The way forward for Australian Vogue Week and the Australian Vogue Awards is up within the air after IMG, the US-based firm that organizes the annual occasion, introduced it would not host the occasion.
On Wednesday, IMG shook the Australian style world to its core after asserting it could stop its style occasions in Australia.
“The occasion has performed a key position in transferring the trade ahead,” mentioned the managing director of IMG Vogue Occasions Asia Pacific. Natalie Xenita he mentioned, for Sydney morning Herald.
“We’re extremely happy with IMG’s many achievements in main Australian Vogue Week for the previous 20 years.
“We’re navigating a altering trade by introducing new initiatives, together with strategic refocusing on resort collections, an built-in shopper mannequin that has been replicated globally, waiving participation charges to help designers for the reason that pandemic, and group of the primary exhibitions of indigenous designers”.
In response to the information, the president of the Australian Vogue Council Marianne Perkovic and government director Jaana Quaintance-James have issued a joint assertion, writing that Wednesday's announcement “indicators a possibility for the trade to reimagine and reshape how Australian style is represented.”
“Trying forward, we all know we’d like a platform to profile and rejoice Australian style,” they shared.
“This second indicators a possibility for the trade to reimagine and reshape how Australian style is represented and offers us all the chance to discover new methods to showcase rising and established Australian expertise.
“The AFC, as the height physique for style and textiles in Australia, will lead this dialog. “We’ll work with members, authorities and different stakeholders to think about the longer term platform wanted to place and elevate Australian style internationally.”
In line with the Australian Monetary Overviewthe occasion had problem “getting a brand new companion” following the departure of Afterpay final yr. Australian Vogue Week has beforehand labored with different sponsors together with Mercedes-Benz and Rosemount.
Simon Lockwho based Australian Vogue Week earlier than being offered to IMG in 2005, mentioned SMH that “it’s a unhappy day for Australian style.”
“After I offered the occasion to IMG, I used to be attempting to safe the way forward for Australian style,” he mentioned.
“Over time, the occasion has centered extra on home retail and social media than the worldwide market. For a lot of designers, the return on funding from collaborating not exists.
“The house owners determined to take away the worldwide advertising and marketing from the occasion that actually created the industrial purpose for the designers to take part.”
The 2025 Australian Vogue Awards will happen on November 21 in Sydney and the subsequent Australian Vogue Week is because of happen in Could 2025. Nevertheless, with IMG pulling out, its future is now doubtful.
IMG has not commented on whether or not the occasion was deliberate. sale following its announcement on Wednesday, however was rumored to be attempting to promote it for as little as $1 million earlier this yr.
Australian Vogue Week has been the catalyst for launching Australian manufacturers, corresponding to Zimmermann, Collette Dinnigan and Dion Lee, onto the world stage.
Picture supply: Getty Photos