Article by Georgia Clelland, courtesy of the Mercury.
Australia’s top Olympic swimmers have swapped the pool for the catwalk at the Brisbane Fashion Festival, headlining the launch of mining magnate Gina Rinehart’s reimagined Driza-Bone collection.
The opening night saw gold, silver and bronze medallists strut their stuff in a bold blend of itsy bitsy swimsuits and the iconic Driza-Bone coats.
Fresh from their triumphs at the Paris 2024 Olympics, athletes including Shayna Jack, Elijah Winnington and Jack Cartwright took centre stage in a collection that married the rugged spirit of the Australian Outback with modern-day style.
Their runway debut was cheered on by fellow Olympians Kaylee McKeown, Mollie O’Callaghan and Lani Pallister in the audience.
The Driza-Bone coats, long synonymous with rural Australia, were given a contemporary twist with vibrant Australiana linings and Indigenous prints.
The coats were paired with Rossi Boots and jewels by Margot McKinney.
Winnington, who joined his father Jeff on the catwalk, said the runway was far more daunting than competing in the Olympic Games.
“It’s a bit of a fish-out-of water moment, something I haven’t done is model a catwalk before, but there’s a first for everything,” he said.
