Prue Acton
Encyclopedia
Prue Acton, OBE
(born 1943) is an Australian fashion designer, and is often referred to as Australia's "golden girl" of fashion' during the 60's.
and educated at Firbank Anglican Girls' Grammar School
in Melbourne. Between 1958 and 1962 she completed a Diploma of Art majoring in textiles at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
.
, and by age 21 Acton was turning over 350 designs a year and selling an average of 1000 dresses a week through eighty outlets in Australia and New Zealand. As her fashion business took off, Acton also began to develop her own range of cosmetics to complement the range. In 1967 she became the first Australia female designer to mount a show of her own range of garments in New York
. By 1982 the estimated world wide sales of her designs were $11 million with garments sold in Australia, Japan, USA, Canada and New Zealand and her designs made under licence in America, Japan and Germany.
Acton also designed the Australian Olympic uniforms (1978, Lake Placid, USA); (1984, Los Angeles); (1988, Seoul).
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 Jenny Bannister
.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 1943) is an Australian fashion designer, and is often referred to as Australia's "golden girl" of fashion' during the 60's.
Early life
Acton was born in Benalla, VictoriaBenalla, Victoria
Benalla is a city of just over 9,000 people located just off the Hume Freeway in north-eastern Victoria, Australia, about southwest of Wangaratta. Its Local Government Area is the Rural City of Benalla.- Overview :...
and educated at Firbank Anglican Girls' Grammar School
Firbank Girls' Grammar School
Firbank Grammar School is an independent, Anglican, day and boarding school, situated in the suburb of Brighton, in the bayside area of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
in Melbourne. Between 1958 and 1962 she completed a Diploma of Art majoring in textiles at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
RMIT University
RMIT University is an Australian public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. It has two branches, referred to as RMIT University in Australia and RMIT International University in Vietnam....
.
Career
In 1963 she established her own fashion design business in Flinders Lane, MelbourneFlinders Lane, Melbourne
Flinders Lane is a minor street in the central business district of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The street runs parallel to and to the north of Flinders Street and as a narrow one way lane takes on the name of the wider main street...
, and by age 21 Acton was turning over 350 designs a year and selling an average of 1000 dresses a week through eighty outlets in Australia and New Zealand. As her fashion business took off, Acton also began to develop her own range of cosmetics to complement the range. In 1967 she became the first Australia female designer to mount a show of her own range of garments in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. By 1982 the estimated world wide sales of her designs were $11 million with garments sold in Australia, Japan, USA, Canada and New Zealand and her designs made under licence in America, Japan and Germany.
Acton also designed the Australian Olympic uniforms (1978, Lake Placid, USA); (1984, Los Angeles); (1988, Seoul).
Awards
- Australian Wool Board Wool Fashion Awards 1965, 1966, 1969, 1970, 1971;
- David Jones Awards for Fashion Excellence 1971, 1972, 1978;
- FIA (Fashion Industry of Australia) Lyrebird Awards 1971, 1973 (Hall of Fame), 1978, 1980.
- Awarded OBE (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) 1982;
- Australian Fashion Awards 1985, 1987.
In 2005, she was honoured on a commemorative Australian postage stamp
Australian Legends
The Australian Legends is an annual series of commemorative postage stamps issued by Australia Post since 1997. The stamps commemorate living Australians who have made lifetime contributions to the development of the Commonwealth's national identity and character...
, along with other Australian fashion designers, Collette Dinnigan
Collette Dinnigan
Collette Dinnigan is an Australian based fashion designer. Born in South Africa, Dinnigan moved to New Zealand, then Australia, where she obtained work with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
, Akira Isogawa
Akira Isogawa
is one of Australia's most prominent contemporary fashion designers. Born in Japan, he immigrated to Australia in 1986, studying fashion at East Sydney Technical Collage drawing from inspiration from contemporary Japanese design. He also opened up a store in Woollahra, Sydney, in 1993. By the...
, Joe Saba
Joe Saba
Joe Saba is an Australian fashion designer and fashion business owner.He started his fashion business in 1965 with the opening a store in 287 Flinders Lane Melbourne called the Joseph Saba Shirt and Sweater Shop. The Saba store was later in Collins Street, Melbourne. In 1969 he established a label...
, Carla Zampatti
Carla Zampatti
Carla Maria Zampatti AC is an Italian-Australian fashion designer and businesswoman.Carla Zampatti is Executive Chairman of Carla Zampatti Pty Limited. She is also a Trustee of the Sydney Theatre Company Foundation Trust, and is a Board Member of the Australian Multicultural Foundation.Born in...
and fellow RMIT alum Jenny Bannister
Jenny Bannister
-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:...
.