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Pair have bags of conviction

Karen Adie and Georgina Lewis. Picture: Supplied

They only went to market in September but Perth neighbours Karen Adie and Georgina Lewis are wasting no time in taking the local fashion industry by storm.

Already the designer duo behind luxury leather goods label Convict Bags and Accessories have won a prestigious award for burgeoning brands. And they are now set to make their catwalk debut at two of WA's biggest fashion events in the coming months.

Following in the footsteps of past recipients Garth Cook, Steph Audino and Daniella Caputi, Adie and Lewis recently scooped up the Zomp STYLEAID creative design award, which recognises the brightest rising stars of the local fashion industry.

The winner is awarded a $5000 cash injection to help establish their brand and a place in STYLEAID's celebrated runway line-up, but Adie told Access All Areas the accolade signified even more than that for her and Lewis.

"Just to be a finalist means this new endeavour that you've started is OK," she explained. "I think winning will open a few more doors for us."

After STYLEAID in August, Convict will also show a more in-depth collection at this year's Telstra Perth Fashion Festival and the designers are already brimming with ideas on how they will make the leather and soft hair cowhide accessories pop on the catwalk.

Adie said a recent shoot in the WA desert would serve as the inspiration for their runway styling.

"All the outfits were made from calico so that the product could stand out from the background," she said. "We will also layer up the bags - that's what they are designed to do anyway - so there is a bigger visual impact."

As the label continues to grow, one thing that will remain at the core of Adie and Lewis' creations are the stories of real-life convicts who provide the names for each design.

The women have been working with historians to uncover the tales, which are then tucked into each bag before they are sent to stockists.

"It's this really unique part of Australian history and we are connecting that together and making it come alive," Adie said of the convict link.