Business travel can be so weary. Pack, pack, pack, and pack again. Drag your heavy suitcase from pillar to post. Unpack to only realise your wardrobe is so uncoordinated it will be nothing short of a laughing stock in the boardroom. Well here’s a hot tip…

By Wendy Johnson

Invest in a capsule wardrobe that is practical, stylish, fashionable, and fits in a 7-kilogram capacity suitcase. Yes—a 7-kilogram capacity suitcase. This is no ordinary wardrobe either. It’s one that will take you from work to social situations in a flash.

The Mimetic brand, owned by fashion designers Melissa Pompeani and Georgina (George) McWilliam, are on to something with their progressive capsule wardrobe idea. The two designers are peas in a pod. Melissa has focused for some time on creating corporate clothing for creative people and George has been absorbed with creating travel clothing for every type of traveller. Their ultimate goal? Business travel made easy.

Each capsule is coordinated around classic-inspired garments—custom designs that focus on fit and technology. “We cater to the traveller who needs to look professional, in all work contexts,” says George. “The consummate professional who must represent her company’s brand at all times while she’s on the road. She has a well-developed personality, understands good design, appreciates quality clothing and is willing to invest in fashion.”

Both Melissa and George graduated with a Bachelor of Design (Fashion Design), from the Canberra Institute of Technology in 2014. These days, they’re spending every waking hour getting ready to debut their latest collection on the catwalk at FASHFEST. They’ll launch their Mimetic collection on Thursday 14 May, which suits these two emerging fashion designers to a tee, since the theme for that night is The Inventor—the maker who creates through touch. And, as with The Inventor, each stitch is as important as the last with Melissa and George, and each thread is significant.

Mimetic is also unique in how it applies custom, 3D and digital printing—a new-age manufacturing technique. “We only use high-quality fabrics, for durability as much as anything else,” says George, “and we aim for meticulous finishing.”

Mimetic will hit the runway at FASHFEST on Thursday 14 May.

Opening night of FASHFEST is only three days away! Tickets from www.fashfest.com.au

Credits—Photographer: Andrew Finch, Edge Light Photography—on location at New Acton and Hotel Hotel, Canberra; Models: Shea-Cara Hammond, Emily Moran, Akari Shiokawa; Hair: Smitten Hairdressing; MU: Canberra Make-up Academy