Emerging designers have the opportunity to showcase their wares to both trade and consumers at the fourth annual Design Made Trade fair.
The event is part of Victoria's eighth State of Design Festival and will run from Thursday July 21 to Sunday July 24. The first two days are for trade only, then the fair will open up to consumers.
The event is designed as a “stepping stone” for up-and-coming designers across many fields including fashion, furniture and industrial design. Fashion businesses taking part include apparel screen printers Captain Robbo, ethical hand-printed textile makers Ink & Spindle, and silk tie and cufflink maker Aya Kawa.
Many jewellery and accessory designers are also exhibiting including Alpa Patel, Antlitz, Bec Stern, Bilingual Design, InSync Design and Japonicity.
To encourage the forging of industry connections Design Made Trade will be held alongside the Melbourne Design Embassy. The latter is a central zone where industry can rest, network and do business during the State of Design Festival.
Buyers interested in attending Design Made Trade can register for free prior to the event or pay $10 at the door. The event is being coordinated by Fashion Exposed organisers Australian Exhibitions and Conferences on behalf of the Victorian state government, and will be held at the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton.