As a shooting star blazes a trail across the cosmos it does two things. Firstly, it inspires those who watch it with its momentum and trajectory. Secondly, however, the shooting star in question travels further and further from its home. Such is the price of being a shooting star – the meteoric rise comes coupled with being distanced further and further from home.

Rising fashion star Mic Eaton and his directional menswear label, Material Boy, have likewise shot to international fame. Not only is Material Boy huge in New York, Tokyo and now Europe, but Eaton also received the international stamp of approval when he was chosen by London’s monolithic menswear store Topman to develop a capsule collection for their Spring/Summer ’08 Lens project.

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Yet for all this success, for all this recognition, Eaton is homesick. West Australian born and bred, Eaton has been living and working in his Bali design studio for the past three years. His Winter ’07 collection, A Vomit Affair, was seminal. It was followed by Spring/Summer ’08, Celebration of Your Inner Gay, which saw the Northern Hemisphere stand up and take attention. Now, though, Eaton returns home with his Winter ’08 collection, Abadigital – a luxurious ensemble rich in texture and indigenous iconography.

‘I’ve been spending a lot of time abroad,’ Eaton said of the inspiration behind Abadigital. ‘I spend most of the year travelling, and as I enter the European market and the Japanese market I really wanted to do something that represented an Australian designer. So you’ll find references to indigenous art work and the earthy colours of our outback. The digital aspect comes from the modern twist I do on most of my collections.’

This time around wool, silk and leather are used to create a stronger, slightly more mature collection, one imbued with drama, a rich, earthy palette and an old world spirituality in the form of Wandjinas and Koori inspired witchetty grubs. And nothing could be more modern in this collection than Eaton’s incorporation of magnets to create – wait for it – magnetees.

‘We were playing around with different fabrications and different materials outside of the usual. The magnets have been used to create intentional shapes in each piece of clothing. They’re just small little magnets that have been sewn into certain places which hold it in shape. That means there’s no other option but to wear it that way because the magnets hold it in that shape.’

Stand out pieces include heavy deconstructed coats, modern cloaks, pleated woollen baggy pants ala the ’80s, silky bomber jackets, round nosed shoes and of course, another wonderful rework of Material Boy’s must have – the trademark tracksuit tubbys (which come in burnt orange, bright orange and the Koori print). The overall look is a shift away from the tall skinny silhouette of last summer to a bolder, more compact silhouette, one emphasised through drape and fall. Romantic, masculine, strong and mature, this new range suggests Material Boy is growing up.

However, Eaton is quick to disagree, ‘I wouldn’t say growing up. There’s a lot more involved in each collection now – I just think my experience is showing. I like to keep the freedom open to go where I like, but the concepts, they’re getting much stronger, and I think it shows just out of experience.’

Last year, a local street artist called Bach used Wandjinas as a means to highlight Aboriginal issues. As a white person using an Aboriginal sacred symbol, he was confronted with dire warnings from community elders who insisted he desist. Is Eaton worried about any similar repercussions?

‘In a spiritual way, no. It’s not so political the way that I’m using it. I’m not trying to stir anything up. It’s more of a visual. I’m not using it in a negative way. And I spend a lot of time in Asia where that side of life is very real and I’m completely aware of all of this. I feel fine using them because they appear here in an appropriate way.’

At current, Eaton’s Material Boy does not have a stockist in WA. However, possibilities are being batted around, as is the opening of a Material Boy concept store in Melbourne. One thing is for certain though: Material Boy will be appearing at StyleAID on July 18 (www.styleaid.com.au). If you are interested in purchasing any items from Abadigital you can contact Material Boy direct via info@materialboy.com.au.