Under the Cover - Social Cohesion, United In Diversity

Segmento’s cover captures the power of fashion as a force of social cohesion. Photographed by An La of AJ Co Photography and styled by BirdSkin, it celebrates cross-cultural creativity—expressing a deeply personal story of resilience, integration, and artistic unity.

In a world grappling with division, Segmento’s new edition dares to shift the focus to what brings us together. Our theme, “Social Cohesion, United in Diversity,” is more than a slogan; it’s a statement of belief. It recognises that true strength emerges from the fusion of identities, stories, and talents—and few mediums express that fusion more vividly than fashion.

Fashion is, by nature, a canvas of influences. In Australia, it evolved into a reflection of migration, memory, and multicultural aesthetics. The textures of Vietnam, the embroidery of Pakistan, the precision of Chinese design, and the bold simplicity of modern Australian style can—and often do—coexist within a single outfit. 

Our cover brings this truth to life: a model draped in the imaginative couture of BirdSkin, captured through the lens of An La, a Vietnamese-Australian photographer whose personal story is as layered as the fabrics he photographs.

Arriving in Australia in 1982 as a 15-year-old refugee, An La’s journey started not in a studio but on a boat, fleeing Vietnam with survival as his only hope. After reaching Malaysia, he was eventually sponsored by an uncle to start a new life in Australia, initiating a long process of cultural integration. As the only Vietnamese student in his class at school, An found himself surrounded by peers of Italian, Polish, and Anglo-Australian backgrounds—an early immersion in multiculturalism that would deeply shape his worldview.

A natural observer, An La was captivated by the interplay of light and shadow. He studied at The School of Art and Photography under renowned educator Robert Gill, immersing himself in chiaroscuro, form, and classical composition. For over a decade, he pursued a career in architectural illustration before eventually returning to a childhood passion of photography.

But this return wasn’t a solo journey. In 2011, alongside his Chinese-Malaysian creative partner, Jerry, he co-founded AJ Co Photography—named after the initials, An and Jerry—and this partnership became a living metaphor for Australia’s multicultural fabric: different origins, united by a shared vision.

Segmento’s cover is born from one such similar creative convergence: BirdSkin & AJ Co Photography.

BirdSkin, the visionary fashion brand featured in the shoot, is co-led by Ali, of Pakistani heritage, and Luc, an Australian designer. Together, they create garments inspired by birds—fluid, feathered, fierce—blending the intricacy of Middle Eastern craftsmanship with the sharp edge of contemporary couture. Their designs don’t just clothe the body—they tell stories.

An La discovered BirdSkin through social media and was immediately drawn to their bold aesthetic. “It was their use of colour and structure that caught my eye,” he says. “Each outfit was like a sculpture—alive, cultural, fearless.”

The shoot was more than an artistic collaboration—it became a snapshot of contemporary Australia. A Vietnamese-Australian photographer teamed with a Chinese-Malaysian creative partner to capture garments designed by a Pakistani-Australian and an Australian team, worn by a model styled with impact and grace.

“Working with BirdSkin was a reminder of what creativity can be when we bring our whole selves—our heritage, our aesthetics, our ideas—to the table,” An reflects. “It was an honour to photograph pieces that are not only beautiful, but rooted in identity.”

The garments themselves—one of which graces our cover—are a masterclass in multicultural storytelling. BirdSkin’s signature style blends traditional embroidery with avant-garde silhouettes, marrying past and future, East and West. As An’s camera captures the folds of fabric and glints of jewellery, what emerges is more than fashion—it’s a declaration: we belong here, together.

For An, Melbourne has long been a microcosm of global influences. He notes how food, fashion, and art have become the everyday expressions of multiculturalism. “Melbourne isn’t just where different cultures live—it’s where they meet,” he says. “Social cohesion isn’t about uniformity. It’s about resonance. Fashion makes that visible.”

The cover image was chosen for its ability to balance elegance with emotion. Set against a decorative backdrop, the model’s stance is proud, grounded, and forward-facing—a symbolic pose for a nation built on layers of migration, resilience, and cultural fusion. An La’s use of light evokes the chiaroscuro techniques learned from his fine art training, highlighting contrast while connecting form to feeling.

Every detail in the frame tells a story: the glint of an earring, the gentle rise of embroidered feathers, the model’s confident gaze, the harmony of colour and cut. This isn’t just a photograph—it’s a celebration of who we are becoming.

As Segmento continues to explore Italian identity in dialogue with global culture, this edition—and this cover—serve as a reminder: identity is not static. It is woven. It shifts, overlaps, learns, and grows. Through people like An La, Ali, Luc, and Jerry, we see that social cohesion isn’t a policy—it’s a practice. It happens each time artists collaborate across cultures. Each time a story is shared. Each time beauty is made in the space between worlds.

Photographer: An La (www.ajcophotography.com)

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