Australian supermodel Elle Macpherson will return to the PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival (PMFF) for the first time in 16 years.
Elle will strut the PayPal Runway to open PMFF’s premium runway series at the Royal Exhibition Building on March 4.
The PayPal Runway will showcase Australian brands that have achieved enduring global acclaim and success.
“I'm honoured to support PayPal in promoting Australian fashion globally,” Macpherson said. “From personal experience, I know the challenges of taking a business global, and how valuable trusted partners are in that process."
PayPal senior director of consumer Shane Capron said Macpherson is the perfect ambassador for the opening runway theme.
“This year, the PayPal Runway is all about celebrating the success of Australian fashion businesses and their remarkable influence on the industry, so Elle is the perfect ambassador," Capron said.
"Not only is Elle an Australian who became one of the world’s leading supermodels, she has also launched a globally successful brand."
This year, PMFF will run for 15 days, starting on Saturday, February 24 to Saturday, March 9.
The first week of the festival will focus on PMFF’s Independent Programme, with curated events involving creatives, educational institutions and community organisations.
The second week will see the return of PMFF’s Premium Runway Series and Fashion Forecourt to the Royal Exhibition Building. This selection will showcase an increased number of different runways with Australian emerging and established designer talent to crowds of over 3,000 people per night.
“In 2024, we are excited to bring to life a festival that gives Australians more access than ever before to the creativity, craftsmanship and culture of our rich local fashion industry and create more meaningful conversations around emerging talent, social trends, creative industries and the role fashion plays in our society,” PMFF CEO Caroline “Ralph” Ralphsmith said.