Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia will introduce a 'business-matching' service for export-ready fashion designers this year.
NSW designers will be paired with domestic and international buyers as part of a joint initiative between event organiser IMG Fashion, NSW Trade & Investment, Destination NSW, Austrade and the Council of Textile and Fashion Industries of Australia (TFIA).
Deputy Premier and Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Stoner said 'business-matching' meetings will be available to around 40 export-ready designers this year.
“The NSW Government, through Destination NSW and NSW Trade & Investment, is a major supporter of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia and the NSW fashion industry,” he said.
“Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia is the nation’s biggest fashion industry event and a major global platform for NSW fashion and design talent.
“For the first time, local designers were invited to provide details on their business background, capabilities, product categories and markets of interest before the event.
“NSW Trade & Investment has presented this information in the lead-up to the event to registered buyer [and] media delegates, offering them the opportunity to hold one-on-one meetings with their nominated designers at a purpose-built business lounge within the Overseas Passenger Terminal.”
While a schedule of meetings was not available at time of press, a
spokesperson claimed Watson X Watson, Magdalena Duma, Hussy and
Bachhara had attracted the most interest.
Stoner said fashion is an important industry for NSW, employing some 66,000 people across design, manufacturing, wholesaling and retailing.
The sector also generates sales and service income of around $7.4 billion each year.
TFIA executive Paula Rogers is confident the business meetings will provide further opportunities for new talent.
“This is a practical way we can provide support to up-and-coming designers working to grow their businesses, both locally and internationally," she said.
“Our emerging designers compete in an increasingly challenging and global marketplace, and the business matching program will help by putting them in touch with major buyers and media.”
NSW Trade & Investment, TFIA and IMG Fashion recently partnered for a business workshop aimed at fashion designers.
The Sydney workshop included IMG Fashion executive Jarrad Clark, David Jones executive David Bush, Fashion Compass (UK) honcho Stephen Laundy and domestic buyer Eva Galambos.
For a full report on the workshop, pick up Ragtrader's May 2012 edition.
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia will commence on April 30 at Sydney's Overseas Passenger Terminal.
To download the event schedule, click here.