Fed: Peter Morrissey Australian designer of the year

AAP General News (Australia)
04-16-2004
Fed: Peter Morrissey Australian designer of the year

(EDS: EMBARGOED UNTIL 0005 AEST FRIDAY, APRIL 16)



By Jonathon Moran, National Entertainment Writer

SYDNEY, April 16 AAP - Australian designer Peter Morrissey has been named 2004's Designer
of the Year.

The inaugural Cleo Maybelline Fashion Awards were held at Sydney's National Institute
of Dramatic Art (NIDA) last night with many of the industry's key players turning out
for the star-studded event.

"I wanted to create an award structure to support our local industry. I just didn't
understand why there was fashion awards in every other country and not here," Cleo editor
Paula Joye said.

"It was a bit of a big dream but somehow I have managed to pull it off."

The awards recognised the most talented fashion designer, photographer, high street
fashion brand, hair and make-up artist and locally produced fashion advertising campaign.

Peter Morrissey was named the 2004 CMFA designer of the year.

"It's fantastic to build an industry that people are going to give awards and respect
what other people have done," Morrissey said.

"I have been around 21 years and I think there (have) been incredible people like Carla
Zampatti and Trent Nathan, so I hope that this might make us not forget the people that
have led the way."

Rival fashion guru Collette Dinnigan was honoured to be the first Australian designer
to be inducted into the CMFA Hall of Fame.

"I'm very honoured and flattered to be acknowledged for my contribution to the industry
by those involved in it," Dinnigan said.

Dinnigan, who is pregnant to TV host Richard Wilkins, also won the award for best celebrity
designer.

"We sort of lost our fashion industry awards many years ago so I think it is just something
to look forward to," she said of the awards.

"Every other industry has their awards that recognise people and not just those at
the forefront but the teams behind, and I think it's really important for morale."

Joye said Dinnigan was an obvious choice, saying celebrities around the world favoured
her designs.

"Noone touches her," Joye said of Dinnigan.

"She has had Oscar gowns, Golden Globes and that for any designer is a benchmark and
she has done it repeatedly."

Cate Blanchett won the red carpet award for best dressed after being pitted against
fellow international actor Nicole Kidman and local Sophie Falkner.

Trendy sass and bide was voted best ready to wear designer while iconic Quiksilver
won best surf designer.

Calibre won best menswear designer and silverchair frontman Daniel Johns took out the
Channel V music/fashion fusion award.

The awards were judged by a group of 14 independent industry experts and were externally
audited by Ernst and Young.

Five nominees were chosen for each of the 16 categories before two finalists and a
winner were selected.

"It is expensive to have auditors but I really wanted to do this right for the first
year," Joye said.

"It is an industry accolade, not just Cleo saying a designer is great."

Joye intends for the awards to continue, ordering "five years worth of trophies".

A host of celebrities turned out for the event tonight, including Olympic swimmer Geoff
Huegill and champion surfer Layne Beachley.

Others in attendance included Sophie Monk, Kirk Pengilly, Toby Allen, Wayne Cooper,
Toni Pearen and Courtney Act.

The awards will air on Foxtel's Channel V on Sunday, April 18 at 1730 AEDT.

AAP jwm/ka/jv/

KEYWORD: FASHION (EMBARGOED - PIX AVAILABLE)

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