Fashion Week: Camilla Franks receives standing ovations from celebrities, family and friends
KAFTAN queen Camilla Franks closed Fashion Week week in a flurry of colour, with the designer receiving enormous support following her recent breast cancer diagnosis. The new mum received a standing ovation after unveiling her collection from celebrities, family, friends and fashionistas.
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KAFTAN queen Camilla Franks closed Fashion Week week in a flurry of colour, with the designer receiving enormous support following her recent breast cancer diagnosis.
The new mum unveiled a kaleidoscopic collection in front of a huge crowd of friends and industry peers.
That was a spiritual experience, the entire show was so powerful,” The Veronicas’ Jess Origliasso said.
“There was so much energy in the room and so much intention towards Just experience and culture and love. It was unifying. The energy was insane.”
Twin sister Lisa Origlisso added: “Camilla is such a warrior woman. She has so much strength, power and Love so to celebrate that with her Tonight has been very moving.”
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Franks partner, JP Jones, sat holding the couples five month old daughter Luna as the designer walked the catwalk at the end of the show. She stopped to hug television presenter Sally Obermeder, herself a survivor of cancer.
“That was an incredible show full stop but also to know that she’s pulled that together under these circumstances makes it all the more powerful,” Obermeder said.
“You could feel the love, it was palpable. Everyone just wants her to get through this and to come out the other side.”
“That was world class, she took it to a whole new level,” Michelle Bridges said. “Camilla is amazing. I take so much inspiration from someone who has worked their butt off with such passion and vigour and love.”
Franks’ show was one of more than 40 throughout the week. And, at the end of it all, it is clear that flesh is the new black.
Sheer tops and dresses that left little to the imagination were one of the most eyebrow-raising
trends of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia. The look, pioneered by US trendsetters such as Kendall Jenner, appeared both on the catwalks and off, with some daring attendees foregoing bras and baring all outside the event despite the chilly temperatures.
It was just one of the more interesting trends that dominated this year’s Fashion Week runways, with androgyny, ’90s street culture and sustainable style also championed by both established and upcoming brands including P.E. Nation, TAFE graduate Dana Lock and emerging designer Gina Snodgrass.
A number of micro trends also cropped up on the catwalks, with oversized accessories, bucket hats, cat-eye sunglasses and bum bags set to become top sellers once collections arrive in stores later this year.
More than 30,000 people attended the event which showcased more than 1200 looks. Hairstylists used 20,000-plus bobby pins on more than 1000 models.
Three years after organisers repositioned MBFWA as a resort presentation, international buyers have paid more attention, Vogue Australia’s Edwina McCann said.
“It was in no man’s land, basically,” the Australian Fashion Chamber chair said, adding that in the past Fashion Week’s spring/summer offerings did not align with the global fashion schedule.
“We have a lot more serious buyers here this year and better than that is the fact they actually have budgets to spend.”
McCann said the event was also positioned perfectly for younger brands to launch themselves into a wider market.