Australasia’s leading beauty retailer, MECCA Brands, is the Official Beauty Partner of Maggie Marilyn’s presentation of A Brave New World – the film that was named ‘Maggie Marilyn’s love letter to Australia’.
Maggie Hewitt, the designer of the brand, began working on the new collection in early January: “I came across an image shared by Laura Jackson, founder of Hoste London and long-time supporter of Maggie Marilyn, which seemed to perfectly capture the optimism I was feeling – despite everything – of what a new year and fresh start could hold. The image depicted a group of friends gathered outside around a long dining table on a warm summer’s evening. Breaking bread, laughing, storytelling and enjoying each other’s company. There was a lightness I was immediately drawn to and it reminded me of the simple pleasure that comes from dressing up and sharing a meal with your favourite people.”
This sense of community became the seed for Maggie Marilyn’s next collection and the catalyst behind the breathtaking cinematic experience – A Brave New World – that the audience of Afterpay Australian Fashion Week was able to see yesterday, 1 June.
Directed by Duc Thinh Dong and shot across 120 acres of sprawling Australian countryside at The Range in Byron Bay, A Brave New World brings together some of the country’s most talented creatives, from producer Lauren Barge, photographer Dan Roberts and stylist Emma Kalfus, to top models Shimma Marie, Mahalia Handley and Kiwi expat Manahou Mackay. They showcase whimsical garments in azure blues, warm chocolate browns, buttery creams and a golden gingham that catches the light and demands to be danced in.
Dong cleverly infused this idea of community and optimism into every frame – planting trees together, running barefoot outside, plunging into the cold water of a swimming pool, slicing fresh figs and pulling apart loaves of bread in preparation for an indulgent feast with loved ones.
“We wanted to show our appreciation for the land and all it has given us, the people we’re lucky enough to work alongside and the consciously-produced garments we hope find forever homes in our customers’ wardrobes. Both physically and metaphorically, we are asking our Australian neighbours to come and take a seat at our table, with the hope that we may learn from them, collaborate, and empower each other.”
Maggie Hewitt
Australasia’s leading beauty retailer, MECCA Brands, partnered with Maggie Marilyn to create a dreamy and optimistic makeup concept for the film with the help of the conscious global brands that take a considered approach to beauty and are available in its stores. Makeup Director for MECCA, Isabella Schimid, focused on glowing, natural skin that oozes lived-in dewiness with softly bee-stung lips, lightly drawn on freckles and glossed eyelids.
Some of the products, used by MECCA’s makeup director are True Skin Serum Foundation by ILIA, Air Brow Fluff & Hold Treatment Gel by Kosas, Óleo Para Corpo | Kaya Jungle Firming Body Oil by Costa Brazil and Lit Up Highlight Stick by Westman Atelier.