Revamped fashion festival set to take over city landmark

After the 2020 event was cancelled due to COVID-19 and its biggest sponsor withdrew there were fears for the Brisbane Fashion Festival. But this year it’s back.

A revamped Brisbane Fashion Festival will return to one of the city’s biggest landmarks this year after receiving critical backing from the Brisbane City Council.

The Courier-Mail can reveal the fashion event, formerly the Mercedes Benz Fashion Festival Brisbane, will take over King George Square in the heart of Brisbane’s CBD from August 23 to 25, with a series of runway shows showcasing both established and emerging Queensland designers alongside leading national labels.

It comes after the 2020 event was cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions and Mercedes-Benz then withdrew from fashion weeks including Brisbane, after 14 years as the naming sponsor, and Sydney’s Australian Fashion Week, which is now backed by Afterpay.

Organisers spent months revamping Brisbane Fashion Festival and attempting to broker deals with new partners, before securing the Brisbane Economic Development Agency, a subsidiary of Brisbane City Council, as the principal partner.

Model Lily Blucher wears Brisbane's White Label Noba with accessories by Christie Nicolaides in King George Square, where Brisbane Fashion Festival 2021 will take place.

“Just as fashion reinvents itself, we’re once again known by our original name established with the Festival’s inception in 2006,” Brisbane Fashion Festival Director, Mr Lindsay Bennett, said.

“With the need to cancel the Fashion Festival in 2020 due to the pandemic, and all the difficulties experienced by local businesses during that time, there is greater excitement than ever before to stage Queensland’s premier celebration of local fashion talent.”

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the event would provide a boost for the city’s creative industry.

“This festival always brings Brisbane’s local and national fashion designers to attention with its iconic runway, this year in King George Square,” Cr Schrinner said.

“Our creative industry and local businesses need our support and this event will employ local creatives and attract media exposure and sales for our designers, showcasing Brisbane as the best location for our incredible fashion sector to shine.”