The budding Australian designers creating Felix The Cat pieces have been mentored by a panel of industry professionals including Kate Lillian Muir from The First Thread, Lorraine Lock from The Design Residency and Jo Pascoe from DreamWorks Animation.
Australian cartoonist Pat Sullivan created Felix The Cat in 1919, the friendly feline is one of the most recognised cartoon characters in film, and was the first animated film character to achieve sufficient popularity to draw movie audiences.
Nearly a century after his inception the grinning black and white cat is still adored.
This isn’t the first time Felix has been the source of design inspiration, Felix the Cat artwork has previously been showcased on sneakers, clothes and homewares.
Pieces in the Project Design Felix Capsule Collection include a catsuit designed by Phoenix Keating, a necklace, earrings and bracelet by Bianca Censori of Nylons , an embellished sweatshirt and dress by Mariam Seddiq, cufflinks, tie pin and amulet by Claire Ho of Burton Metal Depository, bikinis, one-piece and sarong by Ruby and Asher Licciardi of LunarSand, shorts, tees, jocks and pants by Campbell & Hall, leather look embroidered pants by Suzie Rose Vella of Pizzuto and resort wear by Caslazur.
Australian designer Phoenix Keating, in particular, is rising fast in the fashion stakes, he has shown collections at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia and held showings in New York. He is also the youngest designer to be nominated for a Woolmark Prize since Karl Lagerfeld.
The collection is now available to purchase from online retailer The First Thread, a retailer dedicated to supporting emerging designers.
Another exciting collaboration with surfboard brand Disrupt will see the making of a custom board with bespoke Felix the Cat artwork.
Project Design Felix can be followed on Instagram via @projectdesignfelix #projectdesignfelix and via www.thefirstthread.com.au.