Beyond the Bale - Issue 25 - Australian wool goes to Paris with Easton Pearson
Two Brisbane designers are finding that wool helps them take their clothes to the world
Pamela Easton and Lydia Pearson are the talent behind the Brisbane-based label Easton Pearson, established in 1989 when the two felt the need to create ‘clothes with soul'.
Their clothes with soul are now often clothes with wool. AWI has helped Easton Pearson source Australian Merino wool fabrics suitable for their new spring/summer 2007 (northern hemisphere) collection showcased at Paris Fashion Week in October. Media and buyers enjoyed an event at the 17th century Hotel de Sers, described as "part sculpture, part performance art".
Picture right: Australian Merino in Paris, thanks to Easton Pearson's striking designs.
A new Australian Merino wool jersey and an innovative lightweight fabric that is 50 per cent Australian Merino wool, 20 per cent cashmere and 30 per cent silk have been used in the new collection.
"We are in love with the new lightweight woven Merino wool fabrics, which are perfect for the trans-seasonal requirements of the northern hemisphere summer season," Lydia Pearson says. "The new Merino jersey is excellent to work with.
"We have a very exciting group of dresses, cardigans, tops and a pair of micro-shorts, all made out of the lightweight fabric, and some gorgeous, chic, minimal pieces made from wool jersey."
Pamela Easton adds: "The quality and diversity of fabrics available with Australian Merino wool are astounding. We have been able to take an entirely new direction on our designs with some of the fabrics AWI has sourced for us."
Melissa Grace, AWI's fashion communications manager, has been working closely with Lydia and Pamela. "Working with labels such as Easton Pearson helps AWI in presenting the true versatility and beneficial qualities of Australian Merino wool to the international fashion marketplace," Melissa says. "We are pleased to work with such unique and creative Australian designers who embrace Australian Merino wool."
Paris Fashion Week Ready-To-Wear collection fashion parades were held from 1 to 8 October this year. Paris Fashion Week attracts media, buyers and retailers from across Europe and is one of the most recognised annual events on the fashion calendar.
Acclaimed by retailer David Jones as one of their ‘designer drawcards', Easton Pearson is one of Australia's most respected labels. The pair have two stand-alone stores: one in their home town of Brisbane and the other in Paddington, Sydney. Since first showing in Paris in 1998, they have staged a low-key presentation in a private salon each year, but this season decided to go ‘all out'.
"This is the biggest thing we've ever undertaken in Paris and it was a big step for us," Pamela says. "We felt it was the right time to open up what we do and talk to a broader audience in a louder voice, if you like."
Easton Pearson now boasts more than 70 international clients in 24 countries across the world, ranging from Norway to Saudi Arabia and Italy to Japan, as well as in Australia, the US and New Zealand.
More information: Easton Pearson
Return to Beyond the Bale issue 25 index page.