out into the reality of the big wide world.

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The resulting process and the garments chosen for the finale certainly added a new dimension to the STYLEAID parade. Following on from the all white finale from last year, this year’s student concepts and creations are built around the ‘tribe’ theme and focus on the color orange.

This process began 4 months ago when students from the various design colleges were asked to submit applications to be considered for inclusion this year. They each had to create working drawings and an explanation of their interpretation of the theme. This was then judged by 5 industry heavy weights led by Aly May who whittled the 52 applicants down to the 21 who were eventually chosen to construct their garments for the big finale on the night.

Of the 21 designs chosen there will be 16 female garments and 5 male garments that will take to the catwalk to wow the audience with their originality and vision. This is another highlight of the STYLEAID parade because it involves students who have yet to enter into the fashion mainstream and can be free of worrying about the commerciality of their garments and can weave their creativity and artistic aesthetic into their creations.

The completed garments are one of a kind and promise to create a finale like no other and will no doubt bring the crowd to their feet. They have now been photographed and will be incorporated into the STYLEAID magazine and the STYLEAID website.

With STYLEAID now only a couple of weeks away the buzz around town is really building. This year promises to once again showcase all that is great about West Australian fashion and with the continuing involvement of some great young student designers STYLEAID will once again show the depth and breadth of talent that exists here in Perth and who knows, one day one of them may be considered the next Ray Costarella or Timothy Godbold.

Mark Reid, STYLEAID committee Chair

Photo credits
Art direction and Photography: Otilee Lamb
Makeup: Sam Enticknap
Hair: Jody Fiannaca
Assistant: Daniel Njegich
Model: Chris de Boer @ Scene
Designer: Alexander Holst- Central TAFE
Studio: Mira Studios