DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL SCHEDULE HERE.
Update: Johanna Johnson has been added to the schedule with a 6pm slot on May 1.
ragtrader.com.au can exclusively reveal Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia 2012 schedule.
Organiser IMG Fashion will release the spring/summer 2012/13 collections programme to media later today, with a power lineup of designers including Akira, Dion Lee, Josh Goot, Ellery, Zimmermann, Toni Maticevski, Jayson Brunsdon and Carl Kapp.
In breaking the schedule to ragtrader.com.au, IMG Fashion global production director Jarrad Clark confirmed Romance was Born would open the event in a "fitting" kick off to the season.
"This schedule truly showcases the creativity and innovation of our talented Australian and visiting international designers from across Asia and North America," he said.
Designer label Ginger & Smart will celebrate its 10th anniversary at the show with Camilla, Alice McCall, Bec & Bridge, Lisa Ho, Gary Bigeni, Manning Cartell and Michael Lo Sordo joining as regulars.
Solo debuts for the event include icons Jenny Kee and Oroton, as well as Bless’ed are the Meek, Roopa Pemmaraju, An Ode to No One, Watson X Watson, Flowers for a Vagabond, Toi et Moi Sydney, Dylan Cooper, By Johnny, Aje, and Nana Judy.
New-York based Whitney Eve and WE by Whitney Eve will launch into Australia for the first time, with celebrity Whitney Port attending an installation-format show at new venue The Box.
Designers Christopher Esber, Song for the Mute and Ksubi will inject menswear into proceedings, in addition to a dedicated men's group show featuring From Britten P/L, Injury, MilsManifesto, Zsadar, Nathan Paul Swimwear, Kalb and Etiw.
Meanwhile swim and resort collections will be headed up by We Are Handsome, Suboo, Lisa Maree and Kooey Australia.
Two New Generation shows feature in the schedule, comprising Collecting Pretty Boys, Elliatt, Kahlo, Kristi Rose, Tovah, Ash to Gold, LittleGracie, Luela, Susan Rep, Aanchal Chanda, Uscari and LF Markey.
The 2012 TAFE NSW Innovators show will also promote fresh talent with Carlie Waterman, Stephanie Goerlach, Cynthia Thai, Yuliy Gershinsky, Christopher Baldwin and Kaylene Milner showcasing their graduate collections.
Fashion college Raffles will stage its own international designer showcase, featuring works from Winson Tan (Malaysia), Crystal Tsoi (Hong Kong), Akaya Ichikawa (Japan) and Gabriel Lee (Korea).
Style Hong Kong, with the support of the Hong Kong Trade and Development Council, will bring home the international angle with ranges from DoDo Leung, Hei Lau, Chairlie Ho and Harrison Wong.
Fernando Frisoni is confirmed to close the week with a unique, invitation only Masquerade.