Coronavirus Australia: Designers brace for impact after Fashion Week cancelled
Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia has been cancelled and will not take place as scheduled in May with organisers complying with the government’s edict preventing events of more than 500 people.
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The country’s most important and hotly anticipated fashion event has been cancelled due to COVID-19.
Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia will not take place as scheduled in May with organisers complying with the governments edict preventing events of more than 500 people.
“Due to the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC)’s mandate against holding non-essential, organised public gatherings of more than 500 people in light of global health concerns regarding COVID-19 (coronavirus), we regret to share that Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia 2020 will not take place,” Natalie Xenita, executive director of IMG’s fashion events group for the Asia-Pacific region said.
“We thank our incredible designers, producers, partners and staff for their support of the Australian fashion community and look forward to celebrating our 25th anniversary in 2021.”
Fashion Week was slated to take place at Carriageworks in Eveleigh, as it has for several years, from May 11 to 15.
It is the top showcase for Aussie fashion designers, providing the opportunity to show and sell their collections to international buyers. It is their biggest opportunity of the year to garner press both locally and abroad with designers shelling out more than $100,000 to host a show.
With many well underway with preparations, the cancellation is a major blow to an already struggling industry.
“The safety of organisers, participants and attendees is of the utmost importance and I strongly support IMG’s decision to cancel MBFWA,” designer Alice McCall said.
Alex Perry said organisers had no other option but to cancel Fashion Week but warned the ramifications of COVID-19 will be felt far and wide.
“It is unfortunate but everything all of the world is closing down,” he said. “We have to do this to protect people’s health and safety, especially the elderly.”
The respected designer continued: “Everybody is just bracing themselves and you have to react as it happens. I am sure that there are going to be some casualties, smaller businesses obviously but even some larger businesses. It is so huge and I am worried for a lot of businesses.”
Maurice Terzini, a restaurateur and fashion designer with label Ten Pieces, said he will mark Fashion Week regardless.
“Ten Pieces will try to bring some lightness into the darkness surrounding us during the postponed fashion week dates,” he said. “Think a celebration of community … it is with the arts, food, wine, music and fashion that communities can distract themselves from bad news.”
Originally published as Coronavirus Australia: Designers brace for impact after Fashion Week cancelled