VAMFF: State of Fashion Part 2

For the second part of VAMFF‘s State of Fashion series, Philip Boon hosted an afternoon in conversation with two more emerging Australian designers.

The first, Tezer Huseyin, is a former designer at Pineapple Dance Studios, where he learned how fashion worked from sample to showroom. He set up his own label, HVNC (pronounced “hunk”), in 2014 having seen a gap in the market for fashionable but comfortable men’s swimwear.

“I want to be able to inspire myself on a daily basis, and others,” says Tezer. “I want to have fun – if you’re not having fun, don’t do it!”

HVNC is Latin for ‘this/here’, a live-for-the-moment philosophy on which the brand is based, and which is reflected in the vibrant 70s inspired prints which – we were assured by Tezer – maintain the wearer’s modesty when wet by using the best quality Lycra! The most popular print is the chevron, a best seller for HVNC and which is based on the mosaics in Tezer’s parents’ native, Cyprus. The entire label is vibrant and fun, and truly does capture the relaxed spirit of Australia with the fashion-forward attitude of Europe. With the support of today’s brand influencers and ambassadors, HVNC has the potential to go global.

Our second designer was Letitia Green, who set up her scarf company following a stressful career for a leading Australian retailer. Having fallen pregnant through IVF, Letitia realised what was important to her.

“I missed working in fashion the buzz and people, but the idea of working with scarves appealed to me. Now, as I’m a full time mum, I get more done in less time! Being a parent definitely spring/boarded me into the business, and my father died quite tragically – which pushed me even further as I realised again that life is short. I wanted to be a mum my daughter could be proud of.”

What I found interesting about Letitia was that her label is based purely on her graphic design experience and work as an illustrator, and is inspired by her youth spent in South Africa with the colours and the local artisans. Letitia did an intensive graphic design course rather than spend four years at university, and was illustrating for major magazines when she decided to do it full time. She now illustrates and designs her prints and has her scarves manufactured in Australia while being a stay at home mum – quite the inspiration for International Women’s Day.

I’m Wearing: jeans, Ralph Lauren; shirt, Zara; sunglasses, Dolce & Gabbana; shoes, Debenhams; necklaces, Azuni and Alex Monroe; bag, Radley.

Don’t forget that you can follow me on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (daydreamer.net) for more coverage throughout my stay in Melbourne, Victoria.

Images: Kris Miller