Australian Fashion Chamber launches

The Australian Fashion Chamber (AFC) has been set up to aid the growth of local Australian fashion,

both in the country as well as overseas.

"The AFC is a welcome addition to Australia's fashion landscape that will help foster young talent and create sustainable, unique and inspiring businesses of which we will all be proud," commented Edwina McCann, chairman of AFC and editor-in-Chief of Vogue Australia.

The founding members of the AFC include the likes of; Malcom Carfrae, who is executive vice president at Calvin Klein, Anthony Kendel; communications director at Mytheresa.com, Melissa Grace; fashion communications manager at Woolmark, Kara Hurry; marketing for Gap and Brook Brothers at Oroton Group as well as its chairman Edwina McCann.

The AFC will include fashion retailers, designers as well as creative directors for makeup, hair and photography.

Steven Kolb, president of the Council of Fashion Designers America, has offered integral support and guidance, "We are happy to provide advice and guidance from America to assist in the growth of the AFC which will be a very important asset to the Australian fashion industry."

The AFC will sponsor training conferences, mentoring programs, support of multiple design awards, and is set to aid a number of design awards. It also plans on introducing its own annual awards, which will be presented by AMP Capital at the end of the year.

"The future for the Australian fashion industry is bright - both the established and emerging talents are creative, intelligent and global. We need to come together as an industry to support our existing, emerging and established talents. We need to pool our talents to support theirs," added McCann.

On April 10, during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia, the AFC is set to introduce its board of executive and non-executive directors and will give further insight into future planned activities.