Australian Fashion Week participants eligible for federal grants
The Australian fashion industry has been handed a lifeline in a bid to get the sector moving after the coronavirus pandemic.
The Australian fashion industry has been handed a lifeline in a bid to get the sector moving after the coronavirus pandemic.
Australian Fashion Week has been added to a list of events eligible for the federal government’s $50m business events grant program targeted at trade shows and conferences. Those grants are part of a $1bn relief and recovery fund set up in response to the economic impact of COVID-19.
Those involved in the Sydney event can apply for funding of up to half the cost of participation, capped at $250,000.
“Supporting Australian Fashion Week will give a massive boost to the fashion industry and the broader Australian economy,” Trade Minister Dan Tehan said. He said events contributed $36bn to the economy and supported about 230,000 Australian jobs.
Natalie Xenita, executive director of event owner IMG Fashion Asia Pacific, said the Austrade initiative “comes at a really important time for Australian Fashion Week and the events sector in general”. IMG has waived the participation and registration fees for the event,which takes place in the first week of June.
“There is a lot that goes into putting on a show at Australian Fashion Week and IMG has tried to really support designers even before we were aware of this program,” Ms Xenita said. “We’ve tried to remove as many of the financial barriers that exist to make participation easier.”
While most of the global fashion weeks have had to pivot to digital presentations in the past year, Australian Fashion Week aims to be a physical event, pandemic permitting, with lifestreaming capabilities to cater to international buyers.
Alexandra Smart, co-founder of Ginger & Smart, said the brand would definitely be applying for funding. “It’s a game-changer for the industry,” she said.
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