April Hewat, with her photographer Rebecca Le Souef from Rebecca Le Souef Photography, will take part in the Fashion + Aid event next month. 85682 Picture: DONNA OATES
By Bridget Cook
A CRANBOURNE swimwear designer will join with the country’s fashion and entertainment heavyweights all in the name of charity next month.
Mother-of-three April Hewat has been invited to showcase her label – April Marie Swimwear – at the extravagant iSelect Fashion + Aid event at Crown Palladium on 15 September.
With red-carpet arrivals, celebrity hosts Lauryn Eagle and Laura Dundovic, performances by Ricki-Lee and Shannon Noll and some of the country’s best-known labels – the event brings together fashion, food and music to raise money for the Lighthouse Foundation.
Ms Hewat, who operates the business from her Brookland Greens home, will take along her local model Monique Wardley, local photographer Rebecca Le Souef and local presenters Charlyne Manshanden and Paul Harris to the event.
Ms Hewat said it was a great honour to be invited to take part in the event and it showed they were a recognised label in the fashion world.
“We are not forgotten about, but we are respected and recognised in a cut-throat industry,” she said.
“To be among other successful industry designers is a great honour.
“It makes us a feel like all our hard work has paid off.”
Ms Hewat said they would have their own show at the event, with nine swimsuits to be showcased.
“It will have an African, tribal theme,” she said.
April Marie Swimwear has been making waves in the fashion industry in recent years.
Ms Hewat uses real photographs and a direct-to-fabric technique on her designs as opposed to most other designers who use graphic prints.
Her designs have featured on television, at fashion events and festivals, in magazines and at the Miss World Australia events.
The business has seen great success both in Australia and internationally.
For more information on Fashion + Aid or to buy tickets visit www.fashionaid.com.au.
For more information on April Marie Swimwear or to view her designs visit www.aprilmarieswimwear.com.au.
