The May event will also debut a stand-alone show for adaptive fashion designed for people with disabilities
“People with disabilities deserve more than basics,” said Molly Rogers, of Jam the Label, who will be staging the show with fellow adaptive designer Christina Stephens, under the banner Adaptive Clothing Collective. “It’s super important to show that people with disabilities can look … runway ready,” Rogers said.
Australian fashion week is traditionally a trade event, where designers present samples of their upcoming collections for wholesale buyers and media. The Adaptive Clothing Collective and the Curve Edit willRather than selling the clothes on the runway, showcasing a collection of entirely custom-made garments is about demonstrating proof-of-concept, Rogers explains. “We would love if media, and fashion retailers, can come and learn.
Timothy Hugh Nicol, of fashion brand Nicol and Ford, gives some insight into why designers might avoid size-diverse runways. Committing to it is “committing to double the work”.Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP “We do work backwards, we start with our casting,” said Ford. “It’s the only way we would do it, but it takes more lead time.”
“IMG used to be all about media and buyers,” said Nicol. But now Nicol believes IMG “can see a public interest in less commercial work”.