hear this, give your all for this matter is wondrous in worldly riches, living without dread when the body lieth in clay, I could do no more than I did truly

deep edits

In the past, Australians have largely been disregarded internationally in many creative industries, pushed aside for bigger and greater names.  But not for bigger ideas.  In fashion and design our time is now, as the next generation of creative types make their mark.  An ever-expanding influence, highly original ideas and experimentation in design are their trademark.  Carly Hunter is no exception.

Perth-born and Melbourne-based, Hunter’s designs reflect feelings of minimalism and an obsession with perfect symmetry.  Experimentation in cut, contrasts in texture and a clearly defined juxtaposition of strength and elegance see Hunter’s collections remain distinct, but consistently considered.  A graduate of the Western Australian School of Art Design and Media, Hunter’s collections have been shown at both the Perth and L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festivals.

Her signature silken drapes possess this geometric hold; while her pieces may appear somewhat simple in cut, Hunter’s designs hide strong shaping and a clear consideration of form.  A favoured use of silk also means her work complements what is underneath, with a sheerness that adds a powerful layer of depth to traditional anatomy.  This is what good fashion and design is all about: consideration of both the form, and the extension of, the individual.  

Hunter's relaxed designs sit at the vanguard of Australian fashion, distinct in their reflections of the human form and approach to geometric sophistication.  And lucky for us, her drapery and individuality is finally getting the attention it deserves. 

only slightly less

the jab in your side
stuck high in your rib
in and out
it's not enough 
we have no time
speaking in closed doors 
you could love
sitting in clouds of smoke 
when you're all alone
we made plans
promises made with aching veins
open eyes and empty minds
you're not anywhere
feel your lungs waiting
smaller and quieter
bones at my collar
holding nothing else inside
the space where we used to be
stuck between minds and reality
jump and fall
jump and fall

For a long time I didn't want to create anything because I was scared of looking back at it in the future and finding that the only way I could communicate my thoughts was forced or feeble or diluted by how much I could transfer from my mind to paper; of the muse I have lost I now see there is no intellect in how I feel or in my ability to explain it.  I want to know that I can hold my reality and every truth that I feel now will be mine forever

Hearts and Cigarettes

Photo Willy Ward

So I slept through most of April but one thing I did manage to do was to go see Chet Faker at The Toff in Town one Thursday night.  If you aren't already on the bandwagon or don't have the pleasure of experiencing Melbourne's perfect little music scene then I recommend you hop on now because this guy is quickly going places.

Also known formally as Nick Murphy, Faker possesses a definite strength in his voice and a tight live presence despite his young age.  Have a listen of a recording he did at 3RRR a few months ago and you'll see why.  Described as a bit dubstep, a bit electronica, a bit I-have-no-idea, his EP Thinking In Textures is exactly that: layered, considered and very clever.  Most of all, a desire to go about things on his own terms and to not be swept up in the hype (which more than often results in being dumped later) means that I'm definitely sure he'll be a growing force for a while.  I also work with a girl who is friends with him so perhaps I'll just leave uni and become a groupie.

Read this review that was in The Age (it was the first one I read and is still my favourite) because it captures it all perfectly.  He's also done a bit of acoustic work under the name Atlas Murphy (who I saw unintentionally live - the power of the pseudonym) which is pretty great too.

Embellished Insights

Taken from Style Bubble

On Friday afternoon I found myself in the world of the industry talk as Susie Lau, of Style Bubble, addressed an audience of interested writers, fashion followers and culture vultures about her experiences as a full-time fashion blogger.  She was nothing more than humble and insightful, and just like her blog, highly articulate. She was also wearing a sparkling forest-green tracksuit outfit...I respect her preference for comfort.

Lau's intelligent insights enhanced my interest in the relationship between the fashion industry and publishing, through the different perspective of an insider.  However, I was surprised to come away thinking more about Lau's role in the fashion and blogging ecosystems, because right now she's basically the queen bee.

Publicity regarding the event described Lau as 'fashion thought leader and internet icon'.  Her talks coincided with her front-row attendance at Mercedes-Benz Australian Fashion Week. How is it that by simply creating a blog and gathering readers a whole new world of travel and professionalism and influence is opened up to you?  Lau's blog was created as a hobby in the face of a boring day job, and didn't set out to achieve the status it has today.  Nor do I think she expected to become a voice of expertise for brands such as Prada and Dior.  This notion of authority today is blurred between the expert and the self-taught, the celebrity and (the former) non-entity.

There were plenty of times Lau alluded to things 'being easier' or 'more intimate' when she first started blogging in 2006.  A testament to how far social networking and the phenomenon of the blogger has come, perhaps, but again, this made me think of just how ungovernable the whole enterprise has become. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but just a symptom of accessibility. Lau even noted her endeavours to establish things 'offline', away from Style Bubble, as a means of creating a tangible existence off the screen - which I think is very clever and almost old-school in that strange way of remembering how to have a life off the internet, which I'm inclined to say everyone has forgotten.

The question and legitimacy of citizen journalism has become a recurrent theme throughout my media and communications degree. The view of it as a threat to the integrity of the industry I believe is valid, but at the same time any person, journalist or otherwise, who denounces the existence or influence of the blog is poorly blindsided.

None of these ideas are revolutionary. I think that perhaps as much as we don't know about where the future of the industry and technology is going, neither do we know why or how certain things or people become trends or celebrity. But like anything we need influential individuals and Lau, regardless of circumstance (or because of, depending how you see it) is astute, considered and like her nickname, just sparkles.