- Published:
- Thursday 10 March 2016
Victoria’s design talent will take centre stage tonight at the 2016 Virgin Australia Fashion Festival (VAMFF) in a new emerging-designer showcase event – the VAMFF Discovery Runway.
The audience will include Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley and a delegation of high-profile international bloggers and media representatives who have travelled to Victoria for VAMFF as part of the Victorian Invitation Program (VIP), an initiative of the Andrews Labor Government.
More than 250 major buyers and people of influence are in Victoria for the VIP, connecting with businesses in Melbourne and across regional Victoria.
Eight emerging Victorian designers and labels are taking part in the runway, which will showcase men’s and women’s wear, street wear and accessories at the Royal Exhibition Building.
Featured labels include Article. by Courtney Holm, a menswear label that is 100% hand-produced in Melbourne; Banoffee x Pageant - a collaboration between electro R’n’B singer Banoffee and the designers of Pageant, who took out last year’s Tiffany and Co National Designer of the Year Award; and Assk, a label by Paris-based Melbourne design duo Agatha Kowalewski and Sarah Schofield.
Many participants honed their skills studying fashion at RMIT. Emma Cutri and Alice McIntosh, of the label Sister, started out designing for friends and family, while others undertook internships with leading international labels including Marchesa, Christian Dior, Versace and Louis Vuitton.
Part of VAMFF’s 20th anniversary program, the Discovery Runway enhances the festival’s support for emerging designers and builds Melbourne’s reputation as Australia’s fashion capital.
The VIP is the Government’s flagship inbound trade program, which brings international delegates to Victoria to connect with Victorian businesses, to seek out new opportunities and experience Victorian products, services and talent first-hand.
The 2016 Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival runs until 13 March. For full program details, visit vamff.com.au
Quotes attributable to Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley
“It’s great to see Victorian fashion being showcased to the world. We share the festival’s commitment to supporting the state’s next generation of creative talent.”
“The Discovery Runway is a celebration of Victorian creativity and our local industry. While each label is distinct, they are they linked by a spirit of innovation and resourcefulness that is characteristic across all our creative industries.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade Philip Dalidakis
“Through the Victoria Invitation Program, we are bringing the world to our doorstep to showcase the very best of what Victoria has to offer across a range of industries.”
“Ensuring we are globally connected will allow more Victorians more opportunities to form key international partnerships that will help them grow and create new jobs for the future.”