Margie Maccoll
New York is calling for 20-year-old Noosa fashion designer Teddy McRitchie who has acquired a spot for his designs to be shown on the Times Square Runway during New York Fashion Week but time is running out to book his flights and he is asking the community for some financial help to get there.
Teddy received a grant from Noosa Council through the Regional Arts Development Fund to have his designs shown in New York Fashion Week in September.
Working with Mind Your Fashion, a not-for-profit organisation that promotes mental health in fashion and is an Australian partner of Times Square Fashion Week, Teddy has has secured a place on the Times Square Runway.
The experience will enable Teddy to present his collection in Times Square where they can be seen by fashion insiders, buyers, retailers, press, celebrities and models. It will also allow him to attend other fashion shows and see the latest collections come down the runway.
Teddy aims to take to New York about eight items from his collection titled ‘Kaleidoscope’ which was released last year at Brisbane Fashion Festival and is made from recycled bike tubes and heat-distorted organza.
“I released my collection in King George Square (in Brisbane) and got lots of exposure and press, but New York is a big step,” he said.
“It’s an amazing opportunity.”
Items from Teddy’s collection have also graced the catwalk in Noosa when it was on show at last year’s Noosa Biosphere Gala.
Teddy began his designing career by creating wearable art while a high school student, entering them into the wearable art section at the Body Art Festival in Cooroy.
There his designs captured the attention of representatives of the Australian Wearable Art Festival and in 2019 his design at the national festival won the best student award.
Covid put a stop to festivals for two years but on its return Teddy again entered the Australian Wearable Art Festival receiving an award for Best Headpiece for his Queen Bee entry, that was inspired by bees – the decline of the bee population and the importance of bees to the whole world.
Teddy is working hard to raise about $3500-4000 for his US trip but needs to be in New York in the second week of September and time is running out, so he set up a gofundme page hoping the community will back him.
“I’m working in hospitality in Hastings Street. I’m doing lots of things to make my dream happen,” he said.
If you can help Teddy get to the New York Fashion Week donate at www.gofundme.com/f/help-get-teddy-to-new-york-fashion-week
