Brisbane Fashion Festival 2024 opening: Olympians model Rinehart’s Driza-Bones

Australia’s top Olympic swimmers traded the pool for the runway in a jaw-dropping debut at the Brisbane Fashion Festival.

Shayna Jack (centre) with Mikeayla Smith and Reidel Smith in the opening show of Brisbane Fashion Week. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Australia’s top Olympic swimmers swapped the pool for the catwalk at the Brisbane Fashion Festival on Tuesday night, headlining the world-first launch of mining magnate Gina Rinehart’s reimagined Driza-Bone collection.

The festival’s opening night event, the W Brisbane Fashion Show, saw gold, silver, and bronze medallists strut their stuff in a bold blend of itsy bitsy swimsuits and the iconic Driza-Bone coats.

Fresh from their triumphs at the Paris 2024 Olympics, athletes including Shayna Jack, Elijah Winnington, and Jack Cartwright took centre stage in a collection that marries the rugged spirit of the Australian outback with modern-day style.

Their runway debut was cheered on by fellow Olympians Kaylee McKeown, Mollie O’Callaghan, and Lani Pallister, who were in the audience supporting their teammates.

The Driza-Bone coats, long synonymous with rural Australia, were given a contemporary twist with vibrant Australiana linings and indigenous prints.

The coats were paired with Rossi Boots and jewels by Margot McKinney, all under the careful curation of Rinehart, who bought the Driza-Bone and Rossi Boots brands in 2023 through her company, S. Kidman & Co.

Winnington, who joined his father Jeff on the catwalk, admitted that walking the runway was far more daunting than competing in the Olympic Games.

“It’s a bit of a fish-out-of-water moment, something I haven’t done is model a catwalk before, but there’s a first for everything,” he said.

Jack shared his nerves, confessing she finds the runway more intimidating than the pool.

“I would definitely have to say walking out at a fashion festival (is scarier), mainly because I know how to swim, I’m not a land animal,” she said.

“But I’m so happy to be part of this, and I know Mrs Rinehart’s watching the live stream over in Asia, so we can’t wait for her support and her feedback.”

Mrs Rinehart, who has personally overseen the design of the new Driza-Bone collection, expressed her excitement at seeing her vision come to life on such a prominent stage.

“This fashion partnership with Brisbane Fashion Festival will see us take Driza-Bone and Rossi Boots to new heights globally,” Rinehart said.

She highlighted plans to expand the brands’ appeal, introducing lighter-weight materials and more colourful designs to attract a broader audience, from outdoor enthusiasts to urban dwellers.

“Our aim is to retain the brand’s loyal base while attracting new Driza-Bone customers around Australia and the world,” she said.

Brisbane Fashion Festival director Lindsay Bennett celebrated the launch as a significant moment in Australian fashion.

“The W Brisbane Fashion Show was the ideal event for the world-first launch of the reimagined Driza-Bone and Rossi Boots, with both brands representing the pioneering spirit of the Outback and underpinning our national character,” he said.

Shayna Jack reveals the gold swimsuit beneath her Driza-Bone. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Originally published as Brisbane Fashion Festival 2024 opening: Olympians model Rinehart’s Driza-Bones