Peter Morrissey - Fashion designer and founder of the Morrissey label
Master of dressing for the moment
Peter Morrissey has 80,000 Australians wearing Australian Merino wool every day.
As one of Australia's most prominent fashion designers – the man behind the Morrissey label – he is also one of the country's most sought-after uniform designers. Three years ago he came up with the Qantas uniform, then IAG; now OPSM staff are getting the treatment, before he clads the managers of McDonald's restaurants across Australia in wool suiting.
He is the master of dressing for the occasion and loves being an AWI ambassador for Australian Merino.
"If I am someone people admire and respect and I can use that to influence consumers on the value of wool, then I'm happy to do that," Peter says. "In a way I am the mass outlet for wool in this country … I'm putting everyday Australians in wool every day and will continue doing that because it's such a great fibre.
"I've always worked with wool jersey and other wool fabrics in my fashion range, and will always include it, but if you want to use volumes of wool, uniforms are where I can get it moving."
Three years after creating the Qantas uniform range, Peter still gets a thrill, when flying, to see how good it looks.
"The fabric we used was a beautiful, lightweight, trans-seasonal wool fabric. It doesn't crush, it travels well, the colour and shape have held wonderfully and the crew always look smart. They feel comfortable in all climates.
"My number-one belief when designing uniforms is that if you want to look like a manager, then dress like a manager. Dress for the occasion."
Peter applauds AWI's investment in fabric innovation: "Fashion is about what's new, what's the latest. To keep up with the trends you need new and inspiring fabrics."
All suiting in the uniforms designed by the Morrissey team is made with fabrics containing a minimum 60 per cent Australian Merino wool, and the relationship with AWI has allowed the team to become aware of the latest in fabric innovations.
"AWI has also introduced me to a number of new Australian Merino wool textiles, which are extremely trans-seasonal, comfortable and innovative. As well as being ideal for the corporate work, I've found many fabrics which can be slotted into the latest Morrissey collections."
Today the Morrissey label (www.morrissey.net.au), owned by the fashion retail company M Webster Holdings, has eight concept stores and is available through David Jones stores across Australia.
"Morrissey is for strong and confident men and women with a modern appreciation of style who enjoy dressing to express their individuality," Peter adds.
Peter recently participated in an AWI photo shoot of designers supporting Australian wool. In this picture he partners with up-and-coming model Holly Caiulo, who is wearing an Australian Merino wool Qantas uniform by Morrissey.
More information: merinoinnovation.com Designers Directory - Peter Morrissey.
Return to Beyond the Bale Issue 26 index page.