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Annah Stretton at RAFW

Source: http://www.fashionz.co.nz/news/annah-stretton-at-rafw.html

Rosemount Australian Fashion Week, the most highly anticipated event on the Australian fashion calendar, is this week and is celebrating 15 years of innovation and achievement in Australian fashion.

The event is shaping up to be an amazing array of collections, as some of Australia and the Asia Pacific’s best designers present their lines to some of the world’s most influential members of the fashion industry.

FashioNZ is particularly excited that some of New Zealand’s best designers will showcase their collections, joining an impressive line up of designers from our neighbours in Australia and the Pacific. Respected NZ designer Annah Stretton joins industry stalwarts Kate Sylvester, Stolen Girlfriends Club and Zambesi for her showing at RAFW on May 7.

Annah Stretton’s new collection, which will be launched on the runway during RAFW is fashion – with a purpose. While the collection is based around a demure palette of nude and pale tones, and uses techniques of shirring and quilting as a nod to innocence and freshness – it is dedicated to creating awareness and putting an end to the cruel and inhumane farming practice prevalent in the pork and poultry industries globally, hence the title Stop the Slaughter.

The muse for Annah’s new collection is Brigitte Bardot, and in particular her style in the 50’s and 60’s. Bardot is not only a global style icon, but is also a passionate advocate for animal rights, having established her Foundation for the Welfare and Protection of Animals in 1986.

To create a collection that conveys a message is a first for Annah: “For so many years I have designed collections around a visual theme that is of some interest or intrigue, but this time things are different. It’s the message that is of huge importance to me.”

Using the power of a fashion brand, and a world stage to showcase her message means Annah is happy she can use her voice to make a difference. “Stop The Slaughter is possibly one of the most important collections that I have ever created, while it’s on the runway I also want to truly bring the plight of these innocent birds and animals to attention, giving these animals back their dignity that has been stripped away by the cruel and inhumane farming practices .”

That Annah has created a collection inspired by and to bring awareness to the plight of animals comes as no surprise – after all, she is often referred to as the designer who heralded from the farm, and Annah has often said her rural Hawke’s Bay upbringing has been a great influence on her as a designer.

As with her latest well received collections, Annah’s creative team of stylist Karen Inderbitzen-Waller, hair director Richard Kavanaugh and make-up director Phoenix Renata is on board once more, meaning her Summer 10/11 collection will surely shape up to be as impressive as her previous collections.