Westpac Private Bank Emerging Fashion Designer Award 2020 Finalist MNDATORY Joins AFC Virtual on ORDRE 

AFC Virtual on ORDRE continues to grow as new Australian Designer Showrooms are added to the platform. Joining the platform this month are Westpac Private Bank Emerging Fashion Designer Award 2020 Finalists; Brian Huynh of MNDATORY and Richard Jarman of COMMAS.

We catch up with one of the latest additions, designer and founder of MNDATORY, Brian Huynh.

 MNDATORY is the independent Australian designer menswear brand by Brian Huynh.  Inspired by the design philosophies of architect Louis Kahn, their aim is to build on wardrobe fundamentals through a transformative design approach.  Specialising in men’s outerwear and tailoring, MNDATORY releases Ready-to-Wear collections alongside a permanent Made-to-Measure tailoring service for Australian customers.  In merging contemporary ideas with classic silhouettes, MNDATORY offers an alternative perspective on menswear for the self-taught, well-versed innovator.

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WHY AFC VIRTUAL?

During these times of unprecedented disruption, virtual showrooms have provided us with possibilities; linking us to influential domestic and international retailers, whilst allowing us to facilitate wholesale orders from a remote location.  It’s provided us with an additional channel for brand awareness and exposure during COVID-19; and it’s given us the opportunity to refine future collections based on data generated from those engaging with the platform.  There’s no denying that the pandemic has and will continue to change the way in which the industry operates; and platforms such as ORDRE will only continue to serve the industry as it morphs into its new normal.

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about the MNDATORY collection currently on AFC Virtual

 Acrididae

/a:kri:də:dē/ 

English (n). 

1. a taxonomic family that includes LOCUSTS and other related grasshoppers.

Under certain circumstances, locusts have a “gregarious phase” which can induce a dramatic change in behaviour.  During this phase, serotonin triggers a set of changes whereby breeding increases, the locusts become gregarious and nomadic; and when the population becomes dense enough, they congregate into thick, mobile, ravenous swarms.  These swarms then migrate and cause major agricultural damage, stripping areas travelled of all vegetation. 

Now, in our own “gregarious phase” of human history, now more than ever, the issue of environmental stewardship has never been more paramount.  With the introduction of MNDATORY’s new co-creative business model proving a success in 2019, the collection “ACRIDIDAE” looks to build on this concept.

This collection is a further exploration into unconscious consumerism, our impact on the natural environment and its resources; whilst posing the question – could we learn to “swarm” in a more conscious, sustainable and experientially fulfilling way?

 What does ‘Australian Fashion’ mean to you?

 Fashion and style are always intrinsically linked to modern zeitgeist, so for me, it is all about capturing the current cultural mood, the spirit of the times.  Living in Melbourne, I see Australian style as being cultivated and urban, with a natural instinct to defy, rebel and renounce; all the while grounded in a palette that is centred around black and other neutrals.

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DISCOVER THE COLLECTION

Fashion buyers from across Australia and the globe can now access the latest collections from Australia’s leading designers on a dedicated section of the ORDRE.com platform; AFC Virtual.

Carefully curated with a focus on Resort and Early-Summer, the platform features collections from Australia’s most promising up and coming labels through to well established brands.

MNDATORY’s AFC Virtual showroom is proudly supported by the Westpac Private Bank Emerging Fashion Designer Award.