Wool a highlight of catwalk

Wagin locals Koshie Isle and Londa Finlayson are no strangers to the shearing shed, but at this year’s Wagin Woolorama on March 6 and 7 their wool handling will be of a different nature.

The cousins, who are co-stewarding the fashion parades, are aiming to showcase wool at its finest with a collection featuring garments from Australian Wool Innovation designers such as Alex Perry and top brands.

Ms Finlayson said the parades would be more than just fashion — they were a display of amazing materials and artistic designs.

“We wanted to showcase how amazing fashion is, with a hint of wool,” she said.

Both born and raised in Wagin, Ms Finlayson and Ms Isle grew up with an appreciation of the wool industry.

Both their parents were shearing contractors and the cousins spent many an hour in Woolorama’s shearing complex watching events such as the Heiniger 100.

However, it was not until recently that they paired up for fashion’s sake.

“We work as a dynamic duo. I’m her colour and she is my neutral. That is how we see fashion,” Ms Finlayson said.

“This is something that we like to do and it is a great expression of women in the country.”

Also gracing the Woolorama catwalk will be Wagin District High School students, who will parade their entries in the 2014 Australian Apex Teen Fashion Awards.

The collection will feature the winning design of Year 10 student Saige Edwards, who was awarded Designer of the Year for her entry in the society and environment category, as well as the runner-up in the wearable art category, Lucilee Iles.

Ms Edwards, whose wearable art design was inspired by wool, climate change and country WA, won a five-day fashion course at the Whitehouse Institute of Design in Melbourne as part of her prize.

She was also invited to undertake an internship with the soon-to-be launched fashion magazine Cadoux, based in Sydney, where she will learn the ins and outs of publishing a magazine.