Ethical Fashion Show highlight of Fair@Square Festival
KICK off your summer at the fourth Fair@Square, Australia’s largest ethical and fair trade festival! Grace Yew has the scoop.
Some of the looks that will be featured on this year’s runway. Photo: Sam Ackroyd
Australia’s largest ethical and fair trade festival, Fair@Square, starts this Friday, November 30 at the BMW Edge in Federation Square with the Fair@Square Ethical Fashion Show.
A highlight of Melbourne’s social calendar, the Fair Fashion catwalk features organic summer looks from Australia’s top ethical designers.
The evening event is always a standout among the festival’s cooking demonstrations, live music and plenty of Fair Trade stalls, and Meld Magazine is proud to be a media partner of the event for the second year in a row.
The brands that will be gracing this year’s runway include international swimwear label JETS and Melburnian talents Sosume, New Model Beauty Queen and The Social Studio.
But fashionistas, listen up, this is no ordinary fashion show.
The Fair Fashion Show uniquely combines style, quality and fit with ethical practices such as recycling, local production and fair trade.
“Our mission is to organise festivals and events that will educate, inspire and encourage people to make choices that have a positive impact on the world, the environment and the people we share it with,” says Moral Fairground director Susanna Bevilacqua.
Moral Fairground has roped in several skilled individuals to run this year’s show. The team will be coordinated by Melbourne-based stylist Julia-Louise Premoselli, best known for collaborations with event sponsor Peppermint Magazine.
Australian fashion blogger Connie Cao from K is for Kani will be hosting the show. Famous for her natural everyday style, Cao is a strong advocate of eco-fashion.
“As a blogger and girl who just loves her vintage, it’s great to be inspired by issues of sustainability and ethical living,” she says.
“The eco fashion scene is important as it really highlights the need to be eco-conscious in our everyday lives.”
Sustainable fashion campaigner Nerida Lennon will also be at the show to discuss the future of sustainable design.
As an added treat, there’ll also be a Student Sustainable Design Competition, which showcases the environmentally-friendly designs of upcoming student fashion designers. The winner will receive a $500 prize from Bendigo Bank.
The RMIT School of Textiles has also partnered with Fair@Square and its students have made cushions for sale at the event using fair-trade accredited cotton, of course.
All proceeds will go to families in Cambodia so they can start their own businesses.
The Fair@Square Ethical Fashion Show takes place on November 30 at the BMW Edge, Federation Square from 6:30pm. Tickets are $30 each and are available through Eventbrite. For more information about the festival, visit moralfairground.com.au.