Toowoomba Fashion Festival

Toowoomba Fashion Festival returned in spectacular style on March 22, 2025, at The Armitage Centre at The Empire, delivering an unforgettable showcase of fashion, talent, and community.

Under the leadership of Co-Founder and Creative Director Julz McBain and Co-Founder and Managing Director Christel Ryley, the festival continues to elevate regional fashion, solidifying its place as a must-attend event in Queensland’s Queen’s style calendar.

Presented by Ryley Jewellery Creations and brought to you by The Chronicle, this year’s event featured three runway shows highlighting

• Emerging designers.
• Ready-to-wear collections.
• Statement eveningwear.

With over 200 people attending each show, the festival created an electric atmosphere celebrating innovation and diversity in fashion.

A lineup of 14 designers, 30 models, and over 125 looks took to the runway, showcasing the industry industry’s creativity and craftsmanship.

Boosting Toowoomba’s Economy

With 75% of designers and models travelling from outside the region and 50% of attendees coming from town, the Toowoomba Fashion Festival significantly contributed to the local economy. Early estimates suggest that the festival once again generated approximately $50,000 in tourism revenue, with visitors staying in local accommodations, dining out, shopping, and exploring the city over the two-night period.

A Runway for Every Style Each show was carefully curated in partnership with industry leaders:

Fairholme College presented the Emerging Designers Runway,

The Know Skin led the Ready-to-Wear Runway and

The Fashion Field Magazine hosted the After 5 Runway.

Sustainability & Diversity at the Heart of the Festival

Building on last year’s efforts, we remained committed to reducing our environmental footprint by minimising single-use plastics and using eco-friendly collateral wherever possible.

Diversity and inclusivity were also at the forefront, with our runway celebrating a wide range of sizes, ages, genders, cultures, and abilities.

An Exclusive VIP Experience

The VIP Marquee, hosted by Dose of Envy, provided an intimate space for networking, relaxation, and industry discussions. Guests enjoyed insightful talks from Alison Platt, Tara McKeon, Jude Kingston, Isabel Wetten, and Melanie Canosa, who offered valuable perspectives on fashion, beauty, and business.