Lifestyle & Entertainment

MAFW Set To Make It's Mark For The 6th Year

April 15th, 2001

The Mercedes Australian Fashion Week's 2001 designer collection shows will feature the stars of Australian fashion – including Akira Isogawa, Alannah Hill, Easton Pearson, Wayne Cooper, Zimmermann and last year’s newcomer Michelle Jank - along side an impressive new breed of young, creative talent including Justine Taylor, Anthony Kendal of Thys Collective, Sass & Bide, Tsubi, Huong, Sandra Thom and Gorman.

The trade exhibition, which runs from May 7-10, has this year secured an impressive line-up of more than 150 exhibitors including Marcs, Alicia Hollen, Glen Rollason, Aqueo and Eden. For the first year ever, the trade exhibition will also feature designer homewares from the talented designers at Lazy Bones, ALLOY, Cloth, Dorothy May, Anderson Accents, Bison Homewares, Homezone, Pelage and Reynolds & Young.

The industry seminar, to be held on Friday May 11, is also set to steal the attention of the industry with a focus on trend forecasting in fashion. The seminar boasts exciting guest speakers from Promostyl, WGSN and The Mirror Mirror Imagination Group, as well as Australian and overseas leaders in retail and media.

Sydneysiders can also become part of Mercedes Australian Fashion Week by attending events held as part of the festival. Running from May 5–13, the festival will celebrate the art of fashion with more than 25 public events spread across Sydney's finest galleries, museums, the best boutiques and department stores. The festival is set to infiltrate every corner of the city and is set to change perceptions of fashion exhibitions forever.

And for the fashion buffs of Sydney, Marie Claire Fashion Show Live is running for its second successive year. To be held on Saturday May 12 and Sunday May 13, the two-day consumer event features more than 140 exhibitors and allows the fashion conscious public to touch, feel, buy and become part of the excitement of Australia’s premier fashion week.

Highlights of Marie Claire Fashion Show Live include a collection show and make–up demonstration by renowned international designer, Anna Sui; the Marie Claire Best of MAFW designer shows and on-stage make-up demonstrations every half-hour, and the Marie Claire Fashion Show Live Model Search in conjunction with Vivien's Model Management. One lucky attendee will also win the use of a Mercedes SLK Roadster.

MAFW 2001 is also hosting its strongest ever line-up of international buyers and media in 2001. Buyers to attend include many of the world’s largest and most prestigious department stores, boutiques and fashion agents - CK Tangs, Selfridges, Barneys, Lane Crawford, Isetan, Seibu, Browns, Harvey Nichols, Fenwick, Saks Fifth Avenue, Henri Bendel, L’Eclaireur and Colette Boutique.

International media who have not yet attended the event but will be present in 2001 include Marie Claire Hong Kong, InStyle, Elle, Jane and Lucky (US), New York Post and New York Times, W, Nuvo Magazine and Fashion TV (Canada), INFAS & NTT Cable TV (Tokyo), Jalouse (Paris), Madame Figaro (Paris) and Elle Décor (Italy) and Elle (South Africa).

Past success of the event combined with the overwhelming interest this year has also secured Mercedes Australian Fashion Week many new high-profile sponsors including L’Oreal, Cotton Australia, Gillette and a further eight-year sponsorship commitment from long-time supporter Mercedes-Benz.