Mebourne label Thurley set to sizzle on MBFW runway

SWIMMING WAG, model and lawyer Violet Atkinson will join former Miss Universe Australia Renae Ayris front row at the glamour runway show for Melbourne label Thurley in Sydney today.

SWIMMING WAG, model and lawyer Violet Atkinson will join former Miss Universe Australia Renae Ayris front row at the glamour runway show for Melbourne label Thurley in Sydney today.

The girlfriend of Olympic swimmer Cam McEvoy is a longstanding fan of the brand which has an emphasis on timeless, detailed pieces.

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Renae Ayris and Violet Atkinson wearing Thurley dresses at Le Porte Space in Sydney. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

“I love how detailed, intricate, distinctive and timeless a Thurley piece is. At its core, the brand has a strong ethos of true craftsmanship and there is a beautiful story behind every garment,” she says.

“While I also love streetwear and a lot of the modern androgynous trends coming through, I think it is beautiful that Helen (Thurley designer Helen O’Connor) is preserving the craftsmanship of fashion design and that shines through in each of her pieces as they are made perfectly for the female form.”

Thurley is showing its resort collection for the first time in 10 years as part of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week and O’Connor says the new collection is inspired by Peter Weir’s iconic 1975 movie Picnic at Hanging Rock.

“The recent remake (on Foxtel) of the classic film reignited my fascination with the intriguing tale. I grew up in a Victorian estate in Mt Macedon which overlooks Hanging rock and the haunting story really resonated with me throughout my childhood,” she says.

“The original film was set in the early 1900s in the peak of the Victorian era, a time in history that has always inspired Thurley’s aesthetic. The elaborate hand worked clothing and opulent architecture is something that I have translated into my own handwriting over the past decade.”

While many local designers are finding retail challenging, O’Connor is confidently building the business and has found a sweet spot in design and pricing.

“The past year has been a really big one for us and marks our continued expansion into the international market. Thurley has flown under the radar for some years and I think now is our time to cement our place in Australian fashion as I have quietly honed my handwriting and customer over the past decade and feel that now is the time to present my unique point of view to the world,” she says.