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

Big name Aussie designers - Carla Zampatti, Manning Cartell, Bassike and more - will offer significant price cuts in a bid to keep our homegrown fashion industry afloat.

Fashion designer sisters Lizzie and Georgie Renkert of We Are Kindred are determined to keep the local fashion industry alive. Picture: John Appleyard

• Stylish sisters Lizzie and Georgie Renkert ready for Fashion Week
• WhenTheyAllHateUs went ‘mega’: Tash Sefton spills

Cremorne resident and fashion designer Lizzie Renkert is among those to haves signed up with the campaign We Wear Australian.

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.

Party-perfect gowns, sleek suits and cutting-edge casual wear — it’s all included and at prices that will likely not be seen again.

The campaign is 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.

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH - Fashion Week follow up with "We Are Kindred" designers Lizzie (left) and Georgie Renkert (right) along with model Ros Freemantle in centre. Pic, Sam Ruttyn

Carla Zampatti Carla Zampatti magazine launch this morning, held at Carla’s home in Woollahra.

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, Carla Zampatti and sleepwear line Papinelle are among designers participating.

Pictured at her studio is Gabrielle Manning, of the Manning Cartell fashion line. 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.

Visit showroom-x.com for details