Melbourne fashion springs to life

Melbourne's strong links with Italy's most famous fashion core will be celebrated during a special event at the upcoming Motorola Melbourne Spring Fashion Week (MMSFW).

The event, taking place from September 5 to 11, will feature more than 400 outfits, an estimated 700 glasses of champagne and 150 events, including fashion parades, workshops, exhibitions and panel discussions.

Organisers predict one of the highlights of the event will be the inaugural Italian parade titled Parading Milan in Melbourne. Showcasing designs from graduates of renowned Italian fashion school, the Istituto Marangoni in Milan, the parade has been created to celebrate Melbourne's sister city relationship with Italian fashion mecca Milan, clinched in March 2004.

Evening parades include City Slick - cutting edge urban fashion; Jet Set - poolside and resortwear; Lady Luck - racewear; eventwear and millinery and The New Order - a showcase of Melbourne's most promising designers.

For the first time in its history, the official evening parades will be staged in the Melbourne Town Hall with attendees also be able to network between parades at the inaugural MMSFW Champagne Lounge.
As Ragtrader went to press 37 designers had confirmed their participation in the event, including high profile names Alannah Hill, Rebecca Davies, Wayne Cooper, Morrissey, Zimmerman and Bettina Liano.