On Monday 15 May 2023 ALÉMAIS made their runway debut opening Afterpay Australian Fashion week with a presentation of Resort ‘24, KABOOM.

The collection is a celebration of dreams, moving from dark to light ALÉMAIS explores the space between our reality and our future. Presenting 69 looks, KABOOM is a homecoming - a return to our true selves and the interconnectedness of all life.

“Today we’ve opened the door to the universe of ALEMAIS, showcasing a collection filled with symphonic rainbows, galaxies and the future. We wanted to bring the magic and spirit of the brand to life, and connect to the adventure of life. It was both a personal and collective dream come true.”

- Lesleigh Jermanus, Co-Founder & Creative Director.

The collection references are otherworldly and far-reaching. True to form, ALÉMAIS draws on elements from 60s, 70s and 80s but does not hold one decade too tightly. Taking off into the future KABOOM is the most confident expression from the brand to date. Magnolia Mayuru opened the show in the Planet Dress, a ditzy green floral in futuristic proportions. The collection weaves through a pastiche of psychedelic florals, sharp metallic tailoring, liquid chocolate sequins and fringed bio-leather.

To the sounds of Blondie and David Bowie, KABOOM hit high notes including; floral two pieces made from a regenerative orange peel fabrication, a hand-beaded silk organza gown with an exaggerated ‘Catherine Baba bow’, Hilma af Klint inspired maxi dresses in a swirling circular rainbow and structured petal sleeve minis inspired by nature.

ALÉMAIS’ own Star Man is the guide on this trip, arriving in the future with a glam rock power suit and voluminous red gown featuring the work of French based artist Yvan Guillo. Collaboration is at the heart of ALÉMAIS and Resort ‘24 rings true to this founding ethos uniting a cast of creatives led by Paris-based stylist, consultant and costume designer Catherine Baba.

“Catherine Baba, a sartorial icon, warmly embraced our vision and brought her otherworldly
perspective to transport us through our dreams to a new place,” says Jermanus. “Her influence was truly collaborative, from the jewellery and collection design, soundscape and injection of glamour into the beauty look. The collaboration process was joyful, like a true planetary alignment.”

ARTIST COLLABORATIONS

Jedda Daisy Culley
Meagan Boyd
Yvan Guillo

MAKEUP

In partnership with MECCA the beauty look spotlights NARS’s Velvet Matte Lip Pencil as the hero. This look plays off the colour, vibrance and 70s references that ALEMAIS is synonymous for and features in the Resort ‘24 collection. Makeup Director Rae Morris describes the beauty brief as “couture rock and glitter glam. Think, Bowies meets chic elevated luxury.”

HAIR

Leaning into the modern, Bowie-inspired looks for the show, evo hair’s professional styling range of products helped create contemporary looks, whilst the newly-launched Kaleo electrical tools range helped to shape each model’s individual look, supporting their natural texture. ‘Working with the beautiful Evo Haircare & styling range has enabled me to create these dynamic Bowie inspired yet modern and contemporary looks for ALÉMAIS’ opening show for Fashion week 2023,” says Hair Director Paloma Garcia. “We have two main looks for the show, however we created individual personalisation for each model, playing to their natural hair
texture and look.”

CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN

Christian Louboutin supports the ALÉMAIS opening show with red-sole energy and passion with everyday essentials to seasonal must-haves. Models will take the runway in limited-edition fluorescent couture and classic stilettos – the hot chick sling backs, complementing the Resort ’24 ‘KABOOM’ collection. This is the first time the brand has collaborated with an Australian brand on the runway at AAFW.

ACCESSORIES

Sydney-based jewellery designer Ryan Storer worked closely with Jermanus and Baba on the accessories. Jewellery pieces were treated as an armour, exploring the tension that exists between romance and strength. Nature is an enduring point of inspiration for ALÉMAIS with floral motifs based on how bees see flowers through ultraviolet vision. Representations of the feminine form drew on iconography
found in Meagan Boyd’s work.

SUSTAINABILITY

Committed to more sustainable and ethical practices, Resort ‘24 embraces low impact materials; an innovative fabric made from citrus juice, bio-based leather alternatives, organic cotton and recycled sequins.

ALÉMAIS have also offset the carbon emissions for all guests in attendance for the entirety of Afterpay Australian Fashion Week. This 171 tonnes of C02e is equivalent to driving to the moon and back. ALÉMAIS have also planted a tree for every guest, adding to the ALÉMAIS forest project of 200,000 trees planted since inception. These are just some of the many steps ALÉMAIS takes to prioritise people and the planet.

SPONSORS

ALÉMAIS would like to thank their AAFW partners Porsche, Qantas Marketplace, Christian Louboutin, Mecca, Evo, Kaleo and Michael Hill.

The Resort ‘24 collection will be available to shop at alemais.com from October 2023.

PLAYLIST

Listen to the Resort ‘24 playlist on Spotify.

PRESS

For further information and enquiries please contact:

AU: Sarah Leaf sarah@leafcomms.com
US: Zoe Gertz zoe@luckychalm.com
UK: Phoebe Phillips Phoebe@arddunagency.com

CREDITS

Creative Director - Lesleigh Jermanus
Stylist - Catherine Baba
Artistic Director - Al Weekes
Casting Director - Lauren Barge
Music Director - Gary Sinclair
Make up Director - Rae Morris for Mecca
Hair Director - Paloma Garcia for Evo and Kaleo
Jewellery - Alemais x Ryan Storer
Senior Producer - Jessica Circosta
Production – Kat&Co
Communication Director - Sarah Leaf
Stylist - Miguel Urbina Tan