by Levi J Parsons

SYDNEY, May 14 (Xinhua) -- Feathers, sequins, sparkles and glitter adorned the catwalk at Fashion Week Australia on Tuesday, as iconic local designer Alice McCall showcased her latest collection in Sydney.

Debuting her label at the event 15 years ago, McCall told Xinhua, "It's a great celebration for the brand."

"It's special for me. It's really memorable, 15 years is real longevity."

Worn by celebrities such as U.S. pop star Beyonce and British actress Emma Watson, the Aussie fashionista recently found yet another high-profile fan in New Zealand -- the country's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

"Jacinta by choice has been wearing our product a little bit, and that is just absolutely wonderful," McCall said.

"So we intend to get her some more products because she really is an amazing prime minister."

Focused on "clothes to go out in, celebrate in and to have fun in," McCall explained that she tries to "not get too consumed with looking at the latest trends" in the fashion world.

"I grew up with the most amazing dress up box that my mother had, she was a designer as well," she said.

"So there's an element of fancy dress and celebrating (in my designs) but it's refined in the delivery."

"Our brand really stands for celebrations, parties and events ... and then they become keepsakes, which is a really lovely thing."

Also gaining inspiration from recent trips to China, the style icon said "I've just got back from Nanjing, which I loved very, very much."

"We have some good suppliers there and I intend to get back there soon and continue to grow the business."

"What's really wonderful is when I go into China, I can work in the pattern rooms and design rooms in my factories with wonderful craftsmen and pattern-makers and it allows my vision to become a reality quite quickly when I'm over there. So I really enjoy it."

With a dedicated customer base both in Australia and China, McCall said, "I am really focused on Chinese growth. It's a market that I'd like to penetrate even more. And there's a lot of really exciting opportunities there," she added.