L'Australian Fashion Council (AFC) has selected 12 brands to take part in the Australian Fashion Rooms, a showroom organised in Paris during the women's Fashion Week. Half of them have already shown at the Australian Fashion Week, as part of group or individual runway shows.

The showroom will be held from 30 September to 4 October at the Galerie Poggi, at 135 rue Saint-Martin, in the fourth arrondissement of Paris. It will be open from 9:30 am to 7 pm.

An operation rooted in an export strategy

L'initiative is part of AFC Global Gateways, already deployed in Hong Kong. Paris represents its largest operation to date, with other markets planned for 2027. This is the largest international initiative ever undertaken by the organisation.

The project also draws on the « Accessing New Markets » initiative, backed with 50 million dollars, as well as the New South Wales fashion sector strategy for 2025-2028, which lists export development for the region's designers among its six priorities.

Marianne Perkovic, executive chair of the AFC, estimated the national industry's contribution to the economy at 27.2 billion Australian dollars, and its contribution to exports at 7.2 billion Australian dollars. She said: « La créativité australienne est unique, pertinente à l'échelle mondiale et mérite d'être vue sur la scène internationale. Les Australian Fashion Rooms de l'AFC créent un véritable lieu de découverte à Paris, mettant en relation directe 12 créateurs australiens avec les acheteurs, les médias et les leaders de l'industrie qui peuvent transformer l'intérêt international en opportunité commerciale. »

She added: « Avec le soutien d'Austrade et de Create NSW, notre ambition n'est pas seulement de présenter la mode australienne au monde, mais d'aider nos marques à bâtir des entreprises mondiales durables. »

A partnership between institutions

Jay Meek, general manager of Austrade's Trade Diversification Taskforce, said: « Cette sélection de 12 créateurs de mode australiens illustre la valeur du Trade Diversification Network en action, en combinant la portée mondiale d'Austrade et l'expertise de l'AFC pour mettre en relation les créateurs australiens avec des acheteurs internationaux et de nouvelles opportunités de croissance. »

A reception at the Australian embassy in Paris, hosted by Ambassador Lynette Wood, is set to accompany the event. The AFC had taken over organisation of the Australian Fashion Week in 2025 following IMG's withdrawal from its event activities in Australia; the 2026 edition, the thirtieth, was held in May at the Musée d'Art Contemporain in Sydney.

D'autres markets for AFC Global Gateways are now expected for 2027, following the Paris operation.