Fashion loves an alter ego and for Ben Pollitt his is Friedrich Gray, a character whose journey runs parallel to the vision of the designer, yet is unconstrained and can run free. After working as a stylist in New York Ben returned home in 2006 with no traditional fashion education but with a strong vision. With a background in industrial design and building construction, the self-taught fashion designer won the SOYA Fashion category just a year into his career due to his dedication to quality, and sophisticated aesthetic combining a modern gothic darkness and internationally-aware sense of luxury. Ben’s SOYA win was closely followed by being awarded winner of the Woolmark/Vogue New Designer Award as part of the 2008 L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival, and rapturous reviews of his first on-schedule solo show at Rosemount Australian Fashion Week in April. Most recently he has been announced as the sixth inductee of Australian Wool Innovation’s Protégé Project, and will take his place alongside five other emerging designers who have been mentored by a handful of the world’s leading fashion figures, including Karl Lagerfeld and Donatella Versace.
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