Vivien’s model Ali Caldwell wearing Zoual by Yanti at last year’s fashion festival.
Camera IconVivien’s model Ali Caldwell wearing Zoual by Yanti at last year’s fashion festival. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Town of Victoria Park unhappy with Perth Fashion Festival sponsorship outcomes

Aaron CorlettSouthern Gazette

THE Town of Victoria Park are in negotiations with the organisers of Perth Fashion Festival after expressing disappointment in their sponsorship agreement.

The council provided $57,000 to the Fashion Council WA (FCWA) last year because the Future Runway and International Runway events were being held at Crown.

At Tuesday’s council meeting, the council moved a motion that they were not satisfied with the outcome of the sponsorship and would negotiate an acceptable outcome.

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Mayor Trevor Vaughan said they undertook the sponsorship on the basis that the event would deliver key benefits to the community economically and culturally.

“The signed sponsorship agreement between the Town and Fashion Council of WA contained specific deliverables to ensure the Town received these benefits,” he said.

“Several deliverables of that agreement were not met, or not delivered to the Town’s satisfaction.”

A Town report said a dedicated marketing and communication strategy for Town events and a video featuring the council’s logo were not delivered, along with other previously agreed deliverables.

It said opportunities to collaborate with joint media statements as well as photos and interviews with designers and festival representatives were not delivered to the council’s expectations.

A Perth Fashion Festival spokeswoman said the organisers were in the process of addressing the concerns raised by the Town and working toward a mutually acceptable resolution.

Mr Vaughan said the FCWA was responsible for measuring the outcomes of the sponsorship agreement via a report, which was delivered to the Town on January 30.

“Town staff attempted to have several areas of the report clarified, and are satisfied that FCWA cannot provide any further information to assist with measuring the impact of the sponsorship,” he said.

“The Town has not made any commitment to sponsor the event in the future.

“Right now, the Town is working with FCWA to find a way to ensure the benefits to our community intended through the sponsorship agreement are realised.

“The detail of this is still to be determined.”

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