Albus Lumen Resort 2018, image via Albus Lumen Instagram

With Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia Resort 2019 just around the corner, (kicking off on May 13) I thought it might be a good time for a little refresher on the fashion buying and selling seasons and provide you with some clarity on what exactly the resort season entails. 

So, what are the all-important seasons that you need to know about? Well, there are three main collections that retail buyers will allocate budget for: SPRING / SUMMER, HIGH SUMMER / RESORT, and AUTUMN / WINTER. Buyers will be looking to deliver stock purchased from these seasons at particular times of the year.

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE SEASONS
Here in the Southern Hemisphere retailers will buy and sell seasonal collections as follows:

SPRING/SUMMER
RETAILERS BUY IN - FEB/MARCH/APRIL
TO SELL IN STORE - JULY/AUG/SEPT

HIGH SUMMER/RESORT
RETAILERS BUY IN - MAY/JUNE
TO SELL IN STORE - OCT/NOV

AUTUMN/WINTER
RETAILERS BUY IN - JULY/AUGUST/SEPT
TO SELL IN STORE - FEB/MARCH/APRIL

NORTHERN HEMISPHERE SEASONS
Our retail friends in the Northern Hemisphere will buy and sell seasonal collections in the exact opposite order to us. 

SPRING/SUMMER 
RETAILERS BUY IN - JULY/AUG/SEPT
TO SELL IN STORE - FEB/MARCH/APRIL

HIGH SUMMER/RESORT or CRUISE/HOLIDAY/RESORT as they're most commonly known in the northern hemisphere.
RETAILERS BUY IN - MAY/JUNE
TO SELL IN STORE - NOV/DEC/JAN

AUTUMN/WINTER or FALL/WINTER as they're most commonly known in the northern hemisphere. 
RETAILERS BUY IN - FEB/MARCH/APRIL
TO SELL IN STORE - JULY/AUGUST/SEPT

You may have noticed that the RESORT season is similar in both hemispheres with the only difference being in the selling period which is slightly shorter here in the south. This is because in the southern hemisphere, Australia in particular, consumers hit pause on fashion spending from around mid-November until the pre-Christmas / Boxing Day sales start. The Northern Hemisphere, on the other hand, has not been tarnished with the same bargain hunting brush and in fact, RESORT is regarded as the most lucrative season of the year as consumers in this part of the globe shop for both coats and swimwear for their various holiday destinations. In most cases stock delivered into store as part of a RESORT season may never need to be discounted as these products remain relevant well into the Northern Hemisphere well into the spring/summer months. 

Want to learn more about how to create a relevant transeasonal collection for resort? Then you should join me at MBFWA on Thursday 17th May at 3pm as I take part in an industry discussion on the future of resort wear alongside designers, Alice McCall and Double Rainbouu, hosted by Kellie Hush, Editor-in-Chief Harper's BAZAAR Australia and supported by the AFC - Australian Fashion Council. You can find out more information about the session over at the offical MBFWA schedule.

Further reading resources on resort
https://www.manrepeller.com/2016/06/what-is-resort-season.html
https://www.highsnobiety.com/2017/05/22/why-are-resort-cruise-pre-collections-important/

Rosie Dalton from Well Made Clothes recently interviewed The Fashion Futurist family member NATALIJA as she launched her luxurious range of silk staples over on their store this month.

Natalija opened up about why she chooses to work with peace silk and how by keeping her production close to home she is able to do her small part in promoting a fair fashion production cycle. 

You can read the full interview with Natalija over here Natalija Designer Interview, by Well Made Clothes

Wide Open Road, SUKU Summer 2017/18

 We're thrilled to commence presentations of the latest collection from SUKU, Wide Open Road Summer 2017/18.
We invite retail partners to discover the collection during a private showing at our Chippendale studio or via an online presentation from today through until the 23rd November 2017.
To secure a presentation of SUKU Wide Open Road simply click here. 

 "Your hibernation is over. SUKU Home’s Summer 2017/18 collection, Wide Open Road, flows beyond the walls of the home, bursts
open the doors and windows, and urges to get out into the wild. Light dresses, easy jumpsuits, and versatile two piece sets have been
created for the SUKU dreamer who is packing their things to wander away, down dusty roads and through quiet forests.

Inspired by the limitlessness of a summer escape, Wide Open Road is a collection of ultra soft bamboo rayon, cotton, and linen
pieces to be slipped on, explored in, and rested in. The new bold prints are thoughtfully made with SUKU’s fair-trade Balinese artisan
community, who merge traditional hand-dyeing techniques with modern designs. Each piece is unique in its creation, and achieves
the variations only found when something is made on a small scale with heart and hands".

From the bedroom to the most outer reaches of this world, Wide Open Road wants to join you on your journey where the road is open and anything is possible.

We’re so excited to welcome to the incredible SUKU brand to our family here at The Fashion Futurist studio. 

We would love for you to get to know SUKU a little better, so read on as we introduce the clever woman behind the brand, the SUKU story and the important values the label has formed upon.

Having been immersed in a myriad of colour and pattern growing up in Indonesia, the designer, Christine Lafian, was inspired by a desire to bring the ethereal artwork of tribal cultures into the modern household. She believes the home to be an extension of the self. With this philosophy in mind, each piece has been selected and designed with love and integrity.   

Lafian traveled throughout her homeland in Indonesia sourcing inspiration from small villages along the coast. While developing a unique aesthetic during these trips, Christine began collecting handmade pieces from local designers that complimented her own style. It is this pairing of traditional pattern work and bold, colourful design choices that enhance the rare and beautiful nature of SUKU.

SUKU is rooted in authenticity, sustainability, and connecting our global community under ethical fair trade practices and shared experiences. Real people with real stories have skillfully handcrafted each product, weaving their lives into our own. These are more than just decorative pieces; they symbolise a place of tranquility where you can escape and dream. 

- Words by Shannon May Powell 

With a shared philosophy to provide retailers and consumers with garments and wares for the home that represent both longevity and refinement, and with sustainability woven into everything they create, I’m sure you’ll agree SUKU feels right at home here in our studio. We can't wait to present their latest collection, Wide Open Road to you in the coming weeks. In the meantime why not head over to the SUKU journal and catch up the latest edition of "Pillow Talk" all the way from Tokyo, Japan.