Making Australia HOME: Fashion designers Ruth Tarvydas and Aurelio Costarella

Public Lecture | Updated 1 decade ago

Aurelio Costarella sitting in his studio with nearby clothing
Aurelio Costarella
Photo by Frances Andrijich

NWS Shipping Theatre
2.00pm-3.30pm, Sunday 20 October 2013

As part of the Making Australia Home interview series, internationally applauded fashion designers Ruth Tarvydas and Aurelio Costarella will be interviewed on their migrant backgrounds by former ABC reporter Verity James. Hear the challenges they overcame, and opportunities they embraced, to make significant contributions to Australia’s fashion industry

Tarvydas is the glamorous, edgy and sexy Australian label that is well known for creating amazing pieces that are exciting and ahead of the trends. The label started out in Australia in the late 60’s with a teenage Ruth Tarvydas launching her range as a fresh new take on ‘pop couture’ and has now expanded into a global company spanning Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the UK, France Italy, Switzerland, Greece, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and the USA. Ruth Tarvydas was the first Australian fashion label to export overseas and first stocked at Selfridges in London in 1983. Ruth came to Perth with her family from Lithuania in 1949.

Aurelio Costarella is earning a formidable reputation internationally as he turns his Western Australian based company into an international luxury brand. Driven by the design process, each thematic collection is an exploration that moves seamlessly from one season to the next. A focus on textile development, detailed cutting and quality craftsmanship sets Aurelio Costarella apart. His exquisite evening wear designs have been admired and worn by a plethora of international stars including Rihanna, Dita Von Teese, Eva Mendes, Dannii Minogue and Nicole Scherzinger. In 2013 Aurelio Costarella celebrates 30 years working in the fashion industry, culminating in a retrospective exhibition at the WA Museum in November 2013.

This series of interviews is hosted by the History of Migration Experiences (HOME) Centre at Curtin University, in conjunction with the Western Australian Museum. The HOME Centre is part of the Curtin University of Sustainability Policy Institute (CUSP).

Cost:  Free public event.
Bookings: No bookings required