Jenny Bannister

Jenny Bannister is an Australian fashion designer, based in Melbourne.

Early life

Bannister studied Fashion Design and Production at RMIT's Emily McPherson College, and commenced her career in 1975 as a recycled denim designer.

Career

In 1976, Bannister launched her own label, Jenny Bannister Fashion, in Melbourne. The Bannister label began at the height of the 1970s radical fashion movement, and later evolved into couture and up-market boutique styles. In 1988, Bannister successfully shifted into contemporary evening wear, to which she now has a loyal celebrity following. Her designs are featured prominently in the Melbourne Fashion Festival and her pieces have also recently been auctioned at Christie's in London.

Due to her creative and distinctive approach to design, many significant pieces of Bannister's work have been collected by major art galleries and museums. Currently, the National Gallery of Victoria is collecting Bannister's work from the 1970s and 1980s for their archives, with an exhibition to follow.

In 2005, she was honoured on a commemorative Australian postage stamp, along with other Australian fashion designers, Collette Dinnigan, Akira Isogawa, Joe Saba, Carla Zampatti and fellow RMIT alum Prue Acton.

References