Runway tribute to creator of Mr Simon

Melbourne Made–Makers Lane presented a runway tribute to Jewish designer Simon Shinberg, the visionary behind the Mr Simon label as part of Melbourne Fashion Week.

The tribute took place on Howey Place in Melbourne’s CBD on October 23 and was a sold-out event. It featured 14 designers who had taken inspiration from the Mr Simon catalogue along with original pieces from the 1960s from the archives of his daughter Debra Dascal.

Celebrated for his flair and fearless creativity, Shinberg won numerous awards, including the Supreme Wool Award and accolades from Myer and David Jones. He judged Gown of the Year, Fashions on the field, Nylex Young Designer’s Awards, and sat on the advisory panel for the then-new fashion course at RMIT. His designs also appeared on the cover of Vogue.

A true pioneer, Shinberg was among the first Australian designers to export to Japan, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, and South Africa securing what was then the largest clothing export order in Australia’s fashion history. He also employed a First Nations house model.

“Always pushing boundaries, my father challenged social norms by introducing women’s trouser suits at a time when women weren’t allowed to wear pants in restaurants or nightclubs, often driving across cities with models in pantsuits to make a statement,” Dascal told The AJN.