THE runway at Canberra Airport will take a back seat to a runway of a very different kind when Fashfest comes to town in May.

At a launch held at the airport today, Fashfest director Clinton Hutchinson and Canberra Airport Managing Director Stephen Byron announced the inaugural fashion festival will be held at 3 Molongolo drive at Brindabella Business Park.

Byron describes the space, which is currently under construction and will be used as five-star office accommodation, as “modern-industrial with world-class architecture.”

“This is a location that few Fashfest guests will ever experience again,” Byron says.

“It will be a magnificent backdrop to showcase Canberra’s fashion talent at this inaugural event. After the event the space will return to be state of the art office accommodation so Fashfest 2013 is truly a one off experience.”

Hutchinson says while the Canberra Airport may seem like a strange location for a fashion festival, it’s “actually a perfect fit.”

“This is bringing the creative hub of Canberra together, in a huge way – with a new airport and new fashion festival, what better way to showcase our creative side,” he says.

The audience also got a sneak peek of what is to come, with male and female models showcasing bright, futuristic looks from Fashfest designers.

Former CIT graduate Suzan Dlouhy will be one of 30 designers to appear at Fashfest. Her independent label, SZN, uses unconventional materials and remnants from pre-consumer waste.

“Fashfest is an awesome opportunity, as an emerging label, to showcase my designs to Canberra,” she said at the launch.

“The calibre of fashion coming out of Canberra is world-class.”

Fashfest will be held at Brindabella Park from May 1-4. Tickets at fashfest.com.au

Photos by Brent McDonald