Brisbane Fashion Festival 2023: A festive blend of high teas, film screenings and fashion fun

Returning with more than just runway shows, the 2023 Brisbane Fashion Festival promises to be a style-filled celebration with more than 460 looks from different designers.

Queensland’s premiere style event returns to Brisbane this year following its record-breaking sellout in 2022.

Boasting a remarkable line-up, the Brisbane Fashion Festival will turn King George Square on Adelaide Street into a style extravaganza, featuring more than 50 designers showcasing more than 460 looks.

Running from August 21-25, the fashion-forward event will take the stage in a transparent custom-built marquee, a dramatic architectural feature first introduced at the 2022 festival.

Festival Director Lindsay Bennett emphasised the event’s ethos, and expressed his delight with the city’s enthusiastic support for the festival, noting the rapid ticket sales last year.

“It’s about quality over quantity and it’s about shining the fashion spotlight on our incredible State,” he said.

Brisbane Fashion Festival organisers have unveiled an expanded new program of glamorous off-site events and runway shows, set to take place across the city. Picture: Brisbane Fashion Festival

“It’s wonderful how Brisbane has come to embrace the festival. With last year’s shows selling out within days of going on sale, its great to see how people really want to embrace local fashion.”

The Star Brisbane Fashion Show is set to kick off the week of festivities, spotlighting fresh trends from Australia’s top designers.

But the event is not just about strutting down the runway, with the festival’s calendar also including an indulgent High Tea and Designer Salon Showing, a unique Fashion Film Retrospective and a special Queensland Ballet High Tea and Costume Panel discussion.

“This is the first time we have a movie screening as part of the festival,” Mr Bennett said.

“And then of course, with the Queensland ballet high tea – it’s talking about costumes and costume design, and how they interpret costume design to work for them onstage.

A model at the Hancock Prospecting Next Gen Group Show during the Brisbane Fashion Festival. Picture: Richard Smith

“So I think, you know, there’s so many different facets of the creative sector and fashion that it’s really broadening our reach for those that just can’t get to an evening group show.”

Supporting the festival for another year, Gina Rinehart adds weight to the event by presenting the Hancock Prospecting Next Gen Group Show on August 23, showcasing emerging labels such as Desert Lily Vintage in a bid to exhibit sustainable fashion.

“Hancock prospecting, Mrs Rinehart have continued to support us and (is) supporting us even more this year, which is really exciting,” Mr Bennett said.

The festival also supports Dress to Express Day on August 25, in partnership with Beyond DV, standing with domestic violence survivors, with the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Trust also receiving $1 from every ticket sold.