22 April – 10 October 2010

IntroductionGuide your students on a journey through Frock stars taking them behind the scenes to Australian Fashion Week. Experience the shows, the set and the scene. Relax in the VIP lounge, watch footage from past and present collections, and see amazing garments from the past 15 years, plus exclusive interviews with designers, models and industry insiders!

Frock stars will engage students and allow them to take a look at the complex organisation behind the staging of this major event and the roles and experiences of selected people working inside Australian Fashion Week; from buyers, media and models to designers, volunteers and producers. Explore the creative process of putting together a collection, in a recreation of the studio of fashion designer Nicola Finetti. Exhibition section highlights for students include the:

• ‘Catwalk’sectionprovidingachronologyof15 key Australian Fashion Week outfits drawn from 1996 to the present

• ‘Workroom:EastonPearson’wherestudentscan design an outfit with paper fabrics selected from the Easton Pearson collection

This resource material is designed for teachers to use before and after their visit to the exhibition. It focuses on tasks that will draw on and enhancestudents’understandingofAustralianFashion Week and the significant achievements of the Australian fashion industry.

The exhibition is divided into six sections:1.Catwalk2. Front row3. Backstage (including hair and makeup)4. VIP Lounge5. Workroom: Easton Pearson6. Studio: Nicola Finetti

In these notes you will find• Exhibition map (page 2)• Exhibition themes, objects and images (page

3) — exhibition overview• Related Powerhouse exhibitions and

resources (page 5) — Museum exhibitions, programs and resources to further enhance yourstudents’visittoFrock stars

• Unit of work (page 6) — including suggested Teaching and Learning context and Outline of learning activities — before, during and after the Museum visit

• Relevant syllabus outcomes (page 11)

EXHIBITION NOTES AND UNIT OF WORKNSW TEXTILES AND DESIGN SYLLABUSSTAGE 5 & 6

Ph

oto

Ste

fan

Go

satt

i/Get

ty Im

ages

TEACHERS NOTES 2

Exhibition map

SectionsA.Catwalk

B. Front row

C. Backstage

D. VIP Lounge

E. Workroom: Easton Pearson

F. Studio: Nicola Finetti

AudiovisualsCatwalkfootagecanbeseenthroughout the exhibition. These videos feature interviews with key people behind Fashion Week:

AV1 The producer

AV2–5 Backstage

AV6 15 years of innovation: the past, present and future of Fashion Week

AV7 Nicola Finetti

InteractivesIA1 Be a fashionista

IA2 Hair and makeup

IA3 Activity area

AV2

AV3

AV4

AV5

AV7

AV6

IA1

IA3

IA2

A

B

C

D

E

F

15 years of

Fashion Week

exit toCafeCourtyard

exit toCafeCourtyard

entry

AV1

TEACHERS NOTES 3

Exhibition themes

Introduction‘FashionWeeksaystotheworldthatAustralia is able to compete in the most image led, sophisticated cultural market in theworld,whichisready-to-wearfashion.’Simon P Lock, founder of Rosemount Australian Fashion Week

Now in its 15th year, Rosemount Australian Fashion Week is an annual presentation of spring/summer collection shows by established and emerging designers from Australia and the Asia-Pacific. The event showcases a range of garments and styles for men and women: swimwear, resortwear, streetwear, eveningwear and accessories.

FashionWeek’smainfocusistosellclothes—to both domestic and overseas markets. Each year the event also puts the industry firmly in the media spotlight and provides a launch pad for emerging designers.

Catwalk ‘Standingthereandseeingthelightscome on and the word BRAVE on the catwalk, said it all for us and the entire industry.Itwasabravethingtodo!’Lucia Labbate, event director, IMG Fashion

WayneCooper’slabelBRAVEkickedoffthefirstAustralianFashionWeekatSydney’sFoxStudios in 1996 (pictured below), when just the

idea of a week of Australian fashion seemed brave. At the time the local industry was crumbling in the wake of lowered import tariffs and competition from Asia. Australia was importing $1.6 billion worth of clothing and exporting only $270 million. Australian designers had few opportunities to showcase their collections and limited access to overseas markets.

In 1995 entrepreneur Simon P Lock took the audacious step of establishing a Sydney-based fashion week to put the Australian industry on the global fashion circuit. With his considerable experience in marketing and events, Lock and his company Australian Fashion Innovators galvanised the local industry and travelled the world cajoling top media and buyers to make the long trip to Sydney. With support from NSW and federal government agencies keen to promotetheindustry,andAustralia,Lock’svision became a reality in May 1996.

