SYDNEY: Rosemount Australian Trans-Seasonal Fashion Week (RAFW) will kick off tonight with an inaugural award ceremony at Sydney's Government House.
A joint initiative of RAFW organisers (IMG) and the NSW Government, the Australian Fashion Laureate Award will be presented to one member of the industry who has "over time, made a significant contribution to the growth, development and/or promotion of the Australian fashion industry."
Designers Jayson Brunsdon, Collette Dinnigan, Akira Isogawa and Carla Zampatti and Fashion Design Studio head Nicholas Huxley are the final five nominees who will battle it out for the top honour.
RAFW Trans-Seasonal 2008 collections will commence the following day, running from October 9 to 11 at the Overseas Passenger Terminal.
Largely comprised of new generation talent such as Daniel Avakian (pictured), Yekaterina Peker, Donna Sgro, Vasiliki, jane & eleni, Injury, Kornerd and Nicolangela, the trade-only event will also play host to high-profile designers Alex Perry, sass & bide, Bowie and Wayne Cooper.
IMG Fashion Asia Pacific Managing Director Simon Lock said this season's installment would prove to be a "perfect" stepping stone for emerging designers. He hit back at criticisms which suggested the event was not valuable for established Australian designers.
"If you look at our most successful international brands, they continue to showcase in Australia, maybe not every season buy they still maintain a definitive presence here. Rosemount Australian Fashion Week continues to provide that brand-building opportunity."
For the complete RAFW schedule: afw.com.au/schedule/Schedule.pdf