BRISBANE: Fledgling consumer event Mercedes-Benz Fashion Festival Brisbane (MBFF) is set to make a play for the big time, launching a new regional forum and moving to a much larger venue.
In a statement released April 9, MBFF festival director Lindsay Bennett said the event's 2009 instalment, staged August 23 to 28, would be held in its new home of City Hall allowin up to 20,000 people to see the collections on show.
Events on offer include 10 group shows, exhibitions and fashion workshops, from regional, national and international designers.
New to the line up this year would be a regional fashion forum, taking place in Cairns on August 22, which Bennett said would "provide emerging designers and local fashion businesses with the tools and confidence to grow their business".
"This is an important element of the festival to support the Queensland market and to provide, where possible, mentoring opportunities and encouragement," he said.
Costing around $800,000 to produce, Bennett said he hoped MBFF 2009 would generate retail sales in excess of the $3.6 million spent by consumers last year.
The 2009 instalment marks the first time the event has been staged without the support of the Hilton Hotel and follows the accommodation's provider's withdrawal from other fashion events including Air New Zealand Fashion Week.
Picking up the slack for MBFF will be the Sebel and Citigate King George Square, which has signed on as hotel sponsor.
Bennett said the line up of designers will be announced on May 21 at which point tickets will go on sale through QTIX outlets.