‘SydneyAustralianowjoinsMilan,Paris,London, New York and Tokyo as part of the international fashion circuit and becomes a focus for the whole industry in theAsia-Pacificregion.’Simon P Lock, founder of Australian Fashion Week, in the first official program

Australian Fashion Week quickly became a mainstay of the fashion calendar. In 2005 Australian Fashion Innovators was acquired by IMGFashion,theworld’slargestproduceroffashion events, under the leadership of Martin Jolly. Today the event has an expanded focus on the Asia Pacific region and is reaching audiences beyond the industry through the Rosemount Sydney Fashion Festival. Australian designers are experiencing unprecedented interest in their work — both at home and abroad — which would be inconceivable without the platform of Fashion Week.

Here are some of the clothes that captured the attention of media, buyers and the public over the past 15 years of Fashion Week.P

ho

to A

lex

Zo

tos

TEACHERS NOTES 4

Front row‘Designer’schoosethefrontrow.Asidefrom the actual collection the designers are putting on the catwalk, the seating plan is the second most important elementtoadesigner’sshow.’Lucia Labbate, event director, IMG Fashion

Catwalkshowsareanelaborate,andexpensive,form of seduction. The lights, the staging, the models and the clothes are carefully designed to cast a spell over the delegates; one the designers hope will generate publicity and sales.

Front row seats are reserved for those whose verdict matters the most: the buyers with the most money and the fashion writers with the most influence. Also in the front row are key sponsors and the celebrities who act as media magnets.

Designersworkwiththeeventorganiser,IMGFashion, to navigate the intricate politics of seating; from ensuring the major fashion mags have the same number of seats to keeping rival department stores on opposite sides of the catwalk.Onthedayit’suptothePRandseatingdirector to guide them to the right seat and placate any wounded egos.

Backstage‘You’vegotupto100designerswhoworkfor 12 months to get to this one point wherefor15minutesthey’reonshow.What they do makes or breaks their business.’DanielHill,generalmanager,Australia,IMGFashion

‘Theexcitementandthetensionandthehappiness and the tears backstage were alltoowonderful.’Robert Rosen, photographer

Go behind the catwalk and meet some of the people who make Australian Fashion Week tick: models, hair and makeup artists, stylists, show producers and crew.

VIP Lounge‘ButthemostchiclookofallatFoxStudios is a neck strung with passes money cannot buy — the ones that allow entrance to the invitation only between show havens laid on by Vogue and Harpers Bazaar. The top titles are also vying to have the most glamorous members of the Fashion Week A-list hang out in their designer spaces. Free champagne, manicures, neck massages, coffeeandherbalteaarelaidonasbait.’Maggie Alderson, Sydney Morning Herald, 12 May 1999

Workroom: Easton PearsonPamela Easton and Lydia Pearson invite you to create an outfit with paper fabrics selected from Easton Pearson collections. When you have finished, dress your paper model and place it on the runway for display.

Studio: Nicola FinettiWelcome to a recreation of the studio of fashion designer Nicola Finetti.

Nicola Finetti established his label in the mid 1990s. In 1998 he made his Australian Fashion Week catwalk debut, earning applause from fashion critics, including the influential Marion Hume, then editor of Vogue Australia, who praisedthe‘delicatesmokytransparency’ofhisclothes.* Since then Finetti has shown his signature romantic, sensual and wearable garments every year at Fashion Week. He says: ‘FashionWeekformeisimportantbecauseitreally helped make me known overseas and here … every time you get something out of it …somethingnewthataddstoyourlabel’.

The success of Fashion Week is built on the creativityofdesignerslikeNicolaFinetti.You’reinvited to explore his studio and see how he develops a collection, from inspiration to design and manufacture.

* Vogue Australia, July 1998

TEACHERS NOTES 5

Yourstudents’learningexperiencecanbefurther enhanced by combining their visit to Frock stars with other Museum exhibitions, programs and resources.

ExhibitionsCreating the look: Benini and fashion photography, level 2until November 2010Creating the look explores the creative processes involved in constructing eye-catching fashion photographs. The exhibition showcases Australian fashion photography by featuring BrunoandHazelBenini’selegantlycraftedfashion photographs and four case studies of contemporary fashion photography and film.

The 80s are back, level 3until December 2010The 80s are back is an exhibition that explores Australian life and popular culture during this formative decade of social, cultural, economic and political change. Interpreted through subcultures, movements and trends, this exhibition will allow students to explore key themes relevant to design, fashion, textiles, popular culture and visual arts.

OnlineFrock stars micrositewww.powerhousemuseum.com/frockstars/The Powerhouse has a wide range of online design resources to help support your teaching and learning, and provide essential research tools for students.

