The Helmet as fashion: Daniel Avakian.

By Belinda Goldsmith Via: reuters

"Models wearing crash helmets and pod-shaped skirts gave Australian Fashion Week a futuristic twist on Tuesday, contrasting with catwalks featuring teensy bikinis, short summer dresses and flowing evening wear.

Over 100 buyers from 15 countries have descended on Sydney for the 13th Australian Fashion Week where over 100 new and established Australian designers are on show, ranging from the well-known Alex Perry to newcomers like Daniel Avakian.

Avakian, a former tow truck driver, chose to base his second collection on Stanley Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange" with models in black, white, and silver fabrics tailored into pod, diamond and geometric shapes.

"I've always been into sci-fi, Orson Welles, George Lucas, so it was only a matter of time before I based a collection on this," Avakian told Reuters backstage after his show which ended with two models in floor length coats and crash helmets.

"The helmets were representative of the rebels and disorder in "A Clockwork Orange" while I used metallic sheens as these can make women look beautiful."