Media Release

IMG and St.George has today announced the six emerging Australian designers who will showcase their Spring Summer 15/16 collections as part of the St.George New Generation show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia.

The selected St.George New Generation brands in 2015 are: Casper + Pearl, House of Cannon, Mariam Seddiq, Misha Collection, POL and Vanessa Moe.

Internationally recognised as a prestigious launch pad, the St.George New Generation show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia provides designers an opportunity to showcase their collections to domestic and international buyers, media and fashion influencers.

Emily Weight, Director IMG Fashion Australasia says that the New Generation platform has been an integral and rewarding part of the schedule over the past 20 years.

“The New Generation platform is Australia’s most prestigious emerging designer showcase providing a select group of designers the unparalleled opportunity to present their collections to a global industry audience.”

Weight adds that the New Generation platform was the starting point for Australian designers such as Akira, Sass and Bide, Camilla and Marc, and Bec and Bridge to build global brands.

“The partnership with St.George to support the New Generation platform was a natural next step, and one that will evolve the program to benefit future leaders of the Australian Fashion Industry.”

St.George is the first bank to support the New Generation program designers beyond the runway. St.George, with support from IMG, will deliver ongoing individualised financial support and business mentoring to designers as they build their infrastructure and skills over the coming 12 months.

GM, Marketing, Customer Experience & Mortgage Broking at St.George, Martine Jager, says St.George is committed to helping start-up’s and the increasing home grown talent in the fashion industry.

“These are small businesses that require the right kind of support and encouragement to grow. They are designers who have proven to be not just talented, but incredibly dedicated.”

Jager adds that this season’s talent have been selected for their strong design aesthetic, artistic creativity and unique product offering.

“The selection process ensures the designers are ready to showcase and deliver retail ready wholesale collections. This requires a level of passion, dedication and desire to succeed - which is why we are so proud to support these talented designers to not only reach the runway, but succeed beyond it as well."

St.George has a long history of supporting Australian fashion businesses. Australian-fashion duo Camilla and Marc designed the new St.George uniform range which will be worn in branches from April this year. The bank has had a decade long relationship with the label, supporting them from the start and sponsoring their first solo runway show at MBFWA in 2004.

The six designers revealed at the St.George New Generation Launch this evening in Darling Point will launch a 12 piece Spring Summer 15/16 collection on the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia runway April 16, 2015 at Carriageworks, Sydney.

The designers are:

CASPER + PEARL
Stacey Hendrickson

HOUSE OF CANNON
Annie Cannon-Brookes
www.houseofcannon.com

MARIAM SEDDIQ
Mariam Seddiq
www.mariamseddiq.com

MISHA COLLECTION
Lyndal Hamwood

POL
Samantha Jones