What are Brisbane’s Major Fashion Events?
Brisbane hosts several key fashion events, where you can best witness the exceptional collections of local designers.
by Brisbane Personal Stylist, Imogene Whittle
“The major fashion events in Brisbane include Brisbane Fashion Week, Brisbane Fashion Month and Brisbane Fashion Festival, and more! When are they, and what’s the differences between them?”
Author: Imogene Whittle with Mary Crofton, Spree with Me stylists at Brisbane Fashion Festival 2022.
Brisbane has a thriving fashion scene. As a personal stylist, I can vouch that our sunny state embraces a love for light, vibrant and colourful fashion with personality. If you’re not from Queensland, you’re in for a delightful surprise. Brisbane is a city brimming with warmth, fun, glamorous and unique style.
Brisbane's fashion scene has experienced remarkable growth in the last few years, and now our fashion stands shoulder to shoulder with Sydney and Melbourne. What also sets Brisbane fashion apart is its unique fusion of casual, sustainable, and multicultural influences, offering a refreshing perspective on Australian style.
Brisbane also hosts a number of wonderful annual fashion events, where you can best witness the exceptional collections of local designers. These events attract a diverse range of industry professionals, including buyers, fashion stylists, and fashion enthusiasts eager to witness the latest showcases, and to mingle with like-minded fashionistas.
The major fashion events in Brisbane include Brisbane Fashion Week, Brisbane Fashion Month and Brisbane Fashion Festival, and more..! But when are they, and what’s the differences between them? Read on…
Brisbane’s Best Fashion Events:
1. Brisbane Fashion Festival
21-25 August 2023, now in its 16th year
Brisbane Fashion Festival is Queensland’s largest and most prestigious fashion event. It’s a celebration of Brisbane, Queensland, and Australian fashion. Brisbane Fashion Festival has cemented its place on the Australian fashion calendar as the first-of-the-season launch for Spring/Summer collections to the rest of the country, showcasing the very best local fashion designers, including leading industry names, homegrown favourites, and the brightest next-gen talent.
The Festival shines a spotlight on issues such as sustainability, female empowerment, gender fluidity and neutrality, diversity, and fashion inclusivity for all.
The runway is located outside of Brisbane City Hall, and also hosts exclusive parties at values such as Treasury Casino.
The full program of events and participating designers has just been announced and tickets to on sale on Thursday 1 June 2023.
The Brisbane Fashion Festival was created by and is managed by Lindsay Bennett Marketing - Brisbane Event Management & Public Relations.
Find out more: www.brisbanefashionfestival.com
Instagram: @brisbane.fashionfestival
2. Brisbane Fashion Month
1-31 October every year, now in its 8th year in 2023.
Brisbane Fashion Month highlights Queensland designers and our vibrant fashion community. With a month-long series of curated events, Brisbane Fashion Month nurtures and promotes the Queensland fashion scene, providing a platform for emerging and established designers to showcase their unique styles. It showcases an extensive line-up of homegrown talent through captivating runways, enticing pop-up stores, and valuable networking events.
Brisbane Fashion Month elevates the profile of Brisbane and Queensland fashion, supporting the creative industry and driving economic growth within the region.
The Festival is across Brisbane with runways in Queen Street Mall, West Village Shopping Precinct (West End), MercadesBenz (Newstead), and workshops in a variety of inner city locations.
Don’t miss grabbing your free copy of their pocket-guide fashion mag. It’s a must-read as a great ‘who’s who’ and what’s new in local fashion.
Brisbane Fashion Month is presented by Fashion Queensland, Queensland’s leading fashion authority. Visit fashionqueensland.com.au to find out more.
Instagram: @brisbanefashionmonth
3. Brisbane Fashion Week AU
2022 was Brisbane Fashion Week AU’s inaugural year. Last year it ran 26 Sept to 2 Oct ‘22.
Brisbane Fashion Week brings emerging Australian (and mostly Brisbane) fashion to the runway for a week of fashion, diversity, community, and culture. It combines emerging and established designers, as well as well-known fashion faces for a week of vibrant runways, stylish soirees and must-attend masterclasses.
