By Xavier Smerdon
AFTER 13 years of providing for the local community, Wyndham’s premier fashion event – Fashion Awards Australia – is moving to the CBD.
The event has seen more than 650 people descend on Werribee every year to take in the talent of TAFE students and professional designers.
Founder and event organiser Heather Marcus said the event was being forced to move because of pressure from stakeholders.
“We are having a lot of pressure put on us from the TAFE Colleges and the professional designers to move to the city,” Ms Marcus said. “It is good that it’s moving to Melbourne because many people just don’t want to cross the bridge.”
Ms Marcus, who had her own fashion business in Werribee for 26 years, said the event was founded out of necessity because she wanted to try and hold on to some of the talent being lost overseas.
“I knew there were many students who wanted to do textiles and I could see what was happening with lots of these kids going overseas to work and I thought we have to try and save this business somehow,” she said.
Ms Marcus said it had been very difficult to run the event without much financial support.
“We have struggled with finances,” she said.
“Two years in a row we lost money and it cost my business $6000.”
Ms Marcus said she hoped the move to the CBD will give the event more recognition.
“I’m very excited but I’m very nervous,” she said. “We will have to work much harder, but once we move to the city we will get more recognition.”
It is hoped the event will become part of Spring Fashion Week in the city and regional finals will be held throughout Victoria.
