The fashion flurry
Published in The Australian Jewish News
March 14, 2019
Photo: Peter Haskin/The Australian Jewish News.
The Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival (VAMFF) took centre stage last week. Rebecca Davis reports on the Jewish players.
Melbourne is in the midst of a fashion hangover. From March 1-10, the city played host to Australia’s largest fashion event, the Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival (VAMFF) presenting an endless array of runways and events that showcased local and international creative talent.
This year, it was all about oversized suiting, feminine ruffles and pleats, re-imagined animal prints, flaring, relaxed linens, and metallic accents.
“It is the largest consumer fashion event in the world,” VAMFF chairman David Briskin told The AJN.
“We are consumer focused. There are a lot of the other fashion weeks which are directed towards wholesale markets, and for industry and press. Whereas we have 1500 people, consumers, coming for each show, seeing great product, and hopefully going out and buying it,” he added.
It is an important focal point in light of challenging retail times, “and a great injection for the economy”, said Briskin.
“It’s great for tourism here in Melbourne – the restaurants and the hotels.
“And obviously fantastic for retail, the brands, and the designers.”