Akira’s work has been embraced by the Australian arts sector and celebrated by influential fashion critics from The New York Times and US Vogue. His designs have been exhibited at domestic and international art galleries.

In 2007 Akira was awarded the inaugural Australian Fashion Laureate Award for his contribution to the Australian Fashion Industry. In 2006 Akira received the Award for Fashion Excellence; 2005 he was honoured by Australia Post and his image appeared on an ‘Australian Legend’ commemorative postage stamp; 2005 he was awarded Prix De Marie Claire Best Australian Designer; in 1999 Akira was named Designer of the Year and Womenswear Designer of the Year at the Australian Fashion Industry Awards.

Designer Name: Akira Isogawa
Address: Suite 5, Level 1, 2 – 12 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills Sydney NSW 2010 Australia
Phone: (02) 9212 1670
Website: www.akira.com.au

Designer Name: Alex Perry
Address: Level 5, Strand Arcade. 412 -414 George St Sydney NSW 2000 Australia.
Phone: 02 9233 6555
Website: www.alexperry.com.au

With a compellingly modern and unaffected approach to fashion, ANT!PODiUM has honed in on a previously unfilled niche; dishing up versatile, wearable and contemporary clothes for the cream of fashion retailers. By appealing to an unpretentious yet discerning consumer ANT!PODiUM has rapidly developed a global fan base and attracted over 100 leading stockists in 11 countries including heavyweight department stores Harvey Nichols, Liberty and Lane Crawford, Hong Kong. With their distinctive ethos and modus operandi echoed by their infamous East London ‘No Romance’ club nights, The ANT!PODiUM magazine and various collaborative projects on the boil, (not to mention naughty style names such as the Any Hole’s a Goal Dress or DownUnder Bodysuit), the future is looking exceptionally bright for the three Australians described by style bible I-D as “entrepreneurs of the London fashion world.”

Designer Name: Geoffrey J. Finch
Address: 7/31 Pakenham Street Fremantle WA 6160 Australia
Phone: 08 9336 3925
Website: www.antipodium.com

Darley Guineas Day, day two of the Golden Slipper Festival, sees the country’s finest thoroughbreds converge on Rosehill Gardens in search for success in the AUD500,000 Dubai Rosehill Guineas.

Highlights of the day include:
Two Group Two showdowns: the Parramatta Leagues Club Stakes (fillies) and Darley Stakes (colts and geldings) – with the two-year-old horses making a last ditch chance to earn a guaranteed place in the AAMI Golden Slipper held a week later.

The Grand Racing Lunch which is a punter’s paradise focused on giant screens, betting and the cream of autumn racing action including a three course lunch and beverage package, this is the perfect place to enjoy the day.
Darley on course promotion offering a tr

The 2009 L’Oréal Melbourne Fashion Festival Business Seminar becomes the ‘Inspiration Seminar’ bringing together leading global experts to share their experience and knowledge at Australia’s most anticipated industry networking forum. As the retail world struggles, LMFF recognises the need to provide inspiration to the fashion industry.

To deliver this, the Festival has secured international industry icon Margareta van den Bosch, Creative Advisor for H & M Worldwide.

Margareta will tackle a range of vital issues to inform and inspire attendees. Attracting her to Australia is a major coup by the Festival; Margareta has never been to Australia and is excited to share her expertise with business and the creative industries.

Festival Director Karen Webster comments; ‘This is an amazing triumph for the L’Oréal Melbourne Fashion Festival and reflects our significance on the international arena. We are honoured to bring Margareta to Australia and introduce her to the distinctive style of our country.’

Margareta van den Bosch has been described as a design guru. She will present the H & M creative story at the 2009 Business Seminar from early days of driving youth orientated trends to key strategies such as signing big-name designers. Recently Rei Kawakubo from Comme de Garçon has been added to the list of notable H & M collaborators: Karl Lagerfield, Stella McCartney, Roberto Cavalli, Viktor & Rolf and Madonna to create collections for the brand. H & M is a global phenomenon and Margareta is tantamount to its success.

The Festival’s newest initiative: the L’Oréal Melbourne Fashion Festival Designer Forum will mark a new phase in supporting the growth of the Australian fashion industry. The LMFF Designer Forum will offer insights into how Australian designers can gain international success. Global experts of fashion retail and media will address the key steps to establishing a label within a competitive global environment and the opportunities and pitfalls of international expansion.

Another exciting addition to the LMFF programme is the L’Oréal Melbourne Fashion Festival Student Showcase. This catwalk show will provide leading fashion design students and recent graduates with a platform to present their collections. This showcase is a key forum for supporting the next generation of fashion brilliance and maintains LMFF’S position as a champion and supporter of Australian design talent.

The 2009 Festival Imagery developed by the creative genius of Paper Stone Scissors makes a bold statement; powerful, dramatic and visually enticing. When times are tough, being bold and creative is vital to surviving. Webster comments, ‘We need to make take a stance against mediocrity and low risk principles. The images are clear, fresh, vibrant and optimistic – a pleasure to engage with.’
Date: 15-22 March 2009