How exactly, do you successfully put on a fashion extravaganza that will leave its mark on the fashion scene in Canberra?

Fashfest 2013 has done just that. Held from 1st-4th May at Brindabella Business Park, adjacent to Canberra International Airport, to sell-out crowds (2,340 in total) and, a week after, there is still a buzz in the air.

This event was created by co-founders, Clinton and Andrea Hutchinson, to first and foremost showcase the talents of Canberrans.

“We wanted to give people the opportunity to showcase their creative talents. We wanted to give a model an opportunity to get up there on the catwalk who had never walked before and a designer who had never been able to present their fashion to see it on the runway,” commented Clinton.

The response from the Canberra community was huge and Clinton and Andrea are in absolute awe.

“Volunteers were still trying to sign up to help a couple of days before the event. We had to turn people away telling them we already have too many volunteers and to come and speak to us next year. It was just amazing!”

After many hours of blood, sweat and tears, 100 sets of false eyelashes, 160 mascara wands and more than 155 cans of hair product, Fashfest wrapped up a closing night that exceeded all expectations. “We had hoped to sell 400 seats a night and ended up with 500 a night. And we released standing room tickets too,” says Clint.

More than 150 individuals came on board, more than $300,000 in-kind sponsorship funds were committed and more than $90,000 worth of creative expertise were donated in-kind to make the show the success that it was. Indeed, Fashfest was one of the biggest joint business adventures in fashion that had ever before been seen in the ACT. “Everyone gave freely of their time and creative expertise,” says Clint.

Businesses like Audi Centre Canberra provided the ‘VIP cars’, Elite Sound & Lighting provided all the sound and lighting for the event, Screencraft created the commercial, CanPrint handled all the printing, and Leighton Hutchinson Photography was the official Fashfest photographer. Everyone wanted to pitch in to be part of the event.

One of the reasons behind Fashfest’s success was the support it received from the local community.

Every Fashfest participant’s time and money was 100% donated and that’s what had made this event so successful. It was also unique to Canberra and Clinton thinks that this kind of event can only be done in a place here.

“The 35 major event partners understood that our vision was to put Canberra on the map and that is exactly what we did. In Sydney and Melbourne, people are so competitive in the fashion industry, but here in Canberra, we had about six hair salons collaborate and work together. That probably wouldn’t happen in many other cities,” Clinton says.

So even though Fashfest 2013 only came to a completion a week ago, the question now on everyone’s lips is: Will there be a Fashfest 2014?

From day one, Clinton and Andrea planned on this being an annual event and work is already underway debriefing, updating the website, locking in event partners and more. And work will continue over the next 12 months, with Clinton making it his mission to find funding support for Fashfest 2014.

“No one was being paid to participate in this year’s Fashfest, and everyone knew that going in. But we will be looking for a major sponsor for next year’s event”.

It is events like this that reminds you what the community of Canberra is really about. We are a body of people who like to lend each other a helping hand and get on board with something new and exciting.