For Western Australia’s fashion designers supporting STYLEAID, the annual fundraiser for HIV/AIDS research, taking part is no small undertaking. It involves months of planning, collaboration and a generous donation of time and resources. We catch up with two local designers who are committed to supporting the cause.

Designer Alvin Fernandez is a long time contributor to STYLEAID. He first became involved with the charity fundraiser and organiser Ally May when he was still studying.

“Helping Ally tape shoes, dress models, it’s been a fair few years”.

Now with his own well established label Ae’lkemi, he’s a regular contributor to the annual gala.

“We’re working on a new collection now, which is great, and we’re trying to expand into the Asian market,” said Fernandez.

Usually labels don’t debut their couture ranges until December but Fernandez tells us that the label always wants to debut their work at STYLEAID, so they brought their deadlines forward.

For Shane Newton, it’ll be his third year with STYLEAID showcasing his label Zsadar. Over the last few years the designer’s popularity has quickly grown and he’s recently shown his work at Paris Fashion Week.

“This year’s collection is called ‘Jeckyl and Hyde’”, said Newton, “I’ve just come back from showing it in Paris and this is expecially exciting because it’s the only time it’s showing in Perth, so I’m really looking forward to it”.

For both Newton and Fernandez the reason for contributing so much to STYLEAID is to support raising more funds for HIV research.

“It’s a very worthy cause,” said Fernandez, “that’s why it’s one of the few things that I put up my hand for straight away, whatever it needs, whatever it takes, to raise awareness and funds is very important”.

STYLEAID is on Friday 9 August at the Grand Ballroom at Crown Perth. Tickets are available from www.styleaid.com.au. 

Image: Models wear swimwear from Bikini Atoll and a suit from Zsadar, photographed by Richard Jefferson.

Graeme Watson