Brisbane Fashion Week AU are relatively the ‘new kids on the block’ in the industry and they bring an innovative and creative representation of Brisbane’s Fashion scene. The level of professionalism and leadership is clear for this emerging fringe event and fashion showcase; its creativity, edge and new vision for next-gen designers is a breath of fresh air. We look forward to seeing Brisbane Fashion Week AU return in 2023.
The opening event in a West End photography studio last year represented the best kind of glamorous grunge event; imagine a New York Warehouse Party. Other surprises included Planet Prom, a space-themed alien costume runway party inspired by Rachel Burke @imakestagram. We were thrilled that Spree with Me and our James Street Style Trail was included on their calendar of events.
St John’s Cathedral was the backdrop to their closing runway – it was equally a perfectly ironic and iconic choice for a backdrop and its patrons.
NB: Brisbane Fashion Festival was once called Brisbane Fashion Week, SO this new Brisbane Fashion Week AU is currently branded with AU at the end for differentiation.
4. Women in Fashion Awards and Luncheon
17 November 2023
“Women in Fashion” is a community network that empowers business professionals in the fashion industry with support, inspiration, and recognition. Their annual Long Lunch and Awards recognises and celebrates our fellow leaders in the fashion industry.
This event is a unique opportunity to meet inspirational Brisbane fashion industry greats in a supportive environment. It’s located on the QAGOMA Rooftop overlooking the beautiful cityscape of Brisbane.
Nominate someone deserving in the fashion industry for an award this year, from best stylist to best designer, fashion event and more with this link.
Event: www.womeninfashion.com.au
Instagram: www.instagram.com/womeninfashionglobal
5. CAMILLA Luncheon and Runway
12 August @ Brisbane City Hall
This event is hosted by CAMILLA - yes the designer in person - and the Lord Mayor's Charitable Trust. It’s a fundraising event with entertainment featuring performances, Q&As, fashion, a live auction and raffles to be won. Funds raised from this event will directly go towards charity beneficiaries, Mummy's Wish, Be Uplifted Inc and other local Brisbane grassroots charities supported through the Lord Mayor's Charitable Trust. This event won the award for best fashion event in 2022.
Find out more: https://au.camilla.com/pages/upcoming-events
6. Ravishing Fashionistas
14 & 15 July 2023, now in it’s 5th year.
Ravishing Fashionistas is a unique concept a fashion parade to help women restore their sense of self-confidence, high self-esteem, and positive body image. Breaking stereotypes, Ravishing Fashionistas helps women to embrace themselves confidently by breaking through stereotypes in the fashion industry. They are helping set new standards where any woman can be a model in their own right and own their confidence irrespective of body types, background and beliefs.
Instagram: @ravishing_fashionistas
7. Ekka Fashion Parade
12-20 August 2023
The Brisbane Royal Show - aka The Ekka’s fashion parade, presented by Channel 7 focuses on natural fibres. It runs free every day of the Ekka each year. The parades reflect on the journey of fibres to fashion and showcases the many hands that come together when making a garment. Audiences are also educated on the colourful and creative ways natural materials such as cotton, wool, silk, bamboo, hemp and linen, are used to create the final garments. Runways feature designers from Brisbane and across Queensland, from the city to the regions.
More info: www.ekka.com.au/entertainment/fashion
Instagram: @ekkafashion
Whether you’re a fashion industry professional, style enthusiast, or simply curious about Brisbane's fashion, discover what our stylish city has in store.
Get ready to be inspired, dazzled, and immersed in the warmth and glamour of Brisbane's fashion scene. There are so many fashion and fundraising events in Brisbane, there’s certainly something for everyone.
I look forward to seeing you at the next one. Please say hi!
And if you’re interested in exploring Brisbane and it’s vibrant fashion scene, please reach out. Our Brisbane Personal Stylists and I would love to assist you - either with a one-on-one personal styling session or with our private group shopping tours.
xx
Imogene
FEATURED SPREE
Brisbane Style Trails
Shopping tours with a personal stylist as your private guide - James Street, Brisbane City or Paddington.
It’s a glamorous inner-city adventure where you’ll be pampered with fashion, styling, food and wine.
Tours are curated individually for you and your private group.