Over the next week, Melbourne comes alive with two fashion-forward experiences: the PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival and the Formula 1 Louis Vuitton Australian Grand Prix ‘Glamour on the Grid’.
Taking pole position at both events is the unveiling of a capsule fashion collaboration between the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and RMIT University's Fashion Design students, where a selection of the MSO musicians will play whilst wearing the new designs.
"Fashion and music have always inspired each other and we wanted to explore how fashion could add another layer to our performances and the MSO story,” explains Jayde Walker, the MSO’s Director of Brand and Communications. "This collaboration was about creating a visual symphony — moving beyond traditional formal attire to something that captures the innovative spirit of our orchestra, the diversity of our audience and the vibrancy of our city."
Hear more about this collaboration from RMIT University fashion students and their Fashion Design Lecturer Mandy Nichols
The project brief was intriguing — for RMIT fashion students to reimagine the musicians’ performance wear, meeting the physical demands of musicianship while establishing a distinctly Melbourne visual aesthetic.
Not only did the designs need to look visually cohesive, they needed to be flexible to suit a range of body types, ages and genders, while also allowing room for the musicians’ individual expression. Then there was the physical nature of performing to consider, the sustainability credentials and of course, Melbourne’s signature black palette.
"What was fascinating about this partnership was the opportunity to weave together two art forms in such an intentional way," Walker notes. "Just as our musicians interpret compositions through their unique artistic lens, these fashion students interpreted the physical and cultural language of the orchestra through their designs."
The collaboration began in mid-2024, when students from the Fashion and Textiles Industry Placement Project (a mix of students from the Bachelor of Fashion Design Honours and Masters of Fashion Design) embarked on an immersive journey into the world of orchestral performance. Under the guidance of RMIT Fashion Design Lecturer Mandy Nichols, they observed a variety of concerts, interviewed different musicians, and learned the specific physical requirements of various instruments to inform their creations. The students then presented their designs to a selection of the MSO musicians for feedback — a true artistic partnership.
Associate Dean RMIT School of Fashion and Textiles, Dr Tassia Joannides talked about the importance of students gaining experience of the design process and its challenges in collaboration with industry and the difference it makes to learning.
“Working with partners like the MSO and responding to the wide-ranging design needs of the musicians will have been a defining point in the students’ learning, as they tested and retested their ideas against the application, on stage.”
Double bass musician Stephen Newton, who joined the MSO in 2006, was deeply involved in the project and was impressed by the students’ creativity. He’ll be helping to showcase the resulting designs at both the PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival's Grand Showcase and the Grand Prix's Glamour on the Grid.
"It was a collaborative process, and we will be so proud to be wearing them on stage,” he said.
Stephen also relished the opportunity to see other artisans at work, and the care they took to understand the musicians’ specific needs.
“It will be fantastic to see how the designs add another dimension to our performance. They will make us feel and look great, which in turn will help us perform to our best.”
The result is a capsule collection that is both fresh yet timeless. Crisp tailoring accompanies sleeves that allow for the full extension required by string players; fabrics move and breathe during the physical exertion of performance; sustainable materials ensure ethical production; and Melbourne's cultural DNA is woven into every stitch and pattern. They’re emblematic of an artform that is steeped in tradition but always evolving.
Fashion Lecturer Mandy Nichols welcomed the challenge provided by the MSO.
“The MSO brief provided the students the opportunity to work collaboratively as a design team to address a challenging brief and gain real world experience through engaging and working directly with a significant cultural institution."
"Navigating a range of client expectations including the practical constraints of the musicians and providing artistic vision – these are skills that align perfectly with the industry demands of the future.”
Jayde says the collaboration is part of the MSO’s remit to transcend the traditional orchestra boundaries.
“Performing at premium Melbourne events such as the PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival and the Formula 1 Louis Vuitton Australian Grand Prix shows the dynamism of the MSO and our willingness to meet our audience outside of our concert hall home,” she says.
“It’s through collaborations such as these that we’re able to connect with new, fashion-forward audiences and really illustrate how the MSO continues to be bold and experimental.”
Words: Nicole Lovelock
Photos: Marija Ivkovic
Outfits modeled by: Rohan Dasika (Double Bass) and Anne-Marie Johnson (Acting Assistant Concertmaster)
The MSO / RMIT collaboration was featured at two recent events:
- PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival's Grand Showcase: Steven Khalil (March 7)
- Grand Prix's Glamour on the Grid (March 12)