Trade fair gets European touch
In an attempt to garner greater international exposure for the bi-annual event, organisers Australian Exhibition & Conferences (AEC), have added a new guest country program to its running sheet.
Timed to coincide with the fair's Sydney installment, held March 11 to 13, the guest country will be invited to put together a group of its best designer labels to host a display in Fashion Exposed's Preview exhibition area as well as staging their own catwalk show.
The first cab off the rank is Belgium, which has put together a group of seven designers for the runway show, together with an additional three labels for the exhibition.
Flanders Investment and Trade commissioner Natalie Surmont said the chance to be the first guest country asked to appear at the event was a huge coup.
"The chance to participate in Belgium's first fashion presentation in Australia created tremendous interest. As a result, we have been able to put together an elite group."
Leading the charge will be Brussels-based designer Kaat Tilley and her 29-year-old Antwerp-based compatriot Tim van Steenbergen.
Tilley, who has shown her collections in New York and Tokyo, was recently selected to design costumes for a film by Portugese music star Dulce Pontes and Belgian director Julien Vrebos.
For his part, van Steenbergen is also well regarded in his homeland, having designed a jewellery collection for the UK arm of crystal brand Swarovski as well as having worked as artistic director of luxury Belgian brand Donaldson.
Other Belgian labels to make their Australian debut on the catwalk - across the lingerie, knitwear and high glamour categories - will be Armando de Vincentiis, Just in Case, La fille d'O, L & A Mathger and Sigi.
Completing the group will be jewellery designer Nico Taeymans, swimwear by Harriet van den Bosch under her label Niagara and belts by Branie.