Applications to volunteer at this year’s MSFW are now closed.

The 2011 event saw a stunning array of local and national talent, beginning with a look back at Australia’s fashion history as Fashion Full Stop launched the runway on March 14^th. Across the week, LMFF hosted another 21 shows at 6 venues throughout the city.

Australia’s leading designers presented their Autumn/Winter collections on the L’Oréal Paris Runway, with nightly shows featuring the likes of Toni Maticevski, Kate Sylvester, Karen Walker, Josh Goot, Megan Park, Thurley, Limedrop and Ellery.

With a huge effort from the extended Art Events team, including our dedicated volunteer army, LMFF proved to be another stellar fashion event for AEMA.

Arts Events transformed the newly refurbished Dandenong Market grand hall into a Middle Eastern mecca, hosting a banquet of traditional Afghan food and entertainment for over 600 guests.

Damm Fine Foods worked with Dandenong’s local Afghan restaurateurs to produce an authentic Afghan feast. The menu’s ingredients were sourced from within Dandenong’s Afghan Bazaar Precinct and the market itself, highlighting the strength of Dandenong’s multicultural flavour.

Upon arrival guests were greeted by camels, henna artists and, from the main stage inside, the sounds of an Afghan pop band. Internationally renowned sitar player Khalil and a traditional Afghan dance troupe provided entertainment throughout the afternoon feast.

In addition to the sailing competition, AEMA produced a shore-side program that included fashion parades from sailing outfitter Henri Lloyd, club beach party, live entertainment from Ian Moss, and the Audi Prize Giving Presentation. Throughout the weekend, guests were treated to catering from renowned restaurant Aria.

The weekend culminated at the Audi Final Drive Challenge at Eastern Creek Raceway, where the 27 sailing division winners were invited to test their skills on the racetrack. The winner took home the weekend’s major prize, a brand new Audi A1.

Encompassing a broad range of the Victorian-based businesses operating in the fashion and beauty sector, delegates included Catherine Manuell Design, Dom Bagnato, Dhini, Megan Park, La Clinica and Yeojin Bae.

AEMA, in collaboration with Shanghai Fashion Week, produced a Media Presentation, presenting the delegates to the local media including Cosmopolitan Magazine, ELLE China and Mr Modern, amongst others, as well as key local industry representatives including buyers, distributors, stylists and photographers. The Trade Mission program also accommodated a diverse range of activities including participation in the ‘Fashion Frontline Trade Fair’ and a Buyers’ Session at Shanghai Fashion Week, in addition to presentations, industry meetings and site inspections.

Participants also enjoyed visiting the World Expo 2010 and exploring the unique complexities and contradictions of this bustling metropolis.

AEMA would like to thank the Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development, Victorian Government Business Office in Shanghai, as well as Tourism Victoria, for making this initiative possible and for a rich contribution to the Mission’s program. Thanks go also to the staff at Shanghai Fashion Week who provided great support to promote the Australian fashion and beauty industry in China. Last but not least, to the businesses who committed to the project both financially and with their time.

A bounteous number of applications have flowed into the Arts Events office. Thank you to all those applicants that expressed interest.

Applicants will be contacted shortly.

Food Futures Workshop

6-7 October
Day 1: Unlimited Symposium 9am-12noon; Workshop 1.30–5pm,
Day 2: Workshop 10am–5pm
Auditorium 1, Level 2, State Library of Queensland
$470

Join Paul Bennett to design some positive steps towards global change. Food Futures is a two day hands-on workshop led by Bennett, that promises to be a “less discussion, more action” oriented experience for entrepreneurs, creative thinkers and community leaders interested in the future of sustainable food supply,production and consumption.

Common Ground

Entries open now!
Online: Flickr & Vimeo
FREE

Calling Asia Pacific film makers & photographers, Common Ground has been created to provide an open opportunity for individuals across Asia-Pacific to submit self-produced, self-funded film or photography.

Lightwave Installation

4 October-December

Experimental designers Keehyun Ahn and Minsoo Lee of AnL Studio have created a giant kinetic sculpture for Brisbane’s South Bank Parklands—a focal point for the Unlimited program. Lightwave is a reactive, immersive lighting installation in the park—an object that responds to movement.

CJ Lim

Thursday 7 October
9.30am – 10.30am
Auditorium 1, Level 2 State Library of Queensland
FREE

JUST ANNOUNCED: Join Professor CJ Lim as he guides an intense and compelling keynote address about multi-disciplinary, ecosystem-based design for the Asia Pacific. No booking necessary.

DIA Bubble and Speak

Thursday 7 October
6.45-9am
Function room Level 1 Emporium Hotel
1000 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane
DIA members $50 / Non-members $64 / DIA students $26 / Non-DIA students $36

The Design Institute of Australia (DIA) Queensland Branch runs a series of breakfast seminars with creative people from across disciplines. During Unlimited a select group will will talk about their creative process and the success of their work.

Small Answers Big Questions

Thursday 7October
6.30-8pm
Auditorium 1, Level 2, State Library of Queensland
FREE

Join Paul Bennett, Chief Creative Officer of global design powerhouse IDEO, as he advocates for a shift for business and consumerism towards commercially viable, socially significant models for consumer products, services and experiences.

