FOMA 2019 SHOWCASE
On Friday 1 March 2019, Fabrics of Multicultural Australia in collaboration with the Australia-Korea Foundation, attendees, witnessed a cultural exhibit and runway showcase of international, Indigenous, migrant, and refugee artists across Australia largest runway, in the presence of 3,000 patrons at a venue of great cultural significance, The Cutaway, Barangaroo Reserve in the heart of Sydney.
Thank you to Jeremy Fernandez, ABC News Journalist and Presenter and Charlotte Smith, Fashion Anthropologist who were our Master of Ceremonies. Showcasing an incredible cultural and stylistic dynamism the showcase was an astounding success with over 66 media in attendance and Ambassadors and Consular Corp.
We would like to congratulate our FOMA Symbol of Harmony Award winner Designer, Anjilla Seddegi, Afghanistan and our FOMA Designer of the Year Award Winner, House of Umer Iftikhar, Pakistan. To view our recently produced case study on Anjilla Seddeqi, please click here.
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To view the FOMA 2019 gallery, please click here.
FOMA Artists & EXHIBITORS
Aida Guirguis
Egypt
Aida Guirguis founded ethical luxury jewelry company Scarab Rouge in 2001 inspired by the Egyptian heritage. She designs & creates stunning handcrafted one of kind pieces of jewelry. Over the years she have handpicked and established a team of professional Australian craftspeople with over 150 years’ combined experience who are the best hands, eyes, and skill in the business. Scarab Rouge is ecologically mindful through every element of the business. They are committed to the ethical sourcing of materials and all of our stunning diamonds are certified to be conflict free.
Anne McConnell
Ireland
McConnell (Formerly Áine) was established at the turn of the century by fashion designer Áine Behan. Áine was deeply influenced by growing up on the Wild Atlantic Way on the west coast of Ireland. The strong family heritage of knitting ensured that Áine was immersed in the craft as she watched the women of her family instinctively knit Aran sweaters without patterns or guides, having mastered the craft from the previous generations.
Supported By
Consulate General of Ireland, Sydney
Anjilla Seddeqi
Afghanistan
Anjilla Seddeqi is an Australian designer of Afghan heritage. She arrived in Sydney, Australia in 1989 with her family seeking refuge from war torn Afghanistan.
Anjilla has interned with UNHCR and practiced refugee law for a number of years before turning her focus to fashion and design. She is inspired by her heritage as well as the classic and feminine silhouettes of the 1950s, where dressing was an art form in itself. Her debut collection was launched at Dubai Modest Fashion Week in December 2017.
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Carolina Giraldo
Colombia
Carolina is a unique Australian brand that merges Australian ideals with European style and Colombian craftsmanship; working to design and create unique fashion forward accessories including handbags, clutches, wallets and belts as well as fun scarves, shirts and capes to brighten up every woman’s wardrobe. Founder and Creative Director, Carolina Giraldo saw a gap in the market for lifestyle clothing and accessories range that was versatile in function and unique against excessive mainstream productions.
Supported By
The Embassy of Columbia in Australia
Collen Tighe Johnson
First Peoples of Aboriginal Australia
Colleen Tighe Johnson is a proud descendant of the First Peoples of Aboriginal Australia. A proud Gomeroi woman, Colleen grew up in Moree, NSW. Colleen uses her fashion as a way to revive Gomeroi Dreaming Stories in today's youth culture. Her brand "Buluuy Mirrii" has been featured in international fashion events including Fashion Speaks International World Fusion Wearable Art 2017 in British Columbia Canada. In 2017 she also became the first-ever International Indigenous Designer to open PLITZS New York City Fashion Week.
Representing
The First Peoples of Aboriginal Australia
The Charlotte Smith Fashion Collection by Charlotte Smith is considered the largest private vintage clothing collection in Australia. The collection holds a mirror to our time and tells the story of the woman's wardrobe from 1720 to the present day. It includes 8000 pieces from 32 different countries. Many internationally recognised 20th-century designers are represented including Lucile, Vionnet, Dior, Chanel, Balenciaga, Pucci, Jean Muir, Zandra Rhodes, Westwood, Versace, Dolce & Gabana and Jil Sander.
In Collaboration With
Wendy Scully Millinery
Naushad Ali, a designer who constantly redefines simplicity; he is lost in his love for Indian traditional crafts, creating designs that interweave modern cuts with heritage fabrics. He believes in reliving the history of a culture by reviving its traditional fabrics. A NIFT Chennai design graduate who set up Studio Liam in 2013, creating a design line that transported the glory of traditional craftsmen in his country to the contemporary fashion arena. At his studio in Auroville every garment is designed, tailored and packed with earnest dedication.
