Melbourne designer Aron Katona began his career as a fashion designer just over a decade ago. Aron says, “My career began in February 2010 and it felt like I’d already missed out on so much because this is what I’ve wanted to do since I was 12, but up until then I just didn’t believe in myself enough to start earlier”.
Aron’s love for fashion and to become a designer is inspired from his mother. Aron says, “she loved to dress so exquisitely and would ask me to pick her outfits and accessories for her as far back as I can possibly remember”.
It’s easy to see that Aron has been given a desire to create from the joy and inclusion of styling his mum over many years and this has now seen him follow his passion to create his own unique designs for women.
Aron Katona, the label, represents exotic elegance, wild prints with seductive cuts that are inherently glamourous. Aron tells me, “my favourite part of being a designer is that I’m so hands-on in the construction process involved in creating silhouettes. I especially love fitting things to women, be it in any shape or size because they inspire me to create and push me to evolve”.
Katona offers both ready to wear and a bespoke dressmaking service. His latest collection ‘Coney Island’ was created for the Virgin Australia Fashion Festival 2020. Aron says, “Coney Island 2020 was inspired by the circus because before I got into the industry I would always dream of stopping everything else in my life and running off to do nothing but fashion…I always called it running away to the circus to follow fashion. That was the first feeling that triggered me to pursue it, so this collection was all about that”.
“When I first started creating, I didn’t have the confidence to trust my intuition or own ideas, so I followed so much of what was happening in Europe. Nowadays ideas usually come to me in dreams or I could just be having coffee or sitting somewhere, and I’ll picture a whole collection in my head as the models wear them down the runway”.
Aron is nostalgic in his hometown of Melbourne and continues to be an industry leader as he says, “fashion is our outward expression of what we are feeling on the inside. It’s a statement, a message and a voice that says, this is who I am, don’t mess with me”.
Aron Katona focuses on both ready to wear and haute couture for women of all shapes, sizes, and ages wanting to look their best at work, home or on the red carpet. He is a favourite amongst celebrities from, The Real Housewives of Melbourne, Television Personality Brynne Edelston, Model Krista Vendy and Hollywood star Jane Seymour to name a few. Getting to the top of his game in the fashion industry has always taken dedication and perseverance, which makes his achievements to date even more impressive.
I asked Aron, “is fashion moving in a new direction?”
Aron says, “I believe couture fashion will always be couture but in general, it feels like fashion is moving towards a faster-paced direction. With more ready to wear pieces that are being produced at faster speeds there are more collections per year, and it feels like people are choosing quantity over quality. However, there will always be women wanting glamour and a personal touch to their dresses”.
By Melinda Sullivan
Images supplied by Aron Katona & Photographer Stan Traianedes
