MEET THE

A rebrand, a new label, and a magnificent gown made out of entirely rhinestone rope, we chat to the designers behind Brisbane Fashion Festival.

Grab your best frock because Brisbane Fashion Festival is officially back for 2023! From Monday 21 to Friday 25 August, King George Square will play host to a thrilling line-up of more than 50 designers, varying from beloved Aussie labels to daring up-andcoming fashion. So, we thought it would only be fitting to sit down with one designer from each show and get the inside scoop on everything Brisbane Fashion Festival (BFF).

EMMA STEWART,

Analia the label

Hancock Prospecting Next Gen Group Show

How did Analia the label come about?

I was diagnosed with advanced stage 3C bowel cancer in 2018. I had only just returned home to Melbourne from a month in London visiting friends and having meetings. I was living my dream, travelling the world, and working in the fashion industry. But my wings were clipped. From the spare bedroom of my mum’s house on the Sunshine Coast, I imagined a beautiful life full of colour, joy, whimsy, travel, and adventure. I don’t have cancer anymore, that is not the issue, but to save my life the radiation treatment had to be extreme. This resulted in menopause, chronic pain, chronic fatigue, and the part they don’t tell you about is trauma, loneliness, mourning who you were, depression, and PTSD. It involved a lot of therapy; talk therapy, art therapy, mediation… anything to give you hope. For me it was fashion. I would happily spend those days, months, and eventually years bedridden, designing beautiful clothes, sketching and playing with fabric.

So, your brand officially launches in August, congratulations, how does that feel?

I’ve been incredibly lucky with the timing of BFF and the launch of Analia the label. Analia is literally walking down the runway and onto the online store at the same time.

And to think Analia almost didn’t make it. I was aiming to launch last year and some days it felt like the universe was telling me to give up. But I didn’t and eventually the right person believed in me, so thank you Joseph from T2M Fashion, he has fought the good fight for me and advocated for Analia where my health could not. As a result, Analia has over 20 retail partners Australia-wide, launching our first collection this August.

The collection looks beautiful, can you tell me a little bit about the vibe?

I took my personal love of high fashion and made it comfortable and functional, with a whole lot of joy. I want you to feel beautiful and comfortable. Also, now that I’m a Queenslander, I have naturally gravitated towards fabrics that can breathe in this humidity. And I’m just trying to limit my footprint on this beautiful planet of ours.

STEPHANIE CUNNINGHAM, Bonfire The Label (formerly Bonita Collective)

The Star Brisbane Fashion Show

Tell us, what is the inspiration behind your new collection?

The collection we’ll be showcasing at BFF is titled ‘Great Southern Land’ and it’s our ode to the spectacular landscape of our beautiful country. Staged over three drops, we’ve used a lot of vibrant fuchsias, rusts, corals, and pinks to represent our red centre as well as uplifting turquoises, azures, and lilacs to capture our endless panoramic skies. We’ve introduced knits and crochets for the first time to reflect the textural soil and sand of the earth, as well as working with our trusty linens, cottons, and silks for lightweight summer wear. We’re also really excited to release our first swim line as part of this collection; constructed from beautifully Italian-made, eco-friendly fabric –it’s been a long time coming!

Why the rebrand?

It’s a huge time in the brand’s history! We’ve evolved dramatically over the years, almost to the point of being unrecognisable from where we started, and the name ‘Bonita’ felt disconnected and stale. We are super excited to announce a rebrand that very much aligns with our new and elevated direction, Bonfire The Label. Brisbane Fashion Festival will be Bonfire the Label’s first official show and we couldn’t be more excited to light up that runway!

Who is the Bonfire woman?

The Bonfire woman has an enchanting glow and spark to her. She is strong, full of spirit, and unapologetically herself.

GINA KIM Designer Group Show

What can we expect from your show this year? The name of SS24 collection is ‘After Party’, inspired from the Venice Film Festival After Party that I went to last year. It will be full of bright colours and lots of sparkles. My favourite piece is a dress that I’m personally working on. It’s 100 per cent hand crafted with 1,000 metres of rhinestone rope – I’m excited to see how this garment will turn out!

Where do you seek inspiration?

My inspiration comes from everything, what I see, hear, and feel! Most of my inspiration also comes from travelling. I travel overseas regularly and always come back with fresh ideas.

How would you describe your own personal style and does that influence your designs?

I like to dress up for special occasions and love unique and stand-out pieces. I’m always designing pieces that I can wear too. I think my clothes represent myself and my character.

How has Gina Kim transformed over the years?

Gina Kim launched in 2003 and started out as haute couture, made-to-measure pieces only. We are now trying to introduce more modern and affordable pieces with a touch of special haute couture elements.

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