Tickets are now on sale for one of New England’s most exciting awards events. The Fleece to Fashion High Tea Preview on November 24th and Gala Dinner on November 25th will offer the opportunity to view some amazing fashion design whilst enjoying great company and wonderful food.
The Fleece to Fashion design contest has been running for over 40 years now and has now become a highly prestigious and respected event, celebrating the combination of brilliant fashion and the local area’s proud history of superfine Merino wool production. The competition aims to influence the industry at its grassroots and position wool as the favoured natural fibre in fashion by promoting wool as a natural, biodegradable and sustainable fibre.
Entries to the fashion competition are still open until the 9th of October for those wanting to throw their hat in the ring. Designers at all levels of their careers are invited to enter fine, fun and fabulous designs for all occasions, and see their garments on the catwalk and assessed by a high-profile judging panel.
There are eight categories open for entry including: secondary school entrants, developing designer (tertiary level), special occasion wear, performance wear and athleisure, wearable art, celebrating global cultures, wool re-imagined and the wedding party.
This year’s judges will include well known Australian fashion designers Akira Isogawa and Jonathon Ward, as well as journalist and media commentator Melissa Hoyer.
“New this year is an amazing industry immersion in Italy to be awarded to the Supreme Champion (tertiary student),” said F2F event manager Sarah Mason.
This prize will allow a developing designer to spend valuable time visiting Woolmark’s Italian office learning all about the design and milling process, as well as ongoing training and development via Woolmark’s Sydney office.
Other prizes include a mentorship with Akira Isogawa, and generous cash prizes.
Fleece to Fashion operates as a Not-for-Profit organisation, so all prizes and the awards themselves are made possible by sponsorships from Australian Wool Innovation, ACHMEA Farm Insurance and a wide range of local businesses and wool growers.
Commenting on the introduction of the industry immersion prize, Fleece to Fashion Chairman Lachlan Fulloon says, “We are thrilled to offer these amazing opportunities to student designers that not only provide a fantastic career benefit to them but also an introduction to the world of wool, it’s versatility and useability across a broad range of clothing applications.”
The final awards weekend will kick off on Friday the 24th of November with a High Tea Preview Parade.
A Very Fleece to Fashionable High Tea will be held from 2pm at Deeargee Woolshed, Uralla. This smaller-scale event will offer attendees the opportunity to view a small preview of some of the entrants, whilst enjoying a selection of gourmet treats from Café Patisserie.
Saturday evening, the 25th of November, will be where all the glitz and glamour can be found with the official awards evening, fashion parade and gala dinner taking place. Held once again at Deeargee Woolshed the dress code is Black Tie and Boots, Formals and Flatties (no heels as they are considered hazardous in a woolshed environment).
Ticket price includes a delicious dinner prepared by the Cafe Patisserie team, fine table wines from Petersons Winery, live music from Armidale Electric Orchestra and a professionally choreographed fashion parade showcasing extraordinary creations in wool.
MC for the evening will be television personality Catriona Rowntree.
Bus transportation from the Armidale Visitors Centre and the main street of Uralla will be available for both events.
Tickets are on sale for both events now, to secure your place, or to learn more about Fleece to Fashion, visit the website.
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