The culture of cars can be a deep, lifelong obsession, from the high-octane thrill of the race to the sleek aesthetics that surround it and the mechanics and technology behind it.
There’s the high-glamour of Formula 1 and the down and dirty drags, with all of the colour, crowds and motifs that surround the broad world of motorsport. In pop culture too, cars and racing endure: from Motomami Rosalía to Charli XCX’s track Let’s Ride (beep beep!), the enduring popularity of the Fast & Furious franchise to the world of RuPaul’s Drag Race.
All of that was the beginning of the inspiration for New Zealand brand Wynn Hamlyn’s show at Afterpay Australian Fashion Week, with the Resort 2024 collection presented on the track at the Hyper Karting Car Park Arena with lights flashing and music blaring; a perfect fashion week replica of the sensory overload that you often get ‘at the races’.
Designer Wynn Crawshaw’s fascination came mostly from the rise of Formula 1 and the booming industry that surrounds it. “I am interested in the rise of F1 in the past few years and what has caused that. Of course, [Netflix series] Drive to Survive has made an impact, but I think it's more than that," says Crawshaw, whose personal Instagram name is @wynn_diesel aka Vin Diesel of The Fast and the Furious fame.
“It has come at the same time (ish) as the explosion of the luxury mega brands. Maybe the two are similar in the way it allows people to grab onto an emblem. So if a Gucci belt buckle doesn't work for you, a Mercedes cap would.”
He’s correct in assessing the power of an emblem in showcasing where your loyalties lie in both luxury and racing. In the speedway world – of which I am an extremely distant participant (my nephews have raced mini stocks and stock cars at Waikaraka Park and across the motu for years; as a child, my family also had connections to Western Springs Speedway) – the distinctive emblems of teams are passionately displayed everywhere you turn.
Crawshaw was inspired by that hyper-distinctive branding and the various elements that make up race culture: speed, the colours of the track, crowds and flags and, according to the press release, “even the carbon fibre technology incorporated into the wheels of the cars”.
There were some more obvious race references in the actual clothes – the motocross leathers, Chevron race stripes – but the things that stood out for me were the more subtle touches that spoke to the crowds or the crew in the pits: the dirty-wash denim (so common at actual speedway), a clever buckle that reminded me of drivers’ safety gear, practical zip up jumpsuits.
One look featuring a Dickies-esque khaki shirt worn open over a shirt and with dirty denim baggy jeans was so spot on in merging fashion with bogancore that I could picture it on both my (cool, not bogan) husband and one of my (cool, bogan) nephews, while a jumper with flame-like texture on the arms reminded me of the flames that my dad was once so desperate to paint on the side of said nephew’s stock car. There were also lots of Wynn Hamlyn signatures, indulging jacquard knitwear, a trippy floral print, brilliant suiting and what I call Wynn’s 'hot-girl dresses'.
Post-show, we talked cars, fashion and whether or not he was ever a boy racer...
Why did you want to base the collection on racing?
Actually, the opportunity to show at the venue (the Hypercart go-kart track) came up first. Then after sitting on it for a while, we decided to lean into it and pivot the collection to be about motor racing. There are so many fun and nostalgic things about motorsport that we could explore.
I thought it was interesting how you mentioned in your press notes, the contrasting subcultures of racing – the Grand Prix fans and luxury, the fans at the local drags. Was there a particular subculture you personally are drawn to?
I always seem to be more drawn to the people surrounding the thing, rather than the thing itself. Historically I feel more aligned with the local drags end of the spectrum. For me, that was Bay Park Speedway at Mount Maunganui, or older kids at my school talking about doing burnouts on the weekend.
How did you take those ideas and turn it into clothing?
Again, just looking at the people at the events. People wear whatever they have to fly their flag. Merch is big in motorsport – I guess that's the team jersey. From there down it's just anything you have to align – like leather jackets, denim, even merch of brands that align with the sponsors or demographic of that race.
Were you ever a boy racer type?
Not really. I knew some car terms at high school, like 'rotary' and 'turbo' but didn't really know what they meant.
Have you ever been to Speedway back home in NZ? What's been your take? The style there is very um... not fashion, haha.
Yeah, we went to the speedway on a Friday or Saturday night back home. It's very far from 'fashion' but also it's just the same. People dress up and wear their gear to signify their spot in that world. If it's freezing cold, you either freeze or wear your merch over your hoodie. I definitely see the same thing happen at fashion shows haha.
Do you have a favourite driver? From F1 or other.
I don't know heaps about F1 but from watching a bit of Drive to Survive, I like Lewis [Hamilton].
What's your favourite racing film?
Fast and Furious 1 and Gone in 60 Seconds.
Do you watch RuPaul's Drag Race?
I've only watched a few episodes!
Do you have a favourite racing game?
I got a bootleg version of Need for Speed: Underground when I was about 12. The songs on the soundtrack are still ingrained in my brain and remind me of that whenever I hear them. Riders on the Storm by The Doors come to mind.
What do you drive?
Mostly the work van.
What's your dream car?
Black Ferrari 512 TR. Same as Mike Jordan.
What was your first car?
Toyota Hilux ute that I could put my dirt bike on the back.
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Zoe travelled to Sydney with the support of Afterpay
