Saint Augustine Academy’s new range is like a fashion narrative of New York City’s rich subcultures and slick eccentricities. Chief designer Alvin Manalo speaks to Nathan Heron. 

Could Australia be the world’s next fashion capital? Saint Augustine Academy has already dressed some of the world’s biggest rock stars – Tommy Lee, The Killers and Wolfmother to name but a few; and according to one of the label’s chief designers, Alvin Manalo, we’re rapidly making a name for ourselves in the industry.

“We are building a look or an attitude that people from overseas are starting to take notice of. People in the industry that I've spoken to, specifically in LA, New York and Tokyo, say that we are being watched for trends the way the Scandinavians have been for the last decade,” Alvin tells AXN.

He adds: “I think we are certainly much more adventurous with clothing than most other countries.  I know it's a bad example, but even seeing how the masses embraced the god-awful fluoro craze, proves that we aren't afraid to stand out or be bold. We just have to steer those exploratory urges to more tasteful fashion.”

Adventurous? Check. Bold? Check. Tasteful? That’s where Saint Augustine Academy’s latest range of apparel, ‘Happy Endings’, plays its part in saving the day.

Alvin started out as a self-confessed “comic book nerd”, who was busy doodling superhero costumes during his uni years. Today, he’s on a mission to save us from heinous fashion disasters. While the world keenly observes Aussie trends, Alvin has noticed that there’s also something special about New York that‘s worth embracing…

“The vibrancy of the city has its undeniable allure. Even though there are some similarities to us, there's also something definitely foreign and exciting about the way the New Yorkers style themselves,” he says.

New York’s “undeniable allure” was captured in a series of photographs by Amy Arbus in her book On the Street - 1980-1990, which Alvin describes as “not only a style story, but also a narrative of the city's irreverence, creativity and self-expression.” Since stumbling across this collection a few years ago, Alvin has become an avid follower of Amy’s work – so much so that Happy Endings references her style of photography with its black and white designs.

“Happy Endings is a club on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. The collection was conceived from a crazy week in New York City, and I thought it had a cheekiness to it that also summed up the work of Amy Arbus, where she photographed kids about to go out, out, and then on their way home. I tried to bring the slick eccentricity of New York in the 80s as an added flavour to the collection this season.”

Never partied in New York? Well now you can dress like you have – minus the hangover.

saintaugustineacademy.com.au
Saint Augustine Academy flagship store
642 Bourke Street
Surry Hills
NSW