Melbourne, one of the fashion capitals of the South Pacific, is about to host one of the most anticipated events of the entire year.
Fashion Week, the event from October 23-29 that will transform the city into a springboard for the boldest trends and most exclusive creations, is back.
Attendees will be spoiled with more than a hundred activities including fashion shows, workshops, exhibitions and round tables.
Fashion Weeks around the world have become the perfect stage for celebrating the Italian influence on international fashion. But Italians are also influential in the background of such events, bringing with them the unmistakable aesthetic of the Bel Paese.
Of Sicilian origin, Joseph Romano is one of the ‘behind the scenes’ names at Melbourne Fashion Week, ready to captivate the Victorian audience with his unique touch and personal expressive language. Romano took care of the styling and creative direction of the shows, lending his talent and vision.
Romano’s has been a journey that cannot be separated from his distinct perseverance, passion and intuition that have accompanied him from a young age, along with years of study and hard work that are at the heart of any successful talent.
“It all started in 2010 when I started volunteering at Melbourne Fashion Week,” he explained.
“I was studying fashion at RMIT and had always idolised international catwalks, watching Fashion TV. That’s how I fell in love with all things Fashion Week.
“Over the years, I was lucky enough to meet some incredible people who chose to give me a chance and teach me everything I needed to know about creating a fashion show. And to be honest, I haven’t looked back.
“Now that I am a fashion show stylist and creative director, I’m really proud of the progress I have made.”
Romano explained how much his Italian roots have influenced his style. After all, Italy is the country of fashion par excellence, which has seen the birth, growth and formation of some of the most famous names in the haute couture industry. Brands like Gucci, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Valentino, Fendi, Armani and Moschino, all globally recognised fashion houses that have taken Italian style, taste and elegance around the world and inspired successive generations of designers.
“My Italian origins have definitely influenced the way I do fashion, and this is evident in my work and my maximalist approach to styling,” shared Romano.
“For me, Italy is abundance. In fashion, this abundance translates into more jewellery, accessories and prints.”
Talking to Romano, we discussed how much preparation and management skills working at Melbourne Fashion Week requires. It is, according to Romano, a constant juggling act, from appointments with models to stylists and designers, from the choice of accessories to the choice of shoes. This is before the even more creative decisions that require an even broader vision that involves, for example, the sets and music that accompany each show.
“The biggest challenge is finding everything in the right place, at the right time,” he said.
“Usually, you start with a point of reference. For Melbourne Fashion Week, the reference point could be an image, a song, an era or a make-up. Starting from there, I tend to create a mood board and move forward, which, in most cases, sees me move far away from my original idea.
“This gives me more creative control than when I work for a specific client. In any case, I always try to incorporate my personality and style into everything I do and give my own interpretation to everything I work with.”
One aspect not to be underestimated is effective communication, both with clients and with models. For Romano, it is absolutely necessary to establish a relationship of trust based on openness and transparency which creates room for movement, in creative terms, to let one’s vision emerge.
During this year’s Melbourne Fashion Week, Romano was enthusiastic talking about the shows he worked on, precisely because they are completely different from one another and allowed him to bring all his creative ingenuity to the catwalk.
“There is one show, specifically, that is something never seen before at Melbourne Fashion Week, and it will be an amazing opportunity to show everyone a collaborative approach that celebrates other mediums that intersect with fashion,” he announced.
“It’s something my team and I have been working on for a while and we can’t wait to present it. It will be cutting edge and unexpected.
“My other show is a snapshot of the many talents in Melbourne’s vibrant fashion scene who don’t always get the recognition they deserve.”
In a scene that changes very quickly with new lines constantly emerging, Romano stands out for his interest in ‘slow fashion’ and ‘upcycling’, meaning trends that support the environment and reduce the damaging effects that fast fashion has on the planet, i.e. by reducing the waste it produces.
What Romano espouses is a sustainable production model that focuses on reducing the number of collections that are launched each year, encourages artisanal production and promotes the recycling of materials, reducing the consumption of resources and favouring second-hand purchases.
“I feel that my personal style transcends the micro-trends driven by fast fashion,” he said.
“I tend to renew carefully, rather than throwing myself headlong into the latest publicity stunt. Being true to myself and my aesthetic has seen me continue to wear clothes I bought many years ago and still receive compliments.
“Besides,” he continued, “style is not only about what you wear, it’s also about how you wear it and the energy you bring. If you are happy in the way you look and you can feel your authentic ‘self’, this will always shine through.”
