INTERNATIONAL fashionistas gathered in Noosa on Tuesday 10 May to swap tips and tricks of the trade.
The Sheraton Noosa in collaboration with Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and The Australia Federal Government hosted the Australian Awards which are part of a short course delivered by QUT.
The short course is funded by the Federal Government and consists of 25 women from Indonesia who are currently studying International Fashion Business.
QUT School of Fashion lecturer Carla van Lunn said the short course was designed to build cultural and business-to-business links in fashion and textiles between Australia and Indonesia.
“The two-week course aims to spearhead a ‘Bondi Bali’ connection as Australia and Indonesia both enjoy warm weather, plenty of coastline and creativity to tap into the global resort fashion market,” she said.
“Indonesia’s rich textile tradition and industry has enormous international market potential.”
Maxine McMaster, director of local Hastings Street store Toscani, was invited as the guest speaker because of her extensive experience and ties to Indonesia.
Maxine is invited by the British Fashion Council each year to attend Jakarta Fashion Week and select five fashion designers who show talent, passion and originality to travel to London and participate in a three-week intensive mentoring course with the Centre of Fashion Enterprise.
Having been in business in Hastings Street for over 25 years, QUT approached Maxine to discuss the high-end coastal fashion market and boutique retail environment in Noosa and throughout Australia.
She touched on subjects from buying and retailing in the international fashion market, competition, strengths and weaknesses of Indonesian manufacturing and our “laid back sophisticated” way of dressing here in Noosa.
Maxine’s daughter Erin then spoke about the influence of social media and e-commerce and the effects on bricks and mortar retail. She also shared her AW 16/17 trend insights from their recent trip to New York Fashion Week where lace-up detail, denim and resort wear was showcased throughout designer collection.
