Runway tribute to creator of Mr Simon
The tribute took place on Howey Place in Melbourne's CBD on October 23 and was a sold-out event.
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.
“It was the Lido in Adelaide that finally let him and his pant-clad models in which made front page news. Wherever dad went the press would follow. He also produced licensed Beatles dresses that sold out within days, demonstrating his flair for bold, theatrical designs and a knack for spotting a winner.”
At his peak, Shinberg ran three factories, employed hundreds, and produced over 100,000 garments annually. Known for iconic pieces like his silver-linked chain mail coat, Shinberg believed fashion should always stand out.
Dascal thanked the team from Melbourne Made including Anneliese Bridgeman, Aaron White, Ariel Russell, Julie Goodwin and Jarrad Cuff. Adding, “Special thanks also to Australian fashion historian Tom McEvoy who has helped me keep my dad ‘Mr Simon’ alive.” McEnvoy is known for his dedication for celebrating Jewish contributions to Australian fashion history.