Celebrate Australia 2015 fashion show in PHL displays trendy brands 

Australia is better known for its agricultural products: beef, milk, cheese, and oranges. But the nation also applies the same stringent quality control to its fashion brands as it does to its agricultural produce.

When I was young, my favorite pieces of clothing were the ones we brought home to the Philippines from Australia where our Dad.

Recently, at a community fashion event organized by the Australian Embassy at Glorietta, I was pleased to discover more Australian fashion brands such as Cotton On, Ever New, Holster, and Rip Curl.

 

The fashion show was part of “Celebrate Australia 2015,” an annual event that happens around Australia Day which falls on January 26. 

 

Out of all the brands featured during the fashion show, the one that intrigued me most was Ever New Melbourne, especially as it featured its ladylike and radiant Modern Romantic collection.

 

The models strutted in printed dresses, prom skirts and party outfits that are actually perfect for Valentine’s dates or perhaps, grad balls.

 

After the fashion show, I thought of checking out the Ever New Melbourne store at the Megamall Fashion Hall. I bought a leather handbag and a pair of shoes and was extremely pleased with my purchases. The bag seemed so much better-made than some of my favorite American and European brands. 

 

Recently in Perth, two European brands recently opened: Zara and Topman.
 

Due to their affordable prices, these brands “were quite a hit when they were launched here,” said Perth-based Cheche Perez-Chavez, but she added that many remain “loyal to Australian brands like Witchery, Sportscraft, Cotton On, and others.”

 

Asked to compare Filipino and Australian fashion, Chavez said, “honestly, I think we (Filipinos) are more fashion forward. That was my first impression when I got here.”

 

However, Chavez said, “I think they're slowly catching up. I don't know if it's just in Perth which has the reputation of lagging behind the rest of the states.”

 

Meanwhile, Angela Gabrielle Fehringer of Brisbane, said some of the most popular, higher end brands in Australia “include designers like Alex Perry, Alannah Hill, Sass & Bide, Carla Zampatti and Collette Dinnigan, just to name a few. These brands attract a more luxurious price tag but are of extremely high quality and something that is often worn by Australian celebrities.” 

 

“Brands like Country Road, Veronica Main, Cue, Kookai, AJE, Mimco and Sambag are still considered on the higher end of the market but offer a more casual everyday fashion line,” Fehringer added.
 

She said these brands “offer an edgy take on current fashion trends,” adding that these are highly reputable and trustworthy names that “have truly made their mark on the Australian fashion scene.”

 

“The quality and craftsmanship is second to none, especially when it comes to RM Williams and even Lorna Jane, who specializes in women's active wear. 

 

Meanwhile, Australian Ambassador Bill Tweddell told GMA News Online after the community fashion show that "Celebrate Australia" is not just a way of paying tribute to Australia but a way of celebrating the relationship of Australia and the Philippines. 

 

He noted that about 15,000 Australians are living in the Philippines while around 250,000 Filipinos are residing in Australia.

 

Tweddell said he expects business between the two countries to become more vibrant, especially with the landmark ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZ) that allows for 95% of Australian products to enter the Philippines duty-free. Meanwhile, 97% of Philippine products can enter Australia also duty-free. — VC, GMA News