• Readinterviewswithdesignersandcasestudies

• VisitD’Hub,ouronlinedesignresourceandgatewaytotheworld’sbestdesigncollections

• Beinspiredbythousandsoffabricsamplesinour electronic swatchbook

Search our extensive collection onlinepowerhousemuseum.com/online/

Related Powerhouse resources

Ph

oto

Get

ty Im

ages

Ph

oto

by

Bru

no

Ben

ini,

© B

run

o B

enin

i arc

hiv

e

TEACHERS NOTES 6

n Suggested teaching/learning contextIn preparation for their immersion into the exciting world of fashion, students will themselves take on an imaginary role as part of their visit to the Museum. They roles are:

1. editor of a fashion magazine2. fashion blogger 3. fashion designer

Each role will focus on different areas of the fashion industry and the evolution of Australian Fashion Week over the past 15 years.

n Outline of learning activities

BEFORE THE MUSEUM VISIT

Welcome to the world of fashion!Introduce students to their new roles as fashion editors, bloggers and designers. Each role will take on different responsibilities; the main focus will be the development and evolution of Australian Fashion Week over the past 15 years. Students will be required to document in many mediums the spring/summer collections shows by established and emerging designers. Below are some class activities you can work through before your visit. Many of these activities can be supported by visiting the Frock stars microsite at, www.powerhousemuseum.com/frockstars/

Using your interactive whiteboard, view the pre-visit exhibition slideshow, which provides students with a visual map of the exhibition and therefore greater context for their learning at the Museum.

Analyse and explain how Rosemount Australian Fashion Week is an asset to Australian designers:Possible activity: • Usingaconceptormindmaptoillustrate

how Fashion Week has developed the labels ofsomeofAustralia’stopfashiondesignerssuchasAkiraIsogawa,ColletteDinnigan,Easton Pearson, Zimmermann and Ksubi.

• Investigatethegrowthofexportsalesinthefashion industry since 1995. Visit the following links for further information:

– www.rafw.com.au/ – http://www.austrade.gov.au/Textiles-

clothing-overview/default.aspx

Fashion Week is the result of complex planning, preparations and organising involving a wide variety of people and skills.Possible activity: • Conceptormindmapsillustratingpossible

roles that would contribute to the effective running of Rosemount Australian Fashion Week.

• WatchinterviewsonthePowerhouseMuseumFrock stars microsite. In small groups discuss and present the different roles that are

Unit of work

Ph

oto

Pat

rick

Riv

iere

/Get

ty Im

ages

TEACHERS NOTES 7

involved in making Fashion Week a successful event. Look at various roles from publisher/editor, events director, model casting to stylist. Explain what their roles are in Fashion Week.

Australian Fashion Week places Australian designers in the world spotlight, and by implication Australian culture is judged commercially and creatively in this global context. Possible activity:• ChooseanAustraliandesigneranddiscuss

how their designs are inspired by Australian culture.Discussfabric,colour,andconstructionand surface decoration techniques to explain how the Australian culture has influence their designs. Link to this page for some ideas. www.powerhousemuseum.com/frockstars/

The primary focus of Australian Fashion Week is generating new domestic and, more importantly, export sales for Australian fashion.Possible activity:• Developaconceptormindmapthat

illustrates how Australian Fashion Week has impacted on the textiles, clothing and footwear industry in Australia.

IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE VISIT

Tell students what will be required of them during the Museum visit and remind them of the tasks they must complete after the Museum visit.

DURING THE VISIT

Students will not be carrying worksheets around but can take notes and sketch in a visual diary and take photos of the exhibition. Encourage students to discuss ideas with each other and yourself in the exhibition.

Students could have thought-responsive questions in their visual diaries that could stimulate ideas for after-visit brief:

• analyseandvisuallydocumentthedifferentsurface decoration in catwalk garments

• listchangesoffashion,lengthofhemlines,colours, textures, and materials.

• listentoaninterviewwithKirstieClementsfrom Vogue to find out what goes on beyond the glitz and glamour.

• gobehindthecatwalkandmeetsomeofthepeople who make Fashion Week tick: models, hair and make up artist, stylist, show producers and crew.

