News

PayPal has joined forces with Melbourne Fashion Festival (MFF) as its new naming rights partner. The PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival is Australia’s largest and most influential consumer fashion event – returning 3-12 March 2022.

The three-year partnership will ignite creativity and commerce and highlight both PayPal and the Melbourne Fashion Festival’s commitment to Australian fashion and retail industries.

PayPal has remained at the forefront of the digital payment revolution for more than 20 years and offers Australia’s only no-late fee, no-interest, buy now, pay later (BNPL) service, PayPal Pay in 4. Fashion-savvy consumers can divide purchases into four interest-free instalments with no late fees when they Shop The Runway, buying from local fashion brands or from millions of stores around the globe.

With a new naming rights partner comes a stylish new home for the Festival, as the iconic Fed Square is set to burst to life with a dedicated Fashion District featuring a pop-up Fashion Pavilion. This will be the epicentre of fabulous fashion, food, music, and glamour experiences that will draw locals and visitors alike to Melbourne's cultural heart.

Andrew Toon, General Manager, Payments, PayPal Australia says PayPal is committed to the continued growth and success of the Festival.

“PayPal is all about inclusion, innovation and helping Australian businesses thrive, so partnering with the Melbourne Fashion Festival to support homegrown talent, from beloved Australian brands to the next generation of designers, is perfectly aligned with our mission and values.

“We know that fashion lovers also love the convenience and flexibility of BNPL, so the marriage of Australia’s largest and most influential celebration of fashion, arts, creative ideas and shopping, with the country’s only no late fee, no interest BNPL offering, PayPal Pay in 4, is a match made in fashion heaven.”

MFF Chair Launa Inman says the partnership with PayPal is a perfect fit.

“Now in its 26th year, the PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival is the longest-running and most culturally significant consumer fashion event in Australia, attracting hundreds of thousands of fashion lovers and industry leaders to experience the best local brands, designers and retailers in world class runway productions and fashion activations.”

Festival CEO Graeme Lewsey believes the new three-year partnership brings valuable additional support to the Australian fashion industry.

“At a time when the fashion industry is recovering from the pandemic and responding to the changing retail landscape, the PayPal partnership will offer consumers increased flexibility, convenience and security in their purchases. Consumers spent on average $784 as a result of last year’s Festival, supporting the economic and creative recovery of Victoria and beyond.”

Designers will also benefit directly from the new partnership, with PayPal covering participation fees across the program, while multiple rising independent design stars will be offered PayPal Pay in 4 Emerging Designer bursaries to create work, engage community groups and host their own events as part of the Festival program.

The Festival will celebrate the return to live events in Victoria and acknowledges the ongoing support of the Victorian Government in bringing an exciting public program to life. A bold itinerary of free and ticketed, outdoor and indoor, digital and live experiences, in both undiscovered and iconic venues will be on offer.

PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival recognises and respects the traditional owners and ancestors of the lands where the event takes place. To launch the Festival, a Welcome to Country Ceremony at Fed Square will commence the festivities, free for all to attend.

Premium Runway Shows will feature across several unique Melbourne locations with ACMI being host to many, complementing Fashion District activity at Fed Square.

The Gala Runway presented by David Jones, launches the Festival with a glamourous, celebrity studded red carpet and runway show featuring the latest looks for the new season.

While the highly anticipated Closing Runway will provide a sizzling social calendar highlight, with a visually stunning showcase of daring designers and artisans including Leo & Lin, Mariam Seddiq, Sonia Cappellazzo, Paolo Sebastian, Romance Was Born, Steven Khalil and Carla Zampatti.

Live and Digital Runways featuring the very best of Australia’s established and emerging designers will inspire the style set in a series of stunning and unique shows featuring labels including Jason Grech, Viktoria & Woods, Bianca Spender, Bec + Bridge, Oroton and Aje.

PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival is proudly supported by the Victorian Government through its Major Events Fund. The Fashion Weekend returns, presented by the City of Melbourne, consisting of a two-day fashion retail extravaganza that ignites the CBD with unique and exclusive fashion-inspired experiences, activities and entertainment.

Beauty buffs, fashion enthusiasts and fun-seekers can also experience diverse masterclasses, styling sessions, panel discussions, workshops and DJ sets at the vibrant Live Stage at Fed Square.

The Festival will land at Collingwood Yards in 2022 with a program that will champion Melbourne’s diverse range of independently spirited artists and creative communities. The Independent Runway will showcase the nation’s up and coming talents, providing a unique and iconic look at what the local Melbourne fashion scene looks like in 2022.

PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival is proud to be launching an inaugural First Nations Fashion Industry Pathways program as part of an ongoing initiative to provide access and opportunities for First Nations people to gain work experience in the fashion industry, opening doors across the multiple professions that comprise the fashion ecosystem and facilitating increased First Nations representation. This initiative will provide support to First Nations talent with learning and training opportunities which will in turn lead to sustainable employment across the industry.

To learn more and register for priority access to purchase tickets visit https://www.paypal.com/au/paypalmff.