Oh, MBFWA. Like all other major events around the world, the biggest week in Australian fashion too fell victim to the pandemic that is, with Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia on pause indefinitely for 2020.

This week, we’d normally be running between shows juggling clunky laptops, Vittoria keep-cups and designer sunnies on loan, stopping only for a quick “look-away” as street style zealots snap furiously.

There would be the remains of pilfered gift bags – discarded mini hair spray cans and gratis mineral waters – rolling about post-show, posing and peace-ing and pouting, awkward but hilarious catch-ups with industry peers, and of course, the best of Australian fashion highlighted on a global stage.

So on what would be the apogee of Australian fashion, team GRAZIA reflects on what they’ll miss the most from MBFWA. Until next year, old friend…

“Turning heads as I walk through the (read: slightly sketchy) streets of Redfern wearing a coat worth more than my weekly salary.”
Rebekah Clark, editorial assistant ICON

“OK, I have a few. The influencer peacocking against the famed red brick wall of Carriageworks, not eating all day except 16 Vittoria short blacks and 12 Tempus Two wines before 10am at The Star Lounge. The Star Lounge. And compiling our ridiculous, rambunctious and riotous overheards. Do yourself a favor and check out the last few here, and here. Oh, and the fashion darling! Last year’s highlights included Lee Mathews’ sumptuous 20-year show, Bondi Born’s la dolce vita over salumi and spritzes at Totti’s and Christopher Esber’s sparkly cut-away collection which set me on a mental path of midriff glory which sadly never eventuated. Boo.”
Chrisanthi Kaliviotis, Fashion Features Editor

“I’ll miss being in the back of the Benz!” (you can catch the series here)
Patrick Zaczkiewicz, STYLIST / FASHION OFFICE MANAGER

“The first time I attended MBFWA I was a 16-year-old intern and taped shoes backstage for a show producer. I was SO excited and still have the Polaroids. This time around, I’ll miss the camaraderie. It was the same energy back then as it is now. The days are long and the workload is intense but the whole industry is buzzing because of it – journalists, designers, models, makeup artists, publicists, influencers… everyone! I’ll certainly miss that feeling (and the free coffee, obviously).”
Emily Algar, Beauty Editor

“A week of only speaking Mandarin with Grazia’s Chinese influencers… 下个年!” (*that means next year)
Dane Stojanovic, Creative Director

“I’ll miss the mad rush between shows. Having a couple of hours to take in and type up a show review isn’t wildly enjoyable in the process. But there’s something almost quite festive about doing it as a team – with the promise of a great party and champagne at the end.”
Jessica Bailey, EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

“Having been involved in Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia in some media capacity for the better part of twenty years – including producing the incredibly groundbreaking digital magazine to celebrate the ten-year celebration of MBFWA alongside Simon Lock and Kannon Rajah – I was so excited to honor another milestone in 2020 with IMG: 25 years of this incredibly important event for the Australian Fashion industry.

GRAZIA has been the Official Media Partner of MBFWA for five years now, so this is one of the busiest and most important weeks of the year for our editorial team and business as we work around the clock supporting and promoting our designers and industry. This week we are all feeling a weird mix of calm and a huge part of our lives that is missing.

In honor, our fashion team filmed a little homage to MBFWA and our salute to Australian fashion can be seen on the official MBFWA instagram page, @FashionWeekAus and we will #SeeYouSoon.”
Marnie Dibden Cate, General Manager