The magic of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia in 2018 will be conjured by exquisite clothes, beautiful accessories and a touch of Dubbo.
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Dubbo-raised Danielle Soole, 24, will present 12 looks from her WhiteHart label at the nation’s premier fashion event in Sydney from May 13 to 18.
She is among eight 2017 Bachelor of Fashion Design graduates of the Fashion Design Studio (FDS) at Ultimo TAFE to be selected for The Innovators Show, part of Fashion Week for 20 years. Former students of the prestigious FDS include Nicky Zimmerman, Alex Perry and Akira Isogawa.
Ms Soole has reworked pieces in her graduation collection for the show and created four more outfits with help from family and friends back home.
Aunt and artist Peita Buchanan will get a front-row view of the show for her efforts. Artworks created by Ms Buchanan have been incorporated into Ms Soole’s design work through the likes of digital printing and hand screen-printing on silk, knitting, embroidery and beading.
“Her style is so unique and when this opportunity came up I immediately knew I wanted to collaborate with her and have her artworks in the collection,” Ms Soole said.
Dubbo artisans who have also lent a hand include knitter Viv Crowe and Jokers Ink staff who helped embroider pieces in the collection. Amy Rutherford is baking cookies to put into VIP gift bags.
Eight female models and four male models will parade Ms Soole’s creations on the catwalk at Carriageworks on May 16. They will be wearing shoes by Beau Coops, jewellery by Vanessa Mooney and sunglasses from Poppy Lissiman.
“They all have a vintage feel to them,” Ms Soole said. “It elevates the styling to have beautifully-designed accessories.”
She calls her collection “street wear with an inspiration of historical background”. “But it is not disposable like street wear normally is and not trend driven,” Ms Soole said. “The artworks give the pieces longevity.”
The young designer named her label after a street in London where her English grandparents grew up and her mother and father met.
Her love of history and family informs her work and ambitions. “I’d love to work in costume and wardrobe for television and film,” Ms Soole said.
During The Innovators Show she will get the chance to wave to the crowd from the catwalk.
She will look for family members including her mother, Daily Liberal photographer Belinda Soole. “I have had so much help from everybody and definitely could not have done it without Mum,” Ms Soole said.
