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Congratulation to both Mel (Klue) and Lyna:
http://www.thevine.com.au/fashion/ne...d20110315.aspx
It's been a year of dramatic ups and downs for Sydney-based menswear label Song for the Mute. Early in the year, after gaining a rare opportunity to show their collection to buyers and press in Paris, the label experienced a huge setback when couriers lost their entire collection, which had been crafted specifically for the Paris showing.
The designers are now embroiled in a legal battle with the company that caused this massive setback.
Fortunately today the brand received a well earned boost, taking out the LMFF Designer Award, presented by Woolmark and supported by Vogue Australia. Song for the Mute are rare amongst award winners, in that they exclusively design menswear.
Scarlett Hill, communications manager for Woolmark who also worked as a judge on the award, announced the winners, in the absence of Woolmark CEO Stuart McCullough.
Overwhelmed to the point of speechlessness, SftM designer Lyna Ty could merely cry at the decision, while her design partner Melvin Tanaya, just as shocked and awed, thanked the entire industry profusely for its love and support.
This year, competition for the award was very stiff, and the winners stated their honour to even be amongst the pack of emerging designers nominated, which included Ellery, Dress Up, Arnsdorf, Lui Hon, Laurence Pasquier, Bassike and fellow menswear designers From Britten. Before the award was announced, each designer showed a selection of pieces. The offerings this year were very strong, with clean, liveable separates from Dress Up, Arnsdorf, Bassike and Laurence Pasquier, dark, highly textured and futuristic pieces from Lui Hon, shimmering, eye catching party frocks and it-girl attire from Ellery, and a directional take on suiting from From Britten.
Despite this impressive pack, Song for the Mute were crowd favourite for the award, with pre-show whispers pointing to them as possible winners. Song for the Mute's aesthetic is extremely impressive, at once casual and cutting edge, it pushes menswear forward with cuts that manage to be both boxy and forgiving, offering youthful details like backpacks and draped-down tails contrasted with an eye for construction and traditional tailoring.
Perhaps what set the brand apart from its competition was its ability to utilise wool to the fabric's full potential. It appeared this season in many forms, from loose knits, to tight weaves, and some floaty, draped incarnations in between. On winning the award, Tanaya commented on their newfound appreciation for wool, stating "It's amazing what you can do with it."
Favourites they may have been, but this year's competition was a far cry from last's where Dion Lee (who this year helped judge the award) was a foregone conclusion as winner.
Talking to me earlier in the year, Grant Pearce, who also helped judge the award for the first time explained they were looking for:"As that award has developed, so has the industry, so the expectations on the winner are greater each year. The overall presentation of the brand, how they market, present and retail that garment. Their vision as a brand is just as important as the creativity that goes into the design, we look at everything from the cookbooks to how the garments end up in store - the overall development of the label really."
Pearce went on to explain that, "the reason that award is so important is because of the high caliber of the judges. They're all pretty serious influencers. It really has become, from an industry point of view, a very well recognised award, that offers a talent that has already experienced a part of the business a channel for expansion from there.
That to me is a really valuable aspect of the festival's award, that it can offer a step-up to the next part of a label's growth. It’s a tangible award, and that’s where I see it’s value. "
The award's final judges were Kirsty Clements, who has been involved in the award since its inception alongside David Jones' David Bush and Myer's Judy Coomber.
The winner of the LMFF Designer award this year received a prize to the value of $20,000, including $10,000 cash and a trip to attend either Premiere Vision (Paris) or Pitti Filati (Florence) where they will be introduced to Woolmark’s network of mills and suppliers.
http://www.thevine.com.au/fashion/ne...d20110315.aspx
It's been a year of dramatic ups and downs for Sydney-based menswear label Song for the Mute. Early in the year, after gaining a rare opportunity to show their collection to buyers and press in Paris, the label experienced a huge setback when couriers lost their entire collection, which had been crafted specifically for the Paris showing.
The designers are now embroiled in a legal battle with the company that caused this massive setback.
Fortunately today the brand received a well earned boost, taking out the LMFF Designer Award, presented by Woolmark and supported by Vogue Australia. Song for the Mute are rare amongst award winners, in that they exclusively design menswear.
Scarlett Hill, communications manager for Woolmark who also worked as a judge on the award, announced the winners, in the absence of Woolmark CEO Stuart McCullough.
Overwhelmed to the point of speechlessness, SftM designer Lyna Ty could merely cry at the decision, while her design partner Melvin Tanaya, just as shocked and awed, thanked the entire industry profusely for its love and support.
This year, competition for the award was very stiff, and the winners stated their honour to even be amongst the pack of emerging designers nominated, which included Ellery, Dress Up, Arnsdorf, Lui Hon, Laurence Pasquier, Bassike and fellow menswear designers From Britten. Before the award was announced, each designer showed a selection of pieces. The offerings this year were very strong, with clean, liveable separates from Dress Up, Arnsdorf, Bassike and Laurence Pasquier, dark, highly textured and futuristic pieces from Lui Hon, shimmering, eye catching party frocks and it-girl attire from Ellery, and a directional take on suiting from From Britten.
Despite this impressive pack, Song for the Mute were crowd favourite for the award, with pre-show whispers pointing to them as possible winners. Song for the Mute's aesthetic is extremely impressive, at once casual and cutting edge, it pushes menswear forward with cuts that manage to be both boxy and forgiving, offering youthful details like backpacks and draped-down tails contrasted with an eye for construction and traditional tailoring.
Perhaps what set the brand apart from its competition was its ability to utilise wool to the fabric's full potential. It appeared this season in many forms, from loose knits, to tight weaves, and some floaty, draped incarnations in between. On winning the award, Tanaya commented on their newfound appreciation for wool, stating "It's amazing what you can do with it."
Favourites they may have been, but this year's competition was a far cry from last's where Dion Lee (who this year helped judge the award) was a foregone conclusion as winner.
Talking to me earlier in the year, Grant Pearce, who also helped judge the award for the first time explained they were looking for:"As that award has developed, so has the industry, so the expectations on the winner are greater each year. The overall presentation of the brand, how they market, present and retail that garment. Their vision as a brand is just as important as the creativity that goes into the design, we look at everything from the cookbooks to how the garments end up in store - the overall development of the label really."
Pearce went on to explain that, "the reason that award is so important is because of the high caliber of the judges. They're all pretty serious influencers. It really has become, from an industry point of view, a very well recognised award, that offers a talent that has already experienced a part of the business a channel for expansion from there.
That to me is a really valuable aspect of the festival's award, that it can offer a step-up to the next part of a label's growth. It’s a tangible award, and that’s where I see it’s value. "
The award's final judges were Kirsty Clements, who has been involved in the award since its inception alongside David Jones' David Bush and Myer's Judy Coomber.
The winner of the LMFF Designer award this year received a prize to the value of $20,000, including $10,000 cash and a trip to attend either Premiere Vision (Paris) or Pitti Filati (Florence) where they will be introduced to Woolmark’s network of mills and suppliers.
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