Barbara Heath

7 October – 13 November
10am – 5pm:
Artisan Gallery:
Ground Floor, 381 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley
FREE

Tinsmith: An Ordinary Romance is an exhibition of new work by Barbara Heath– Jeweller to the Lost. In this homage to the work of early Queensland tin-smiths, sheet-metal workers and canister makers.

Audio Design Museum

Thursday 7 October
3.00pm – 5.00pm
Artisan Gallery
Ground Floor, 381 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley
FREE

The museum offers a free set of audio design tours that take you inside Brisbane’s vibrant design scene.

The Design Club

Thursday 7 October
8.00pm – Late
Limes Hotel
142 Constance Street, Fortitude Valley
Free for Sprout members and $5 for non-members

A low-key, social event for Brisbane’s industrial design community to kick back and relax, the Design Club allows designers to network, keep in touch and share a drink in a very informal way on the first Thursday of each month.

6 Chairs Documentary Screening

Thursday 7 October
6.00pm – 8.30pm
Auditorium 2, Level 2, State Library of Queensland
South Bank, Brisbane, QLD
DIA members $35 / Non-members $45

In this short documentary film by Andrea Nixon and Kirsten Stanisich, six of Australia’s most successful designers under the age of 40 get together to discuss parallels in their work, spanning fashion, interiors and graphics.

Critical Alternatives Talk

Monday 4 October
3pm-5pm
Asia Pacific Design Library, State Library of Queensland
FREE

This discussion panel and forum will address the relationship between publishing and criticism in design, concentrating on the rising countercultures of online and hand-made design and architecture publications.

Human Urban Habitat World Architecture Day Talk

Monday 4 October
6pm – 7.30pm
Auditorium 1, State Library of Queensland
FREE

In celebration of World Architecture Day, we examine the resonant opportunities for our urban future across the Asia Pacific through the lens of architecture.

Pen Plan Parlour Exhibition

4-10 October
10am-5pm
The Parlour, State Library of Queensland
FREE

Register for Pen Plan Parlour children’s workshops, where kids are encouraged to enact their visions for cities of the future on a scale timber model of the Brisbane CBD. Designed and constructed by March Studio.

Make Change Exhibition

4 – 17 October
10am – 5pm
The Studio, State Library of Queensland

Visit Unlimited’s showcase exhibition Make Change: Design Thinking in Action demonstrates the opportunity and power of design thinking within the
Asia Pacific.

Green Screen Film Series

4-10 October
Screenings Daily
Gallery of Modern Art Cinematheque

Make your way along to Green Screen, presented by the Australian Cinémathèque, a program of recent and new-release eco-documentaries with a focus on environmental and urban design issues in the Asia-Pacific region.

Global Artisan Q&A with Lee Lin Chin Talk

Tuesday 5 October
3pm – 5.30pm
Auditorium 1, State Library of Queensland
FREE

Have your questions at the ready and join us for this an exploration of the challenges and opportunities for creative businesses operating in the globalised marketplace. Global Artisan is a Q&A format driven by a passionate panel and your live or online questions.

Real Impact with Bunker Roy Talk

Tuesday 5 October
6pm-7.30pm
Auditorium 1, State Library of Queensland
FREE

Spend an inspiring evening with one of the world’s most influential creative thinkers. Bunker Roy, founder of India’s Barefoot College takes us on a journey through a life dedicated to education, innovation and freedom from poverty.

The international design event will explore the economic, social and environmental challenges impacting on the Asia Pacific region, identify future opportunities and work towards medium-term outcomes.

Creative Director Ewan McEoin said the six-day event will encourage people of all ages to attend discussions about society’s most pressing concerns and will highlight the value of design thinking in shaping a positive future for the region. “Design has never been more important in supporting our daily lives, enriching quality of life and creating value,” he said.

Unlimited program highlights include:

- Free public talks – Real Impact with Bunker Roy: Founder of India’s social work and research centre, The Barefoot College, Bunker Roy will take the audience on a journey through a life dedicated to education, innovation and freedom from poverty.

- Food Futures with Paul Bennett, the Managing Partner, Europe and Chief Creative Officer of global design powerhouse IDEO. A 2-day workshop discussing the importance of scalable and sustainable business models for food products.

- Unlimited Symposium with CJ Lim, Paul Bennett and Mark Ingram. This unique event for designers, and forward-thinking businesses, presents a set of compelling viewpoints on how creative thinking will shape a positive future for the Asia Pacific region.

- Unlimited’s showcase exhibition, Make Change: Design Thinking in Action will demonstrate the opportunity and power of design thinking within the Asia Pacific.

- Pen Plan an interactive scaled model of Brisbane where children can remodel the city based on how their future Brisbane should look.

Unlimited: Designing for the Asia Pacific
4-10 October 2010
Activating real-world design solutions for our tomorrow.

Along with the most acclaimed Designer Series runway shows, MSFW also plays host to a variety of workshops, interactive programs and events being held around the Melbourne CBD.

Leading fashion industry figures and marketers can sign on for the Melbourne Spring Fashion Week’s Business Breakfast Series and all those interested in pampering their beauty needs can head to The Beauty Room, where they are treated to a mini-makeover.

But the fashion isn’t just limited to the evening, MSFW @ City Square brings the festival to the lunchtime crowd, with fashion, music, beauty and style events across the week – all free.

For the full program, click here.