Garments from the AWI fashion show collection being showcased to the crowds at the Campbell Town show in June. Pictured left is the Off Shoulder Crop Sweater and Knit Fitted Midi Skirt from Seed Heritage and right is Country Road's Merino Nep Crew Knit.
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AWI presents commercially available wool garments at the fashion shows of regional events across Australia, to help showcase the fibre and build demand for the wool products.
Showcasing the latest wool apparel of some of Australia's greatest brands and retailers, the AWI Runway Kit was launched ten years ago and has been on tour across Australia ever since.
The curated collection of garments assists the organisers of regional shows to showcase great examples of wearable wool fashion at their events. The collection includes commercially available wool outfits from Australian brands, and is sent to the show organisers with information and accessories to help them run their fashion parade.
The current AWI Runway Kit contains looks from the Autumn/Winter 2022 collections of leading Australian designer labels including womenswear from Seed Heritage, sass & bide, SABA, Kookaï, Jac + Jack, Iris & Wool, Witchery, Country Road and Assembly Label; and menswear from M.J. Bale, Iris & Wool, Country Road and Sportscraft.
Recent shows at which the collection has been exhibited include Sydney Royal Easter Show in NSW (April), Queensland State Sheep Show at Cunnamulla (May), Campbell Town Show in Tasmania (June), the Victorian Sheep Show in Ballarat (June) and the Australian Sheep & Wool Show in Bendigo, Victoria (July).
"With the resumption of regional shows after so many were cancelled during the pandemic, we are delighted that the AWI Runway Kit can continue to bring the latest wool fashion trends to our regional communities," said AWI's National Events Manager, Wendie Ridgley.
"The collection professionally showcases wearable and commercially available wool products from the current collections of some of AWI's retail and design partners, with the garments available to be purchased online from the brands' websites wherever you live in Australia.
"Each year, the AWI Runway Kit visits events from the east coast to the west coast, and from the largest shows to the some smaller, more local events."
Fashion director of the Campbell Town Show, Taylor Clyne Smith, says she is grateful to AWI for supplying the garments that are paraded in front of the audience at the show.
"The AWI Runway Kit is carefully curated each year to showcase the best of the wool industry, quite literally from paddock to parade because without our farmers we cannot dabble in these luxury looks like we do," she said.
"The Campbell Town Catwalk is iconic for many reasons, but mostly because it puts an emphasis on bringing the space to life with the best of the season's woolly fashions surrounded by the smell of sheep being judged and wool being thrown with farming families in the crowds.
"I know that these collections make people feel connected to our woolgrowers. After all, our woolly fashion is a celebration of our sheep and they are our constant inspiration.
"I am humbled to present this show every year on behalf of AWI and truly believe there is a place for regional catwalks to exhibit fashion to their communities."
The AWI Runway Kit is available for loan to suitable wool-focused events across regional Australia – it is contained in a robust wardrobe case for ease of storage and transport.
