FASHION and good design shouldn’t be the exclusive realm of women who measure up to a perfect size 10.
Local business woman Victoria Neil is taking her passion for clothes designed for “real women” to Sydney for Mercedes Fashion Week this month.
WA designers, including House of Moshe, Jaclin Chouchana and Kaye McNally will showcase their summer 2001 collections for Australian and international buyers at the Textile Clothing and Footwear Resource Centre display stand in the Exhibition area at Fashion Week.
The TCF Resource Centre of WA, a project of the Belmont Business Enterprise Centre, was developed to assist local businesses working in the fashion industry and is also supported by the Department of Commerce and Trade.
Ms Neil said her experience working for a local importing business provided valuable experience and an understanding of the value of creative problem-solving skills in business.
The collection is Ms Neil’s first and has taken 18 months to get to the point where she has a sample of designs to show potential buyers from department stores and boutiques.
“There’s a great opportunity with the exhibition and we’ve got a small launch of the collection in Sydney,” Ms Neil said.
Several retail stores in Perth already are interested in Ms Neil’s collection, although she believes the market will predominantly be on the other side of Australia.
“Perth is very casual and I anticipate most of my market will be on the east coast,” Ms Neil said. “I’ve got an appointment with the David Jones evening wear buyer and we’ve talked about getting it here in WA and getting a profile.”
Interest in Ms Neil’s elegant collection is gathering momen-tum and she’s just been nomin-ated for the Telstra Business-woman of the year 2001.
“Statistics show that about 60 per cent of Australian women are size 14 and over,” she said.
Ms Neil said the evidence there was a market for clothes designed for women over size 14 can be seen in the success of retailer Katies Fashions size 16- 26 range, which accounted for about one third of the store’s business last year.
“Katies Fashions at Galleria has disappeared and been re-placed with the 16-26 range. The industry is starting to recognise there’s a market there for clothes over size 14,” Ms Neil said.
It’s not just women over 14 who have difficulties buying clothes off the rack, anyone under size eight has a similar problem, she said.
“It shouldn’t be about whether it’s big or small, you should be able to access it,” Ms Neil said.
The TCF Resource Centre has been invaluable for Ms Neil and she said Carol Hanlon, who runs the centre, has been a great support.
