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Local fashion designers are offering major discounts in a bid to survive COVID-19

Style aficionados will be delighted to learn designers are banding together and offering significant price cuts in a bid to keep our fashion industry afloat

Designer Carla Zampatti is taking part in the #WeWearAustralian campaign.
Designer Carla Zampatti is taking part in the #WeWearAustralian campaign.

Eastern suburbs favourite fashion maven Carla Zampatti has signed up with the campaign We Wear Australian. So has Double Bay resident and CEO of Papinelle Sleepwear Renae James.

The Oxford Street, Paddington favourites AJE, Bassike, Manning Cartell and We Are Kindred are on board too.

The initiative, launched by Richard Poulson, founder of the label Morrison and Showroom-X, and the Australian Fashion Council, is bringing 30 plus Australian designers together for three weeks of significant discounting of their lines.

What does this mean?

Well, first and foremost, this: party-perfect gowns, sleek suits, cutting-edge casuals and luxurious sleepwear are now on sale at prices that will likely never be seen again. Accordingly, it is time to shop.

The benefits will be two-fold. From a purely selfish perspective you’ll have a wardrobe to die for. More importantly, you’ll be single-handedly helping our rag trade to stay on its feet.

Carla Zampatti with model Charlee Fraser wearing one of her gowns. Carla has signed on with #WeAreAustralian. Picture: Aaron Francis/The Australian
Carla Zampatti with model Charlee Fraser wearing one of her gowns. Carla has signed on with #WeAreAustralian. Picture: Aaron Francis/The Australian

The campaign was designed to boost the fashion industry, which is in crisis thanks to COVID-19 forcing brick and mortar stores to shut their doors and worldwide cancellations of orders.

This means fashion lovers have an opportunity to select the items of their sartorial dreams and in the process, help support an industry that has been battered by the pandemic.

Poulson is leading the charge, with the support of industry associations.

“The Australian fashion industry has never experienced tougher times, but we are a creative and resilient industry, by uniting and putting a spotlight on the industry impact and response we are able to support each other and contribute to the rebuild of Australia,” he says.

The campaign is growing with labels signing up daily.

We Are Kindred, Carla Zampatti, AJE, Bassike, Manning Cartell, and Papinelle are among designers participating.

Gabrielle Manning, of Manning Cartell, which is taking part in #WeWearAustralian. Picture: Christian Gilles
Gabrielle Manning, of Manning Cartell, which is taking part in #WeWearAustralian. Picture: Christian Gilles

We Wear Australian will drive awareness and sales to Australian designer’s eCommerce sites.

Each designer will be offering special offers on their new season merchandise.

We Wear Australian participating brands will make a cash or clothing donation to support two Australian charities, Dress for Success and Thread Together. Dress for Success helps women look their best when returning to the workforce while Thread Together provides new fashion items to the vulnerably and needy.

The group recently delivered bundles of clothing to residents affected by the devastating bushfires of summer 2019.

Renae James (pictured), founder and CEO of sleepwear and lifestyle brand Papinelle is on board with #WeWearAustralian.
Renae James (pictured), founder and CEO of sleepwear and lifestyle brand Papinelle is on board with #WeWearAustralian.

Papinelle designer James knew the initiative was one she wanted to get involved in the moment she heard about it.

“We loved that above all, the #WeWearAustralian campaign was based on inclusion and uniting the Australian fashion industry at a very challenging time, while together, giving back to our community and those in need,” says James.

“We have an ongoing relationship with the wonderful team at Thread Together and wanted to support their incredible work by raising awareness through this campaign and giving back to those in need.”

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/local-fashion-designers-are-offering-major-discounts-in-a-bid-to-survive-covid19/news-story/6fb83e925244411bb990f2cb3fb5f0f2