AFC Australian Fashion Week has signed an official partnership with Australia’s first international fashion trade event, Splash Sydney Show.
The official partnership will deliver an onsite designer showroom – AFC presents Atelier powered by Splash – in a bid to push wholesale opportunities for local emerging designers, alongside its already announced two-day event taking place at Walsh Bay Arts Precinct on May 12 and 13.
The Atelier will take place on May 14-15 onsite at Carriageworks adjacent to runway shows, with a focus on contemporary fashion brands.
Splash Sydney Show and AFC Australian Fashion Week will collaborate to build a guest list of international delegates.
“We are delighted to partner with Jenny Nakkan and her team to deliver the Atelier powered by Splash as part of the AFC Australian Fashion Week program,” AFC Australian Fashion Week CEO Kellie Hush said.
“The partnership strengthens significantly the brands we are able to showcase across the week; and is an effective strategy for attracting key international buyers, media and industry who are genuinely interested in discovering Australian brands; as well as offering more accessible entry points to brands to participate in AFC Australian Fashion Week to showcase their collections to a global audience.”.
Splash Sydney Show saw a gap in the market for a trade show and has reported “unprecedented interest” in its lineup for Walsh Bay. Splash was original launched in Paris as a premium resort wear event since 2016.
At Walsh Bay Arts Precinct, resort and lifestyle brands confirmed to participate in Splash Sydney Show include Liandra, Spell, Pared Eyewear and Sol Sana with the Atelier designers and full lineup to be announced in due course.
“We are excited to be able to expand the opportunity to brands to participate in the Atelier powered by Splash at AFC Australian Fashion Week, delivering global exposure, access to high-profile buyers, and meaningful connections with industry professionals to more Australian designers and brands,” Splash Sydney Show founder Jenny Nakkan said.
“The natural synergies and complementary fit of this partnership truly reflect our shared vision for an Australian industry event that supports our local industry at all stages of business and solidifies Australia’s place on the fashion map.”
AFC Australian Fashion Week is expected to run from May 12 to 16 at Carriageworks in Sydney. The event line-up should be revealed shortly.