• jumpintotheworkroomofEastonPearsonandcreateanoutfitwithamazing‘fabric’paper,dress your paper model and place it on the runway (pictured above).P

hotoCameronSpencer/GettyImages

Ph

oto

Mar

inco

Ko

jdan

ovs

ki, P

ow

erh

ou

se M

use

um

TEACHERS NOTES 8

manufacturing (in-house and or/external)

retail outlet

buying director

scouts

buyers

media and catwalks at RAFW

RAFW’s in house photographers and film crewsBUYERS

models

model agents

model minders

model bookers

MODELS

cleaners

ushers

seating director

front of house managers

FRONT OF HOUSE

backstage manager

make up artists

make up director

MAKE UP

backstage manager

hair stylist

hair director

HAIR

IMG market and communications team

publicity director

media publicist

showroom managers

PRs manage seating plans

RAFW in house PR photographers

and film crews

PR interns

larger brands marketing manager

RAFW’s marketing director

PR companies

PUBLICITY & MARKETING

IMG fashion global team and offices

IMG international delegate office – managers and assistants

IMG IT teams

event director and staff

event marketing & communications director and managers

event designer liaisons managers

government offices and supporters travel agents

hotel staff

airline and travel agent staff

taxi and limo drivers

restaurant staff

event general manager

IMG sponsorship management teams

IMG finance department

IMG corporate hospitality teams

legal teams

ADMINISTRATION

editors

fashion directors

writers

print

bloggers

radio

free and paid tv online social media

picture desks

publicists

journalists register

photographers & film crews

media pit

MEDIAMEDIA SPAN

fabric merchants

designer agents

designer relations managers at IMG fashion

designer manual

RAFW designer workshop

interns

pattern cutters

fabric sources

textile designers

sample seamstresses

cobblers

marketing

admin and finance

DESIGNERS

STAFF

caterers

chefs

waiters

mixologists

club promoters

traffic managers

IMG production managers

head dressersdressers

backstage managers

stylists and/ or choreographers

show producerssecurity

casting directorspersonal security –

for VIPs

safety officers

EvENT PRODUCTION

set builders

operators

cleaners

tent builderssignage makers and painters

carpet layers

CONSTRUCTION

djs

musical director

technical directors

lighting designers

set designers

graphic designersvoiceover artists

DESIGN

activation agencies

sampling staff hosts

Sponsors

AUSTRALIANROSEMOUNT

FASHION WEEK

IMG production director

PRODUCTION

• exploretheNicolaFinettistudio,seehowareal fashion studio looks and feels, see the various stages of creative idea generation and productionaswellasviewsomeofFinetti’ssignature garments.

AFTER THE VISIT

Students will select to be part of three different areas involved in the fashion industry. The basis of research and inspiration will be the Frock

stars exhibition and the 15 years of Australian Fashion Week. The different task will involve the students investigating a number of roles within the Australian fashion industry and how Fashion Week has impacted on this industry.

The students have three roles to select from:1. editor of a leading Australian fashion magazine 2. fashion blogger3. designer

TEACHERS NOTES 9

Activity 1: Editorial for Vogue Australia exploring 15 years of Australian Fashion WeekYouaretheeditorofoneofAustralia’sleadingfashion magazines and you have been asked to produce a visual and written editorial based on the past 15 years of Australian Fashion Week. In your editorial you will investigate the original catwalk parades from 1995 and research a designer or label and document their development over the past 15 years. Also, look atthemindmap‘RosemountAustralianFashionWeek,FifteenyearsofInnovation’onpage8,which outlines the various roles and activities involved in putting Fashion Week together. Select two roles and investigate and analyse how these roles have impacted on the industry growth and development within these areas, for example you could focus on an international buyer.

The editorial is to be no more than 500 words and can include digital and sketched images.

Activity 2: Create your own Australian Fashion Week blogThe world of communication has changed; we nolongerwaitforthenextday’snewspapersormonthly magazines to see the latest fashion hot from the catwalk. As fashion is so trend-driven and fashion blogs provide a new way to follow these trends, it is likely they will have a considerable long-term influence on the industry.

‘Beforeadesigner’srunwayshowhaseven finished, you can bet your bottom dollar that someone in the audience — or better still, backstage — has recorded every silhouette, signature shoe, styling detail and sulking supermodel, then uploaded it onto the internet for style watchersacrosstheglobetoenjoy.’Karen Kay, British fashion correspondent, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-428821/The-fashion-blog-stars.html.

Ph

oto

Mar

inco

Ko

jdan

ovs

ki, P

ow

erh

ou

se M

use

um

PhotoSergioDionisio/GettyImages

TEACHERS NOTES 10

With all this in mind the second activity requires youtobecomeFashionWeek’sofficialfashionblogger. You are required to blog on Australian Fashion Week through your experience of the exhibition. You will need to select a designer or label from the Frock stars exhibition and blog on past and present ranges.

You also need to discuss and show evidence of how their designs have impacted on current trends within society, as well as include examples supporting this.

