GOLD COAST: Buyer registrations have opened for the newest event to hit the local fashion trade fair circuit.
The inaugural Swimshow Australia will be held from March 23 to 25 next year at Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre. The trade fair is being organised by Gold Coast local Luis Betancur.
“After managing several events and seeing the huge amount of time and cost involved in travelling overseas to show, I have noticed the gap we have in the southern hemisphere,” Betancur said. “I started to think that an event was needed in Australia.”
He said up to 40 domestic and global labels will feature in the 2011 installment of Swimshow Australia, with all labels set to be “pre-screened” prior to participation in runway shows, on-site showrooms or off-site events.
On-site costs include $3400 for a three metre by three metre stand; $4800 for a three by six metre stand; or $9600 for a six by six metre stand, not including GST.
Betancur said the new event was not designed to encroach on the territory of other swim trade events launched in recent years, including IMG Fashion Asia Pacific's Sanctuary Cove Swim Fashion Week.
“One [is] a 'fashion week', the other a trade show,” he said. “Our aim is not to compete in any way with a fashion week event, but to offer a different platform for designers.
“We hope that both events can work in unison, to draw national and international buyers to the one location at the one time, creating the southern hemisphere's biggest swim market week.”
Betancur declined to reveal any confirmed event sponsors or participating labels for Swimshow Australia 2011, though he revealed to Ragtrader earlier this year he had approached local brands including White Sands, Kulu, Atlantis, Hive, Qupid and Capriosca about exhibiting. He was also targeting international labels such as ViX Swimwear.
“We would especially like to see some more South American labels, as they are generally very well received by the Australian market,” he said.
Erin O'Loughlin