Dates for the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Festival - Brisbane have been announced for Saturday 20 to Friday 26 August, 2011, with South Bank to host the event for the second time.
The event will showcase a mix of the best spring/summer fashion collections by more than 60 top local, national and international designers and retailers in Queensland, with nine group shows. The group shows are to include the opening and closing events, an off-site swimwear/resort show, an Australian Fashion Graduate of the Year competition and “fashions after hours” discussion program.
Despite the challenges of recent disasters throughout much of Queensland, organisers are hoping the 2011 festival will match the reported retail sales of the 2010 festival, which funneled more than $4.35 million into the state.
Festival director, Lindsay Bennett said the event would serve to once again showcase Queensland’s spectacular and diverse fashion market.
“While the flood waters may have receded, the effects of these devastating natural disasters will continue to be felt by the local fashion design and retail industry for many months to come. We are committed to working to drive interest and sales for this great city”, Bennett said.
“In what can only be described as a challenging few months for the entire State, we need to promote the best that Queensland has to offer to the rest of the country. The Mercedes-Benz Fashion Festival is a serious business and generates wide exposure for the city and the designers and retailers involved”.
While the line-up of designers will not be announced until Thursday 19 May, the festival has already confirmed several sponsors, including Channel Ten, 97.3FM, celebrity makeup artist Napoleon Perdis, and Schwarzkopf Professional, to help back the event.
The call for designers to participate in this year’s festival has begun, with the deadline for applications to close on Monday May 2, 2011.
Tickets for the show and related events are set to go on sale from May 20 via QTIX outlets. For further details see www.mbff.com.au.