Australia’s iconic Fashion Week faces an uncertain future as IMG, the New York-based media powerhouse that has managed the event for nearly two decades, announced its decision to step back from the helm.
This unexpected move by IMG, which first acquired the event in 2005, leaves a void in the Australian fashion scene just as it has gained global recognition for promoting local designers.
Founded in 1996 by PR consultant Simon Lock, Australian Fashion Week has traditionally taken place every May, spotlighting designers like Romance Was Born, Dion Lee, Zimmermann, and Akira Isogawa.
IMG’s involvement elevated the event, attracting international attention and transforming it into a premier platform for Australian design. Now, after years of growth and success, IMG’s withdrawal places the event’s future on tenuous ground.
In a statement released to Vogue and Russh, Natalie Xenita, vice-president and managing director of IMG Fashion Events Asia Pacific, expressed the company’s pride in its role supporting Australian fashion over the last two decades.
“We are incredibly proud of IMG’s many accomplishments leading Australian fashion week for the last 20 years … The event has played a key role in ushering the industry forward,” Xenita said.
This month’s Australian Fashion Laureate, the annual award ceremony that honors achievements within the industry, will serve as IMG’s final chapter with Fashion Week. The event will be held in Sydney and mark the end of an era.
Surprisingly, as recently as August, IMG had announced plans for the 2025 Fashion Week event, including partnerships with high-profile brands such as Pandora and Business of Fashion.
However, the company’s sudden shift in direction raises questions about who, if anyone, will carry the torch for future Fashion Weeks in Australia.
Some industry insiders view IMG’s departure as an opening for a new direction under Australian ownership. Chelsea Bonner, CEO of the Sydney-based talent agency Icon Management, voiced her support for a locally led vision.
“I think it’s vital that Australian fashion week is owned and run by Australian businesses, who have a deep understanding of the differences between Australian designer fashion and every other country in the world,” Bonner told The Guardian. “We are very unique in our offering here.”
For the Australian fashion industry, the chance to redefine Fashion Week’s identity, free from international oversight, offers both opportunities and challenges.
