On Thursday 15 August, designers, models, artists and musicians came together to celebrate Australian design at the 19th Evening With Our Designers at the Strand Arcade in Sydney. The historic building was abuzz with activity as guest were treated to Limited Edition fashion and exclusive experiences for the one night only. Raphael Jewellers, worn by Rihanna during her last Australian tour also celebrated its 30th birthday and Akira Isogawa had a selection of archive pieces for sale.
The Strand Arcade, established in 1891 is one of Sydney’s most historic shopping destinations and iconic to the growth of the Australian fashion designer industry. The evening celebrated the pinnacle of craftsmanship and authenticity, giving people the opportunity to experience unparalleled access to designers, discover what goes on behind the scenes and explore what is one of Sydney’s most prestigious retail destinations.
The Ground Floor was host to Q&As hosted by the Powerhouse Museum Museum curators Glynis Jones (Curator) and Roger Leong (Senior Curator) interviewing iconic Australian designers including Akira Isogawa, Genevieve and Alexandra Smart (Ginger & Smart), Edwina Forest (Aje) and Louise Olsen (Dinosaur Designs) over Espresso Martinis, while on the upper floors, Laurent Perrier Champagne flowed freely for shoppers who were also able to enjoy free luxe feeds including freshly shucked oysters and caviar.
Strand Arcade Centre Manager Kristy Hoare said, “Ahead of the 20th anniversary next year of Evening With Our Designers, we were thrilled to welcome Sydneysiders to an exciting night of luxurious experiences – from caviar tasting, oyster shucking, and champagne bars, we also have an impressive line-up of designers for our first special event ‘Espresso Martini with our Designers’ and in-store styling.”
A major prize pool ‘The Vault’ of $5,000 in prizes from Strand Arcade retailers was won by one lucky shopper who ‘cracked the code’ by spending more than $300 during the evening.
