Half a million reasons to party

With Fashion Exposed gearing up to celebrate its 20th season as the clothing sector's leading trade fair, organiser Australian Exhibitions & Conferences (AEC) is celebrating another important milestone, in the form of over $500,000 invested in the fashion industry to date.

As AEC director Marie Kinsella confirmed recent months saw Fashion Exposed reach the "half million dollar mark" in terms of its support for industry. This comes in the form of key features including new couture and costume showcase Avantgarde, the Runway to Reality trend interpretation workshops, designer launch pad Debut (2010 contestant Jolet pictured), the ARA Hot Half Hours and many more. The funding has also been used to support the presence of pivotal industry associations and organisations at the fair over the years.

Kinsella said it was intended that the funding, now formally named the Fashion Exposed Industry Fund, would continue to help the fashion industry to thrive well into the future.

"I don't see the cost of stands, stylists, curators and promotions as an actual outlay, but as our sponsorship of the industry" she said, adding that the steadfast participation of key exhibitors over the years had played a critical role in the fair's success.

Fashion Exposed will celebrate its 20th season with a prize draw and a range of supporting events at Sydney Exhibition Centre from 14-16 February.