FAITH CONNEXION FOR MADE SYDNEY
The energy in the room was rich with anticipation, the heat astounding as the crowd poured in, centring around an enormous white skate ramp that doubled as a stage in Sydney’s Carriageworks; the scene was set to begin.
It was one of those exhaustingly hot spring days that only Sydney could make feel like the middle of a summer heatwave. As the crowd began to settle all focus pulled toward the runway. Despite being their first ever organised show, French fashion house Faith Connexion was no rookie to the industry, being marvelled by a steady stream of celebrities for its anti-trend vibe since inception 10 years ago. It was an unconventional brand that critics often seemed to tattoo with labels like ‘urban’, ‘androgynous’, or ‘industrial’ for its signature graffiti look.
Expectations began to soar as the show commenced; a fresh-faced model dressed in a shimmering silver embellished blazer and ripped blue jeans glided down the runway alongside the ongoing skate boarders. Launching into a world of eclectic materials and references, the looks transitioned erratically from structured tweeds, to pieces that played with length and oversized silhouettes – purposefully elongating the sleeve. The selection of models displayed a set of eye catching, distinctive features, as casting director Kurt Johnson accompanied a mix of both signed high fashion favourites and freelance personalities in an expression of seeking out diversity. Each model arrived to the runway in the same luminescent, natural glow to compliment the changeable design of the clothes, as makeup artist Colette Miller kept things light and direct.
The sequence of the looks moved between a mix of refined embellishment and signature street techniques, where ruffles and lace were juxtaposed against chains, denim, and diverse prints with hand painted designs. Closing the show with ecstatic energy, Jacquelyn Jablonski strut down the runway, trailed by a flowing length of tropical print, which was layered with a white shirt tied loosely over a blue metallic bikini top. As the models grouped together onstage dancing nonchalantly, the skaters continued to move up and down the ramp between them, turning the set into a visionary theatre of contemporary youth culture.
The importance of the Faith Connexion launch in conjunction with the inception of MADE in Sydney lies in its ability to bind a new found cultural market for the city as an international stage for designer collections. The ultimate innovation and diversity of looks alone push towards a new generation of fashion, where refinement and the technical quality of high end garments come face-to-face with the technologically saturated culture of today’s youth.
Words by Curtis Hodgson, photos by Mark Metcalfe for Getty Images.
