Aussie wool in L'Uomo Vogue spotlight
While the price of raw greasy wool continues to slide, Australian wool promoters are holding steadfast in the fashion stakes.
With the promising appeal of the world's leading fashion brands, Australian Wool Innovation is confident mainstream retail brands will catch on to wool.
AWI chief executive Stuart McCullough said to increase the global demand for Australian wool, the industry must demonstrate its key role in the international fashion industry.
In collaboration with The Woolmark Company and menswear magazine L'Uomo Vogue, a special Australian issue was published for March.
"The L'Uomo Vogue Australian issue is a testament to Australian resolve," Mr McCullough said.
"Despite the disadvantages we face in geography and through our relatively small population, we enjoy global success based on sheer determination, ingenuity and passion.
"This is certainly the attitude reflected across the country among our woolgrowers, and they can be proud of this international acclaim."
Vogue Italia editor-in-chief Franca Sozzani flew to Sydney recently for the launch of the L'Uomo Vogue Powerful Australia edition which features Cate Blanchett and Baz Luhrmann on the cover.
The fashion magazine also features two Australian designers at the top of their fields internationally.
"I am so proud of this big project, which celebrates such a vital country, its personalities and its youngest talents, whose creativity will be recognised and rewarded, and its world-renowned wool," Ms Sozzani said.
Sydney's luxury shopping district on Castlereagh Street also played host to the World Wide Wool retail initiative inspired by Merino wool.
The Museum of Contemporary Art joined the celebrations by unveiling a photographic exhibition titled An Artful Thread Between Fashion and Style, encompassing portraits of Australian personalities from the L'Uomo Vogue March edition.
Ms Sozzani's visit included a lecture about innovation, style and textile materials at the University of Technology Sydney.
