Perth's top fashion talent unveiled
The depth of talent in the WA fashion industry was reiterated tonight when finalists for the 18th Western Australian Fashion Awards, or WAFAs, were announced at an exclusive Style Circle event at the Butterworth Bar and Kitchen.
The WAFAs recognise the State's top fashion talent across nine separate categories, including Most Innovative Designer of the Year, Best Blogger, and Runway Model of the Year.
And there was plenty to choose from, with some fresh talent up against more established industry names.
No doubt in part due to her stunning show at this year's Perth Fashion Festival, Jaime Lee Major has been nominated for Most Innovative Designer of the year alongside industry favourites One Fell Swoop and glamour label Zhivago.
Designer For Tomorrow, which recognises emerging design talent, will be up for grabs between Dyspnea, whose designers all met as fashion students at TAFE; Monster Alphabets, designed by Japanese-born talent Sarah Watanabe; and popular ready-to-wear and accessories brand Wild Horses, designed by Natalie Donovan.
In the hotly-anticipated model categories, the likes of established models Bronx Whitehorn and Simone Kerr will vie against newer names such as Ebony Hunter and Erin Hannah Kendall for the title of Runway Model of the Year, while Photographic Model of the Year nominees include Miranda Kerr lookalike Caris Tiivel and edgy brunette Narcisa Music.
Zhivago designers Lara Kovacevich and Lydia Tsvetnenko are up for Designer of the Year. Picture: Iain Gillespie/ The West Australian
The continuing success of WA models on the world's runways is recognised in the International Runway Model of the Year, which this year features chameleonic gamine Caitlin Lomax, Vogue Italia covergirl Chrystal Copland and David Genat, who has appeared in campaigns for the likes of Ralph Lauren and Massimo Dutti.
Winners will be announced at a gala event in March next year.
Here is the full list of nominees in each category
MOST INNOVATIVE DESIGNER OF THE YEAR
Jaime Lee (Jaime Lee Major)
One Fell Swoop (Daniel Romanin and Nikolina Ergic)
Zhivago (Lara Kovacevich and Lydia Tsvetnenko)
One Fell Swoop's designs on show at the 2013 Perth Fashion Festival. Picture: Michael Wilson/ The West Australian
DESIGNER FOR TOMORROWDyspnea (Aimee-Cherie Kendall, Jameen Zalfen and Rachel Motteram)
Monster Alphabets (Sarah Watanabe)
Wild Horses (Natalie Donovan)
Monster Alphabets designer Sarah Watanabe. Picture: Rob Duncan/ The West Australian
FINE DETAILSAlister Yiap
Jessica Bratich
Katherine Dunmill
Jessica Bratich Johnson with pieces from her handbag design label. Picture: Nic Ellis/ The West Australian
BEST DRESSED BOUTIQUEPoppy Lissiman Addition (Times Square Claremont)
S2 (North Perth)
Varga Girl (Leederville)
Poppy Lissiman in her Claremont boutique. Picture: Iain Gillespie/ The West Australian
CREATIVE EDGEEmma Bergmeier-Varian (Fashion Stylist & Events)
Emily Howlett (Fashion Stylist)
Shift Creative Photography (Juliet Chen and Jessica Yeh)
BEST BLOGGER
Harbour Master (Claire Mueller)
It's Now Cool (Josephine Clough)
What's the Goh (Andrea Goh)
RUNWAY MODEL OF THE YEAR
Bronx Whitehorn (Vivien's)
Ebony Hunter (Chadwick)
Erin Hannah Kendall (Scene)
Hannah Tatum (Scene)
Simone Kerr (Vivien's)
Stirling Caiulo (Chadwick)
Teenager Ebony Hunter is up for best runway model. Picture: Iain Gillespie/ The West Australian
PHOTOGRAPHIC MODEL OF THE YEARCaris Tiivel (Chadwick)
Chanel Caldwell (Chadwick)
Courtney Eaton (Vivien's)
Erin Hannah Kendall (Scene)
Jan Aeberhard (Vivien's)
Narcisa Music (Scene)
Teenage model Courtney Eaton will appear in the new Mad Max movie. Picture: Courtney Eaton/ Instagram
INTERNATIONAL MODEL OF THE YEARBridget Malcolm (Chadwick)
Caitlin Lomax (Scene)
Chrystal Copland (Chic)
David Genat (Vivien's)
WAAPA trained oboist Bridget Malcolm has just shot her first Victoria's Secret campaign. Picture: Russell James
