The lineup for the all new Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia – now Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia Resort Collections – has been unveiled tonight with over 55 designers set to show in Sydney between May 15th – 20th, 2016.
The big names leading the schedule is Toni Maticevski with his resort Maticevski collection landing the coveted opening slot, and Australia’s own wunderkind Dion Lee who shows twice yearly at New York Fashion week returning to the schedule. Joining them will be the likes of Akira, Ginger & Smart, Christopher Esber and Bec & Bridge, with Camilla, Swarovski and Alice McCall hosting special events during the week as part of the schedule.
To make it a more cohesive week for buyer and media to plan their schedule around, the resort collections will be showcased on Sunday the 15th to Wednesday 17th of May, with Thursday 19th seeing the unveiling of swim and activewear collections and closing on Friday 20th with emerging design talent from Australia and overseas.
The move from hosting MBFWA in April to May helps keep Australia’s only industry fashion week relevant on the international buying calendar, lining us up with the resort buying schedule. Australia has long produced many successful brands who fits perfectly in the resort line up, arguably the most successful being Zimmermann who has gone on to show at NYFW and Miami Swim Fashion Week, as well as opening flagship stores around the world. Though they are not showing again at MBFWA, we will see the likes of We Are Handsome and Camilla showcase their popular swim and resort wear for media and buyers.
NSW Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events Stuart Ayres said, “We’ve taken a strategic decision to showcase Resort collections after speaking to industry about seizing a greater opportunity on the international calendar. With the world’s most influential buyers and media travelling to Sydney for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia Sydney this will be a great moment for trade and for visitation to NSW.
“May marks the beginning of the global sales window for these lucrative retail collections,” said Emily Weight, Head of Fashion, IMG Fashion Events & Properties, Asia Pacific. “The new timing and Resort offering reflects our work with the industry to maintain global relevance for the region’s leading fashion event. The move presents an exciting opportunity for Australian designers and global media and buyers alike.”
To complete the schedule a series of thought leadership industry seminars will run daily, featuring keynote speakers and informative content curated by industry leaders including Ragtrader Live, Cleancut and Microsoft.
The MBFWA Official Schedule can be viewed at mbfashionweek.com/australia/schedule
MBFWA 2016 will showcase Resort Collections from:
- Aje
- Akira
- Anna Quan
- Aqua Blu
- Bec & Bridge
- Bianca Spender
- Bondi Bather
- By Johnny
- Christopher Esber
- Cristahlea
- Daniel Avakian
- Dion Lee
- Discount Universe
- Duskii
- Emma Mulholland
- Georgia Alice
- Ginger & Smart
- Holystone
- House of Cannon
- Jason Hewitt
- Jennifer Kate
- Kaliver
- Karla Špetic
- Macgraw
- Manning Cartell
- Maticevski
- Misha Collection
- Monster Alphabets
- Palm Swimwear
- P.E Nation
- P.Jamé
- Rebecca Vallance
- Steven Khalil
- Third Form
- Ten Pieces
- We Are Handsome
- We Are Kindred
- Yeojin Bae
- Zhivago
Stay tuned for more about MBFWA!