In order to do this you need to create your own blog. Using the links below, research current and popular fashion blogs and then create your own fashion blog. You could then upload it to yourschool’sorTASfaculty’swebsite.Youcould also email the Museum on edserv@phm.gov.au so that we can highlight your blog post for other students visiting the exhibition.

Research blog sights:• http://jakandjil.com/blog/• http://iamfashion.blogspot.com/• http://stylebubble.typepad.com/

Link to create your own blog:• https://www.blogger.com/start

Activity 3: The new designerThe third activity asks you to be a designer workinginNicolaFinetti’sdesignstudiotocreate a four-piece range that is inspired by Australian Fashion Week but is also influenced and inspired by Nicola Finetti designs. The range is uniquely Australian and is a celebration of the Australian fashion industry. It will be the openingfeatureatnextyear’s2011RosemountAustralian Fashion Week.

You are required to complete A3 high quality fashion illustrations using any medium, and manufacturing specification sheets as seen in Nicola Finetti design studio. This includes a production plan, production drawing and description of each garment.

Nicola Finetti in his design studio and below, an exampleofFinetti’sproductiondrawingsandpatterns ready for cutting.

Ph

oto

s b

y G

eoff

Fri

end

TEACHERS NOTES 11

The exhibition supports the following NSW Syllabus outcomes:

P1.2 A student identifies the functional/ aesthetic requirements and features of a range of textile items.

Students learn about: • functional—itemsdesignedfora

specific purpose • aesthetic—surfacedecorationor

design that enhances the appearance of textile related items

• factorsdeterminingappropriatedesign,including environmental sustainability and manufacturing techniques

P5.1 A student examines the status of the AustralianTextile,Clothing,FootwearandAlliedIndustries(ATCFAI)withintheglobal context.

Students learn about: • issuesaffectingtheindustry,including

environmental sustainability, OH&S, legislation and technological changes

• thecontributionoftextilestolocalandglobal markets

P5.2 A student investigates the range of career options in design, consumerism, manufacturing and retail sector of the ATCFAI.

Students learn about: • sectorsoftheATCFA • trainingandcareeropportunities • trendsandopportunitiesintheindustry • thecontributionoftextilestolocaland

global markets

P6.1 A student identifies and appreciates the factors that contribute to the quality and value of textiles in society.

Students learn about: • influencesonthequalityoftextilesand

clothing • factorscontributingtothevalueof

textiles

H5.2 A student analyses and discusses the impact of current issues on the Australian textiles industry.

Students learn about: • currentissuesthataffecttheindustry

including globalisation of design, manufacture, distribution and marketing and imports and exports. Changingconsumerdemandsandlifestyle. The manufacturing strategies of niche and mass-produced goods

H6.1 A student analyses the influence of historical, cultural and contemporary developments on textiles.

Students learn about: • historicaldesigndevelopment • culturalfactorsthatinfluencedesign

and designers • contemporarysourcesofinspirationfor

designers

Relevant syllabus outcomes

12

For more information about education support or your booking, contact Bookings at the Powerhouse Museum: Telephone — (02) 9217 0222 Fax — (02) 9217 0622 Email — edserv@phm.gov.au

For more information on the exhibition Frock stars: inside Australian Fashion Week, visit the Powerhouse Museum’s website www.powerhousemuseum.com/frockstars/

© 2010 Trustees of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences. This publication is copyright. Apart from fair dealing for the purposes of research, study, criticism or review, or as otherwise permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission.

Text may be used under Creative Commons Licence, Powerhouse Museum, 2009. Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 Australia.

The Powerhouse Museum, part of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences also incorporating Sydney Observatory, the Powerhouse Discovery Centre and the NSW Migration Heritage Centre, is a NSW government cultural institution.

Subscribe to Education enewsFor updates about what’s on for teachers including upcoming exhibitions and education programs

subscribe to our Education enews email bulletin. www.powerhousemuseum.com/teachersguide/teachersemailsignup.php

FROCK STARSISPRESENTEDBYTHEPOWERHOUSEMUSEUMINCOLLABORATIONWITHIMGFASHION

Page1:outfitfromWayneCooper’sspring/summercollection2009/10.

Page 5: (top) Simona for Sportsgirl linen mini-dress, 1966, from Creating the look: Benini and fashion photography; (bottom) Romance Was Born Iced VoVo dress, 2009.

Page 6: Kit Willow lingerie collection, Australian Fashion Week, 2003.

Page 7: (bottom) behind the scenes, Billich Gallery, Australian Fashion Week, 2005.

Page 9: (top) Tsubi (ksubi) outfit, 2001; (bottom) on the catwalk, outfit by Therese Rawsthorne, Australian Fashion Week, 2008.