Melbourne designer Dhini designer Dhini Pararajasingham was much more emphatic.
"As a Melbourne designer I'm disappointed. The move seems to take away from Melbourne as a centre for fashion creativity. For me it also clashes with [trade fair] Paris Rendezvous, which takes place the first week of October as part of Paris Fashion Week. It's going to be tricky for buyers. I can't imagine them rushing from Paris to Sydney in such a short space of time."
While IMG was "doing great things", RAFW was still a work in progress, particularly in terms of its schedule, she added.
"I wish them luck as I think it would be great if they could get the formula right. More established events like London Fashion Week have a fixed schedule that's released eight months in advance, which makes it so much easier to plan for."
Meanwhile Victorian-based Australian Fashion Council (AFC) head Zoe Edquist also supported the move north.
"Sydney is the natural home for fashion week because it has such a strong profile internationally. While it's a shame that Melbourne will no longer host the event it's important to look at the bigger picture. Fashion week never really worked in Melbourne and as a result it did little to enhance the city's image."
In response, IMG Asia Pacific managing director Simon Lock said extensive industry consultation had validated IMG's decision.
"[Moving RAFW Transeasonal to Sydney] sends out a very consistent message - come to Sydney and see the many fresh and innovative talents the Asia Pacific has to offer," he said.
IMG marketing and communications director Graeme Lewsey emphasised commercial imperatives had also played a strong part in RAFW's new host city.
"The five-year funding for the event from the Victorian Government came to an end last season and the reality is that we had been spending a lot of that funding on attracting fashion media - most of which is based in Sydney - down to Melbourne. It's time to get over the age-old comparisons between Melbourne and Sydney and start focusing on promoting Australian fashion as a whole internationally."