Marvin Osifo is the founder of Face Fashion, which is an event created with the sole purpose of supporting emerging Australian fashion designers.
Now a Sutherland Shire resident, Marvin who migrated from Nigeria in 1992 as an eight-year-old, started to work in high-end fashion and business management and quickly saw a lack of opportunities for young designers.
Inspired to bridge this gap, Marvin founded the Face Fashion event and is dedicated to helping the next generation of Australian designers get their foot in the door of the industry.
Marvin, who married a Grays Point girl, said his passion lies in supporting and nurturing emerging Australian designers.
"The next generation of fashion designers are the very talented future of our local fashion industry, and Face Fashion is committed to providing an opportunity for them to gain the exposure they need to launch their careers," he said.
Now celebrating its 13th year, Face Fashion returns to Melbourne on June 26 and 27 after expanding to the Victorian capital from over a decade of success in Sydney.
Face Fashion has steadily become a prominent event of the fashion calendar, with up-and-coming designers, labels, buyers, models and industry leaders benefiting from the nature of the event.
With his expertise and passion for nurturing the next generation, Marvin is providing a platform to actively engage the industry and consumers.
"Young designers often give up with no help or support," he said. "Don't give up, love what you do, start from the bottom, doors will open and Face Fashion is a starting point."
Designers not only show their work, but the event often acts as their first step into the business world of fashion. Creating connections to the industry and directly to consumers was a key objective for Marvin when establishing the event, and as Face Fashion has grown to expand to two states, so have the benefits to those involved.
The shows attract participants from around the nation, and with designers from Perth, Melbourne, and Sydney already locked in for the Melbourne event. Face Fashion is shaping up to provide a clear snapshot of what the future of Australian fashion looks like-direct from those who are creating it.