Supported by
Consulate General of India, Sydney
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Katya Komarova
Russia
Katya Komarova unites her love for geometry and respect for Italian craftsmanship in her namesake leather accessories label, creating contemporary handbags and accessories that are both minimalist and highly functional in design. The brand exists ethically and sustainably, taking a responsible and considerate approach to the environment. Katya Komarova designs have admirers around the globe and were featured by publications like Vogue, Marie Claire and ELLE.
After being showcased at platforms like Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Russia and Adelaide Fashion Festival, Katya will present her latest designs in collaboration with other Russian born designers Alfia Galimova and Evgenia Lisichkina of Jane Ju Jewellery Studio at FOMA this year.
Supported By
The Embassy of the Russian Federation in Australia
Miranda Day
Republic of Korea
Miranda Day created MiranDay Designs as a way to bring together both her love for the Traditional Korean Hanbok and her own ideas of modern fashion. She wanted to find a way to show people the beauty, elegance and culture of the Hanbok by making it more wearable and fashionable for everyone all shapes, sizes and cultures. By using unique styles and patterns she creates one-of–a- kind outfits for her clients both in Australia and Internationally . She loves to make her clients feel fabulous, unique, stylish and still be comfortable in what they wear.
Supported By
The Republic of Korea in Australia
Tamara Leacock
Afro-Brazilian
Tamara is a designer and stylist who works with recycled materials, artisan techniques, and Afro-futurist aesthetics. As a designer, she integrates natural and recycled materials into shapes that are androgynous, often free size, and a fluid exploration of natural colour and mood. Her origins from Brazil, the Bahamas, and St. Kitts further inform her work. R E M U S E is a Melbourne based clothing label where futurism meets nature. Fusing artisan techniques, low-impact dye technology, and natural fibers, R E M U S E investigates the ways the future of a fashion is simply fashion that takes inspiration from the earth.
Supported By
Australian Fashion Council
Poornima Sharma
India
A culmination of grace, beauty and strength.
Meera represents the women of today who seek to challenge the very boundaries set by society. They seek character in their attire, willing to challenge status quo and set precedence in the choices they make. A rich blend of traditional silhouettes presented in a contemporary manner to cater for the independent modern woman.
​Women of today are Meera.
Independent Representation
Consulate General of India, Sydney
Born and raised in Jakarta, Indonesia. She graduated from ESMOD Jakarta University in June 2013 She received an award as “the special jury award” by Yongki Komaladi during her graduation fashion show. She won first place in the Indonesia Fashion Design Competition 2014. After finishing her course scholarship studies, in Koefia, Rome Italy, She was an intern in Iris Van Herpen atelier in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Recently, debuted her SS18 collection in October 2017 at Los Angeles Fashion Week.
Supported by
Consulate General of Indonesia, Sydney
Ethnicity, culture, tales from the decades old traditions when combined with the glamorous touch of west, Studio Chiraghaan (commonly known as the HOUSE OF UMER IFTIKHAR) the brain child of Umer Iftikhar came into existence in the year 2015.
The house of UMER IFTIKHAR is proudly producing bridal wear, luxury pret & ready to wear outfits –delivering worldwide.
With hundreds of loyal customers round the globe, the house stands proud of being known for best tailored outfits.
Supported by
Consulate General of Pakistan, Sydney
Victoria Alonso
Chile
Victoria Alonso Jewels brings a little piece of Chilean earth to a cosmopolitan woman through handmade jewellery in copper, silver and gold, representing the natural minerals of our country and the essence of women.
Victoria Alonso uses varied techniques, such as Patina (layer formed through ageing and exposure), Kum-Boo (ancient Korean gilding) and Anticlastic (curvatures). Patina is especially used to accelerate the natural process of metal staining that creates a unique design that is both beautiful and iconic to Chilean nature.
Supported By
The Embassy of Chile in Australia
Yoonkyung Jang
Republic of South Korea
How do you express Korean culture without being unchallenged?
The brand SETSETSET started with the question.
SETSETSET is a women's apparel brand that develops trendy color textile design every season to design a lively and kitsy feel to express Korean culture in a different way. Korean culture is interesting, and even if I look at it, it is a course. SETSETSET Crew are together to create a brand that can be called a charming brand.
Supported By
The Republic of Korea in Australia
Novita Yunus
Indonesian
Started from her love for a handmade bag, Novita Yunus stepped into a fashion industry and left her job from the bank. Novita posted pictures of her very first “designer batik bags” on her Facebook page, which resulted in orders flowing from her friends and acquaintances. Responding to this unexpected demand, she started her company in 2009.
Novita established Batik Chic out of love for tradition and necessity to preserve the culture, as is represented by the company’s motto “Keep the Heritage Alive”. She wants to raise awareness and foster the popularity of Batik and other traditional Indonesian fabrics.