QUT Creative Enterprise Australia (CEA) has partnered with The Australian Fashion Council (AFC) to bring the 'Curated' event to Brisbane.
QUT has stated that decision was made in a bid to support local early stage and emerging fashion designers.
The program has been conceptualised to guide fashion entrepreneurs in their business development through providing popup retail exposure, direct industry mentoring and workshops spread out over a 12 month period.
CEA fashion development manager Thuy Nguyen said that partnerships such as this drive the importance of establishing and growing a supportive network for fashion labels across Australia.
“Curated has been created to provide a flexible model that can be used anywhere that there’s a need to support Australian labels. It’s a great remedy for designers wanting to further their businesses”.
“Our Fashion360 accelerator is an Australian first run out of Brisbane and provides high-touch support for designers wanting an intensive training program to drive their business position to a scalable brand within six months”.
“The collaboration between Curated and Fashion360 means that any designer - no matter where they are in their business are able to receive support tailored to their needs. This partnership is about giving designers the confidence to explore their label at any stage and continue to build it until a time they can focus on scaling and promoting their label as a full-time venture”.
AFC product manager Kirri-Mae Sampson said that the partnership would help to bridge the gap between emerging and established designers.
"CEA Fashion Accelerator is a valuable contributor to our local Australian fashion and textile landscape. There is such significance in supporting our emerging brands at each stage and we recognise initiatives like these as integral for our growth as an industry.
“Partnering with CEA to better deliver our Curated program in Brisbane will make the program more accessible for local QLD labels by offering a space to come together with industry experts and mentors to assist in their business development."
The Curated program has previously been rolled out in Melbourne, with feedback from designers indicating the need for a national program.