In September, we had the opportunity to support Grace Lillian Lee for the Jean Paul Gaultier show and see her Dream Weaver Exhibition at Brisbane Powerhouse.  It was an immersion into the world of avant-garde fashion and cultural storytelling. This unique show offered a rare opportunity to see Gaultier's bold, theatrical designs in a show that also featured Grace Lillian Lee's crafted piece 'Medusa'.  The Syndicate were also able to experience Grace Lillian Lee's solo exhibition The Dream Weaver: The Guardians of Grace at Brisbane Powerhouse.  This exhibition exemplified Grace's vibrant and culturally resonant work highlighting the power of fashion as both art and identity. 

In May, we joined First Nations Designers and met with the team of Citizen Wolf and  Joss Gabriel of The Social Outfit. These meetings created the potential for meaningful collaboration that can blend both creative vision and social impact. Both The Social Outfit and Citizen Wolf have a commitment to ethical production and community support.  The Social Outfit is known for empowering refugee and migrant communities through fashion and brings a unique cultural richness to its collections. Meanwhile, Citizen Wolf is acclaimed for its sustainable, custom-fit garments, challenging the norms of mass production.  Designers engaging with these teams learn innovative approaches to fashion that prioritise environmental responsibility and inclusivity, creating a shared vision where style meets purpose.

Natalie Wakeling grew up in Mudgee, in rural NSW and a primary part of her childhood was her family boutique fashion store. She travelled the world as a model for Ford Models and was an ambassador for some of the best Australian Plus Size labels. Transitioning from model to designer Natalie eventually settled with her husband and three sons in the Northern Beaches, Sydney.

In 2006, Natalie launched a denim range and her priority was all about the fit, structure, and quality of each garment in her range, passionate about designing denim that fits all women’s bodies. Natalie then expanded her collection to include tailored skirts, designer dresses and classic jackets under her label Embody. Embody was established with the ethos that size does not define style and with the spirit of the customers that love to support and wear an Australian owned and made brand.

In May, 2022 Afterpay Australian Fashion Week presented The Curve - Edit, a show where every woman in a range of everyday sizes, ages and colour walked the runway that featured six of Australia’s top plus size labels. These labels were 17 Sundays, Saint Somebody, Embody Women,
Vagary, Harlow and Zaliea Designs.

Hosted by Australia’s first plus-size modelling agency, Bella Management, it was a celebration of curves. In a culture of body shaming and diet culture this show was a revolutionary industry shake up. Embody is encouraging all of us that have the power to change the landscape of fashion size inclusiveness in Australia by bringing to public attention that “There has not been a major fashion media or print that has sought out interviews following the success of the Edit runway at Australian Fashion Week” and seeking support to run a full high end fashion campaign which she has named #realaustralianfashion.

Launching a Go Fund the objective is to execute a full editorial and digital campaign, consisting of high-end, inclusive Australian Fashion, worn by Australian women of various sizes, shapes and ages. The link to this Go Fund page is in our Syndicate bio. We would love all your help to make this campaign breathtaking and unforgettable. Follow @embodywomen for campaign updates and together we can give power to #realaustralianfashion.

Led by our own Jo Ferrandu, our team in partnership and support for artist Marina DeBris provided show logistics for Trashion Parade at Volvo Ocean Lovers Festival.  For over 10 years Marina DeBris has been devoting herself to putting marine pollution in the public's collective face by fashioning selected bits into wearable art - trashion. This ongoing project is called "Beach Couture: A Haute Mess." It's making fashion statements into bold declarations. It's advocacy as entertainment!  https://www.oceanloversfestival.com/​

AAFW 2022 was all things inclusive this year with its first Curve Edit size inclusive runway and Adaptive runway showcasing creations for people with disability.  Thank you to all the Show Producers, Designers and Collectives who entrusted us with the small and the major logistics this year.

Brookfield Properties Plastic Free July 2022. Congratulations to Rebecca Prince-Ruiz and the whole Plastic Free Foundation team who last year attracted an incredible 140 million participants across 190 countries to participate in Plastic Free July. We are endlessly inspired by the actions of the Plastic Free Foundation and the monumental grassroots movement it has created. James Griffin MP, Member for Manly and Minister for Environment and Heritage, Rebecca Prince-Ruiz, Founder of Plastic Free July and Mathew Chandler, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Brookfield Properties conducted an insightful discussion about the war on plastic waste. Brookfield Properties is continually challenging us to innovate in waste and sustainability.  Marina DeBris showcased her beautiful installations at the event. DeBris is an Australian-based “artivist” (an art/activist) whose work focuses on reusing trash to raise awareness of ocean and beach pollution. Jody from The Syndicate had the privilege of assisting Marina in the installations for Brookfield Properties.​

Yousef Akbar is a Sydney based creative, his birthplace is Saudi Arabia. Akbar asked to study fashion in Australia. Worlds and industries and careers apart. He graduated from the Fashion Design Studio with immediate success, beginning his label to great reception. It was a privilege to be a part of the Back of House team with Jody worked tirelessly with Yousef, Georgie and their small team through many nights to bring this collection to life.

Creatively, Akbar said he was inspired by 16th Century Oriental fabrication and tailoring, as well as French painters of the same era whose subject revolved around Oriental culture. “It was interesting to see every day moments and subjects from my history and culture captured by a French painter. It made me feel a strong sense of nostalgia about my culture and home. I was seeing part of my identity, that I can still connect with today. And I wanted to express that.” (paraphrased Alissa Thomas - Grazia)  Images:  Jody Head and Getty Images for Australian Afterpay Week Yousef Akbar Runway

​This June 3, on a day of national significance – Mabo day, also marked a historic milestone on the Australian fashion calendar. For the first time ever, six First Nations designers showcased their collections on the runway at Afterpay Australian Fashion Week (AAFW) on Gadigal Country.  It was an honour to work alongside Perina Drummond, Event Group, DAAF and IFP for this historical show.

Presented by Indigenous Fashion Projects (IFP), a Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation program, partnering with IMG Fashion and David Jones, and curated by Perina Drummond, stylist and founder of Jira modeling agency, the runway brought together some of the nation’s most talented and highly awarded Indigenous designers to celebrate its long overdue position on the mainstage.

The designers were; Indii, Kirrikin, Liandra Swim, MAARA Collective,  Native Swimwear and Ngali. All actively growing fashion brands, and part of the IFP Pathways Program, created together with David Jones with the aim of opening up opportunities for Indigenous labels through direct mentorships from the department store’s established Australian designers.  Credit: Angela Arlow and Getty Images/@gettyimages for Afterpay Australian Fashion Week Indigenous Fashion Projects Runway.