This year’s winner of the Zomp STYLEAID Creative Designer Award represents the wave of young, fresh and ambitious designers spilling out of the WA fashion industry. Stephanie Audino has jumped straight from studying Fashion into launching her own successful label – Stephanie Audino Design
Already worn by Mel B and sitting in boutiques all over Perth; Audino brimmed with excitement about the label heading interstate and overseas.
“I just went to every boutique I knew and handed out look books and introduced myself. I ended up picking up 12 boutiques around Perth, I’ll be sourcing one in Melbourne as of September and I’ve also picked up another in Singapore, which is great”.
Transforming from the founder of a clothing label to a giggling Spice Girls fan, Audino explained the moment Scary Spice took a shining to her work whilst visiting Perth.
“I couldn’t believe it because I was the biggest Spice Girls fan as a kid and when she walked in I was like ‘oh my god’, I’ve never really been starstruck before. It was so cool. So I ended up getting to dress her which was probably the highlight of my career so far. She ended up getting changed into one of my tops and she wore it for the day out she was in Perth. The day after she purchased one of my jumpsuits and wore it to the Myer luncheon, it’s been great”.
Looking ahead to her Spring/Summer Collection 2013-14, Audino explained finding inspiration from her surroundings rather than other designers.
“It’s quite bright, it’s all about the flowers and the shapes, there’s draping, silk corsages on a few pieces, it’s all drawn back to the flower in privation so I made my lace with a floral pattern”, she explained.
Audino’s designs will be showcasing at this year’s STYLEAID on Friday August 9th at Crown Perth.
Nadine Walker
