Heng reveals passion for op shopping
Hosting a runway showcase dedicated to op shopping is the perfect gig for Mix 94.5 announcer Simone Heng.
A dedicated upcycler who runs a DIY blog in her spare time, Heng will MC Telstra Perth Fashion Festival's two Restyle Runway shows.
Heng said she was passionate about the Restyle initiative, which is designed to support op shops and encourage creativity.
"It's very much in line with what I write about on my blog - I'm really into thrifty shopping, upcycling and DIY fashion so it's perfectly in line with what I love," she told AAA.
"I really like that it's raising the profile of op shops where the proceeds help charities and if you follow the Restyle bloggers and even my blog, it shows you the kind of amazing pieces you can find in op shops."
The 30-year-old fashion enthusiast from Perth developed a love for transforming op-shop bargains into on-trend style statements using DIY techniques as a reaction to the overload of luxury fashion she witnessed while living in Dubai.
"I started my DIY blog to show people a thrifty way to get designer trends straight off the runway," she said.
"You're not waiting a season for them to filter into high-street stores, you're looking at the runways from New York Fashion Week and you're replicating the necklace the following day.
"It was quite groundbreaking because in Dubai the whole city is branded on luxury and I was the only person talking about thriftiness, conserving and that there's nothing glamorous about credit- card debt."
The week after the Restyle Runway, Heng will host a DIY Jewellery Workshop at MANY 6160 in Fremantle, teaching people the basics of crafting using new and recycled materials.
"This is DIY made easy," she explained of the class. "I will have all the stuff laid out and what we're making will be a high-fashion look. People will walk away with a necklace plus a take-home kit which has extra bits in it to make a matching bracelet as well."
More information about the workshop is at studiobomba.com.au/workshops.
