Media Release: PREMIER LAUNCHES 2003 MELBOURNE FASHION FESTIVAL

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PREMIER

DATE: Tuesday, February 4, 2003

PREMIER LAUNCHES 2003 MELBOURNE FASHION FESTIVAL

The Premier, Steve Bracks, today launched the 7th Melbourne Fashion Festival, to be held from March 16 to 23.

Mr Bracks said the Festival has continued to grow each year since its inception in 1997, with the numbers of sponsors and exhibitors increasing.

“Last year, more than 130,000 people attended the Festival, which has become one of Australia's most exciting and significant fashion events,” Mr Bracks said.

“It will be a great week of events, parades and seminars, drawing national and international visitors to Victoria.

“It cements Melbourne’s reputation as a place for highly successful fashion festivals, along with the Mercedes Australian Fashion Week in November, and the Spring Fashion Festival in September.”

Mr Bracks said last year's Melbourne Fashion Festival had provided a $25 million boost to the Victorian economy and the creation of 72 full time equivalent jobs.

“Victoria is the home of Australia's clothing manufacturing industry and the nation's leader in the textile sector,” he said.

“And we are embracing the change in manufacturing, shifting from producing traditional goods to competing in new areas requiring high technical skill and innovation in design.”

Mr Bracks said the Festival was a platform for the fashion industry to demonstrate its creativity and technical skill on the national and international stage and to build on its reputation for originality and innovation.

“The growth in the fashion industry is crucial to our clothing and textile sectors and we need a highly informed consumer base familiar with design and quality.

“Events such as the Melbourne Fashion Festival help to inform the public about the rapid expansion and high profile of the industry.”

Mr Bracks also welcomed L’Oreal as a new sponsor for the event and said this year's Festival would continue to raise Melbourne's profile as a fashion centre.

“The Government is proud to be associated with the Melbourne Fashion Festival, and trusts that it will again be an outstanding showcase of Victorian capabilities and achievements in this sector.”