Fashion Exposed had to share the limelight for the first time in 22 seasons when boutique trade fair Premiere debuted alongside it earlier this week.
The organiser of both trade fairs, Australian Exhibitions and Conferences (AEC), reported 7000 visitors trekked to the Sydney Exhibition Centre to view over 1500 labels partaking in Australia's long running fashion trade fair, Fashion Exposed.
But for the first time there was another fashion fair located alongside Fashion Exposed that visitors could also buy product from. Premiere, a high-end boutique fair, was held in the smaller Bayside Grand Hall and featured 108 exhibitors including labels Arabella Ramsey, By Marlene Birger, Cylk, Fresh Laundry, Isabel de Pedro, Little Joe, Not Your Daughter's Jeans and Rebecca Thompson.
Organisers have yet to reveal the number of visitors to Premiere, however co-founder of H&B Fashion Distributors, Stephen Cornips, said the debut event had exceeded his expectations. H&B exhibited labels including Ba&sh, Genetic Denim and Gat Rimon.
“Premiere has given buyers the chance to view multiple high-end collections in a short space of time. We're ultimately sharing one big solid database and are all overwhelmed by how well the show has worked. We've even had a few clients over from Christchurch which has been touching to see,” Cornips said.
For comprehensive coverage of Fashion Exposed and Premiere, pick up a copy of Ragtrader magazine's March 25, 2011 edition.