IMG Models Australia goes live

madison stubbington via IMG models australia

Ever since news broke of IMG Models’ intention to open up down under, the Australian modelling industry has been nervously awaiting further intel about precisely which direction the company plans to take in this market. First Chic Management general manager Danielle Ragenard defected to head up the new agency (she was joined on Monday this week by new senior manager Jaz Daly, ex Priscillas). Then Miranda Kerr, Nicole Trunfio, Bambi Northwood-Blyth, Bridget Malcolm and Ajak Deng jumped ship to IMG Models from their respective Sydney agencies. Now an IMG Models Australia microsite has just gone live on the IMG Models website. The bottom right-hand corner of the website of the world’s largest model agency now lists the following tabs: "NEW YORK, PARIS, LONDON, MILAN, SYDNEY".

Girls on the Avenue

The beginning of this month kicked off with a manic week in which frockwriter flew to Brisbane, Adelaide and Auckland in the space of five days for three separate events – in each case as the guest of the respective organisers (but just to clarify, no appearance fees). Before heading to New Zealand Fashion Week, I was in Brisbane on August 29 to facilitate the Metropolitan South Institute of TAFE fashion industry panel for the third consecutive year. Then on September 1, I headed to Adelaide to see an in-season fashion showcase called Fashion Avenue that is now in its third year and is organised by Pride Models, one of the two major modelling agencies in town.

Triggonometry

iris van herpen haute couture FW1112/style.it

Adelaide is emerging as quite the model springboard. This time last year frockwriter popped over to the Adelaide Fashion Festival and stumbled upon a new face just-signed to local agency Finesse Models, Melissa Johannsen. Johannsen has since emerged as a key member of the new Australian modelling A Team on the international circuit. Tomorrow we are heading back for the 2011 Adelaide Fashion Festival - once again, as a guest of the organisers - and a quick ring-around unearthed a few more hidden SA gems. Case in point, Tori Trigg. This 18 year-old champion horsewoman was, according to Adelaide's Pride Models, overlooked by Sydney agencies earlier this year when Pride first introduced her. After coming to the attention of the world's biggest modelling agency, IMG, Trigg was whisked off to the Paris haute couture shows in July. She booked three shows, walking alongside the much higher profile Australians Julia Nobis, Codie Young and Ajak Deng, unbeknown to most. Here is Trigg at Iris van Herpen (above) and in this video, where she appears at 58', immediately following Young:

Adelaide's top fashion banana talks shop at Unley

Frockwriter is here in Adelaide as the guest of the city’s Fashion Festival. It runs over nine days but sadly we can’t be here for the duration. We are, however, tag-teaming with our buddy, photographer Sonny Vandevelde, who will be here for the last few days. So check Sonny's blog later in the week for his expert backstage take on the last few shows, including the closing night's Chambord  Designer Fashion Showcase. In the meantime, frockwriter has been busy at the first shows. First up, Friday night’s Fashion on Unley event at Unley Town Hall with VIP guest Josh Flinn. Before he was the model mentor for Australia’s Next Top Model Cycle 6 Flinn was, among other things fashion-related, a Banana in Pyjamas (still is in fact) and before that, an Adelaide fashion hopeful. Good to see home town heroes coming back to support their cities' fashion events. After a short Q&A with Flinn on stage, the host then threw to the parade: a showcase of the various designer labels sold at boutiques in Unley, including George Gross, Harry Who, Alexis George and Carla Zampatti. All the models were from local agency Pride. Here are a few shots. But head to frockwriter’s Posterous (here) for a complete backstage gallery. And either my Twitter or frockwriter’s Facebook page for coverage of the event in real-time.