LMFF Designer Forum

Designer Forum – Sketch at Central Pier Monday 15th March 2010 3pm

A great initiative by LMFF to support the designers participating in the festival by having international and expat industry icons like Linlee Allen (LA), Tony Glenville (TG), Michael Angel (MA) and Gabrielle Hackworthy (GH) talk about their careers and their perception of the fashion industry.  Whilst more tips and advice for Australian designers looking to break the international market would have been welcomed, the careers and unique paths each speaker had taken to arrive at their current destination was inspirational and thought provoking. 

My highlights were;
• LA- Her irreverent, down to earth attitude (complete with Aussie accent still intact despite many years living abroad).
• LA – The shout out to Jenny Bannister (apparently Jenny’s designs adorned a teenage Linlee’s wall) 
• LA – Her controversial comment about working with Ellen Von Unwerth “Just because someone’s famous doesn’t mean that makes them cool”
• TG – Loved his infectious pearls of wisdom, British sense of humour and passion for the industry and sheer entertainment as a speaker!
• TG – He urged us to stop talking for a second… and  “Listen” to the experts, the globe, the new and the established.
• TG – A fabulous and valid comment about the role of technology and catwalks and how “It’s still important to see clothes on real people, look at the movement and experience the atmosphere of fashion, despite technology offering live streaming catwalks”.
• TG – Good quality pieces designed with integrity that are timeless and made with love will always be in style!
• TG – We are living in a time where seasons don’t seem to impact like they used to (whether consumer buying changes or climate change) the role of transeasonal collections are very important.
• MA – How Joseph Saba believed in Michael Angel as a 17 year old and offered him the role of Visual Merchandiser at Saba.
• MA – It seems Michael Angel has learned some lessons living in New York during the GFC about budgeting, getting back to basics and re-affirming your signature style and growing in confidence as a result.
• MA – Of his current business revenue, 70% is from his online store!