Staff turmoil before IMG pulled out from Australian Fashion Week

Saturday Confidential can reveal the decision for IMG to pull out of Australian Fashion Week comes as the internal team running the event was in turmoil, with multiple staff members making complaints to HR.

The decision for IMG to pull out of Australian Fashion Week comes as the internal team running the event was in turmoil.

Saturday Confidential can reveal multiple staff members had made complaints to IMG’s HR department in recent months.

Many claim IMG’s decision to pull out of the market is related to the fact multiple employees had ongoing issues with a high-profile IMG employee.

It is believed there have been some financial agreements made for some staff who have left the company, while others have been made redundant and will receive their payout at the end of the month.

Confidential approached IMG for comment on Friday.

Models walk the runway during the Third Form show during Australian Fashion Week Presented by Pandora 2024. Picture: Getty Images

The announcement that IMG, the media company known for owning and operating Australian Fashion Week for 20 years, would no longer back the annual event, came as a complete shock to the fashion community.

The partnership with Destination NSW had been announced, the leading sponsor Pandora had been revealed, and the designer who was set to open the 2025 show had been told.

The vibrant Liandra show AFW 2024. Picture: Getty Images

“The leading sponsor Pandora didn’t even know they had pulled out until they read it in the press that day,” one source said.

“It all seems very rushed.

“There have been rumours for months that IMG were looking to sell the event, but the fact they announced they would be on board for 2025 then changed their mind is telling.”

“Many can’t help but think the reason they are leaving the Australian market is because the Australian team who put on the event is a shambles.”

AFW is the country’s leading fashion event and provides a globally recognised stage for established and emerging designers to present their collections.

Australia’s most high-profile designers, like Christopher Esber, Zimmermann, Collette Dinnigan, Dion Lee, Alex Perry, Romance Was Born and Akira Isogawa, can trace their beginnings to the event.

It was founded by former publicist Simon Lock, with the event once attracting international heavyweights like Jerry Hall and Linda Evangelista.

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