Australians hit Milan
14/09/2007
Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) has taken part for the first time at the Ideabiella event in Milan.
The event, which ran for the 58th time this year, presents new collections from top Italian and European weavers such as Lora Piana, Marzotto and Ermenegildo Zegna. AWI believes that for it to have taken part too this year marks an important step forward for the organisation, which represents growers of Merino wool from all parts of Australia.
It has linked its presence at the exhibition to a global programme of events that will commemorate a special anniversary; it’s 200 years, this year, since the shipping of the first bale of wool from Australia for commercial sale.
The organisation’s presence at Ideabiella also highlights the important role that the Italian fashion industry plays in the trade of the wool today.
Another element of the anniversary celebrations is the Protégé Project in which five prestigious names in the international world of fashion—Karl Lagerfeld, Donatella Versace, Francisco Costa for Calvin Klein, Paul Smith and Franca Sozzani—will present five promising and aspiring young designers: Jean Pierre Braganza, Kristian Aadnevik, Julian Louie, Ioannis Cholidis and Sandra Backlund.
Each of the five apprentices must design a collection in which Australian Merino wool is centre stage. These collections will feature at a fashion show and gala event at the January 2008 edition of Pitti Immagine Uomo, also in Milan.
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