Perth Fashion Designers’ Showcase
Something exciting is happening in Perth fashion and it’s all about bringing independent designers, creativity and a little interstate collaboration into the spotlight. Pearth Style Lab officially launched with a Fashion Exchange evening in September that brought together designers, creatives, industry insiders and supporters of independent Australian fashion, along with some impressive guests, including City of Perth Lord Mayor Bruce Reynolds, Melissa Bell, Co-Founder of Ampersand Estates, and Wynand Fourie, Managing Partner of IBM Western Australia. Also there to check out the concept was Jesse Gillard, Executive Officer of the Council of Capital City Lord Mayors and Stacey Pallaras, representing the South Australian Fashion Industry Association (SAFIA).
Rather than feeling like just another fashion store, Pearth Style Lab has created a space where independent labels can be discovered and where shoppers can actually connect with the stories behind what they are buying.
The current line-up is a seriously interesting mix of established and emerging talent, including The Modern Boho, Kirrikin, The Italian Closet, Tania Claire Australia, Amare, Koi Girl, Unity and Frank, Jean Pool and limited-edition pieces from Empire Rose. Then there are the accessories and jewellery labels, including Lou Lou Styled, Allia Designs and Marosi Studio Jewellery, adding even more personality to the mix.
But perhaps the most exciting part is the growing WA–SA connection. Through the inaugural interstate exchange with SAFIA, South Australian labels Iris & Wool and ELLEE The Label have joined the Pearth Style Lab line-up, bringing a little South Australian creativity into the Perth fashion scene.
And it didn’t take long for the collaboration to prove its potential. An ELLEE The Label piece made its first sale almost immediately after the launch – exactly the kind of tangible result that makes an industry exchange exciting.
Because this isn’t simply about putting another label on a rack. It’s about opening doors.
Independent designers often have brilliant ideas, beautiful products and compelling stories, but getting those designs in front of new customers can be one of the biggest challenges. Exchanges like this create an opportunity for designers to step outside their home market and introduce themselves to an entirely new audience.
Passionate advocate for Perth Fashion, Mariella Harvey-Hanrahan, expressed it well when she said:
“For me, Pearth Style Lab has always been about much more than creating another retail store. It’s about creating a platform and a community around independent designers and Western Australian creative enterprises, giving them opportunities to be seen, discovered and, importantly, commercially supported.”
And customers are increasingly interested in that story. Who designed it? Where was it made? What’s behind the label? Who are we supporting when we buy it?
Pearth Style Lab is tapping into that curiosity while creating a genuine community around independent fashion.
The bigger picture is just as exciting. Collaboration between organisations such as the South Australian Fashion Industry Association (SAFIA), STAGE 111 – the group behind the launch and Pearth Style Lab itself, provide opportunities for designers to share audiences, connections and ideas across state borders.
Back to Mariella:
“The SAFIA exchange is particularly exciting because it takes that philosophy beyond Western Australia. Rather than WA and SA designers operating within their individual markets, we’re beginning to create pathways for independent designers to be introduced to new audiences interstate.”
And when WA and SA fashion start talking to each other, everyone gets to discover something new.
With its constantly evolving collection of independent labels, Pearth Style Lab looks set to become more than a destination to shop. It’s becoming a meeting point for fashion, creativity and the people behind the labels — and that’s something worth watching.
Find Pearth Style Lab at Forrest Chase in the city, or follow them at @pearthstylelab on Instagram and PearthStyleLab on Facebook. And in case you were wondering, the name comes from Perth + planet EARTH =Pearth, reflecting the importance of the boutique’s sustainable goals. WELL WORTH A VISIT!
All images courtesy of Jarryrd West: jarrydwestphoto.com
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