Austrade media release
29 March 2007
As Dubai gears up for the world’s richest horse race, the Dubai World Cup, six Aussie milliners are jockeying for position to outfit the city’s top spending fashionistas at one of the biggest millinery exhibitions in the region.
Hosted by the BurJuman Centre, the Dubai shopping mall with the world’s largest concentration of high fashion luxury shopping brands, the exclusive event will showcase six milliners, all Australians- Serena Lindeman, Marilena Romeo, Louise MacDonald, Sabine Pedder and Dubai based businesses - Julie Anne Lucaas and Karen Hamilton.
Austrade’s Fashion Business Development Manager Asha James said Australian millinery is synonymous with cutting edge style and elegance and Austrade has been working for the past two years with BurJuman to source the very best in the field of millinery.
“Aussie milliners have the reputation in Dubai as some of the top hatters in the world, gracing the world’s most stylish men and women,” Ms James said.
“The fact that all of the six milliners exhibiting are Aussies is a great recognition of our expertise. This is a unique opportunity for exposure at one of Dubai’s top spots for sourcing the perfect race day outfit.
The milliners will be exhibiting at BurJuman during mall working hours, offering fashion headwear advice, displaying their latest collections for sale and also creating custom-made headpieces, fascinators and other headwear accessories for race-goers using a variety of materials.
BurJuman’s head of PR and Marketing Sabina Khandwani said the Dubai World Cup is undoubtedly the most glamorous event on the city’s sports and social calendar.
“These milliners are famous in the world of fashion for their chic, stylish and trendy designs and for their high quality work and we are delighted to be playing host to them prior to the Dubai World Cup. These women can create a unique and fashionable look to suit every taste, making sure that those who visit BurJuman’s Millinery Exhibition are guaranteed to step out in style on race day,” said Ms Khandwani.
The Australian milliners participating include:
- Renowned Australian milliner Serena Lindeman specializes in making fine millinery suitable for race wear, weddings and other formal occasions. Serena, the recipient of the Myer ‘Fashions on the Field 2006’ Millinery Award at the Melbourne Cup last year, uses the finest materials available to design a wide range of head wear that suit a variety of tastes, making her a firm favourite with a number of celebrity race-goers.
- A milliner for 17 years, Melbourne-based Louise MacDonald began her career in England, making hats for film and television productions. Working in one of London’s best costume houses she has produced headwear for actors including Minnie Driver, Tom Cruise, Jerry Hall, William Hurt, Helena Bonham Carter and Vanessa Redgrave to name a few.
- Fondly described as the “Mad Hatter” of Australia, Marilena Romeo has experienced an unprecedented level of success since her inauguration into the hat world, bagging a top prize at the Milliner Design Awards in 1992 after only one year of production. Romeo utilises the traditional skills of hat design to create a glamorous and theatrically-inspired range. Her specialties include racewear, evening and bridal ware.
The exhibition is until the 30th March 2007, just before the Dubai World Cup starts on the 31st March 2007. |