Funding issues plague fashion events
Rosemount Australian Fashion Week (RAFW)'s trans-seasonal edition - which last year concluded a five year contract with the Victorian Government - is currently under review, while it is understood the 2007 instalment of L'Oréal Melbourne Fashion Festival (LMFF) in March also concluded LMFF's five-year funding agreement. Ragtrader was unable to confirm widespread conjecture that Motorola Melbourne Spring Fashion Week (MMSFW) was either being, or about to be, reviewed at the time of press.
A spokesperson for Victorian Minister for Industry and State Development, Major Projects and Small Business Theo Theophanous claimed no decision had been made on any of the events, adding it was "simply too early for speculation".
Such cautions aside, speculation is nonetheless mounting that RAFW's trans-seasonal edition could be re-located to Sydney if the results of a review prove unfavourable. Graeme Lewsey, regional marketing and communications director for RAFW organiser IMG Asia Pacific, would neither confirm nor deny the rumours.
"What I will say is that IMG is 100 per cent committed to staging a separate, trans-seasonal event. We are also considering minor alterations to the schedule to co-incide with recent changes to the international calendar," he said.
Continuing uncertainty will doubtless worry potential Melbourne RAFW participants after last year's event took heat for its lacklustre attendance. Question marks over investment in RAFW - which, along with LMFF and MMSFW may have to compete for funding against applicants from Melbourne's high profile sporting sector - will do little to dispel their concerns.
Australian Fashion Council (AFC) head Zoe Edquist said while RAFW Melbourne had so far failed to return expected results, the AFC fully supported the event.
"If RAFW [Melbourne] is to be reviewed by government we would be very strongly opposed to it being replaced by yet another Victorian sporting event."
Meanwhile LMFF director Karen Webster confirmed information had recently been submitted to the State Government regarding renewed funding, but would not be drawn on a possible outcome. MMSFW organiser Melbourne City Council was unavailable for comment as Ragtrader went to press. While any reassessment of Melbourne's fashion shows would be expected to cast a shadow over all of them, it is widely believed RAFW Melbourne is currently particularly problematic, despite the backing of a multi-million dollar global company and high profile sponsorship deals. The event was plagued by "definite weaknesses" relating to organisational and resourcing issues, Edquist said.
"Having said that, it's absolutely vital that the model is very carefully assessed before it is dismantled or re-located."
For his part, Lewsey strongly rejected criticism of RAFW Melbourne's commercial viability, claiming the event - coming up for its sixth instalment - was "still in its infancy" compared to the 12-year-old Sydney version.
As a trans-seasonal showcase, was in fact expected to attract a smaller budget and attendance than its spring/summer counterpart, he said.
"Obviously we hope a resolution over RAFW's trans-seasonal schedule and location can be resolved as speedily as possible."