POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

Womens evening dress with belt by Toni Maticevski

Object No. 2010/22/1

This stunning dress is a visually sumptuous example of the work of a young Melbourne based fashion designer, Toni Maticevski. Part of Maticevski's Spring/Summer 2004/2005 collection this dress was shown during Paris Fashion Week in March 2004 and at Australian Fashion Week in May 2004. Maticevski's romantic aesthetic is realised here, in delicate silk organza and tulle creating a seemingly ethereal full skirted silhouette featuring his signature manipulation of fabric. This includes folding, twisting, draping and pleating which takes traditional styles and gives them a contemporary edge. Maticevski loves opposites in his designs, juxtaposing soft and hard, which is shown in this example through the use of light silk organza with distressed and frayed edges. Maticevski is a non-conformist designer who creates beautiful dresses reminiscent of the golden age of couture but with a distinct twenty-first century edge. Toni Maticevski was born in Melbourne in 1977 and studied at RMIT University, graduating with first class honours in 1997. After graduation he won a Fashion Group International Award which enabled him to work with designer Donna Karen in New York and later worked for two seasons at Cerruti in Paris. Maticevski returned to Melbourne to launch his own label and in 2002 won best new Designer at the L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival. Also in 2002 he participated in Mercedes Australian Fashion Week. Maticevski has also showed at New York Fashion Week. This dress is a significant example of one of Australia's new generation of young designers whose work is making an impact both locally and on overseas markets. Assistant Curator, Rebecca Evans April 2010