Entertainment
21 November, 2025
Fashion week’s good vibes
A STRONG turn-out at the opening of Cairns Fashion Week 2025 (CFW) has set the tone for the rest of the event.
Fashion week was launched on Tuesday 18 November with an exclusive opening party at The Vine Room restaurant and bar at the Double Tree hotel on the Cairns Esplanade, signalling the start of this year’s ‘Paradise Reloaded’ program.
CFW founder and director Jade Turnbull said the enthusiastic response set an invigorating mood for the days ahead.
“It’s amazing. It’s been many months of hard work and we’re excited,” she said.
“We’ve already had an amazing turnout at the opening party and it’s going to be an exciting vibe for the runway showcases.”
Joseph Ribkoff Inc country sales manager for New Zealand and Australia Eva Caraballo said the brand was bringing an international touch to Cairns Fashion Week.
“We’ve been in Australia and New Zealand for over 15 years,” she said.
“We’ve actually just opened up a Cairns kiosk pop-up store. We’re part of the Cairns Fashion Week, bringing a little bit of international flair to the event.”
Models also travelled to Cairns for the opening, including returning model Abbey Knapp, who is with Melbourne-based FRM agency.
She said last year’s experience encouraged her to return.
“I did the Cairns Fashion Week last year. It was so much fun. A really good production,” she said.
“So, yeah, just really looking forward to walking some new fashions this year and meeting some new faces, seeing some familiar faces and having a good time.”
Model Rhiannon Walters, also from the Gold Coast, said she was excited to join this year’s line-up.
“This is my first year at Cairns Fashion Week. I’m so excited and I can’t wait to work with a new company,” she said.
Local business owner Anna Bergstroem, director and founder of Idun Aesthetics, attended as a skin industry sponsor.
“We were founded in March this year and are a skin clinic specialising in skin transformations,” she said.
She added that her clinic’s focus aligned naturally with Cairns Fashion Week.
“I feel we share very similar values. My clinic focuses on inclusivity and diversity… I just really wanted to create a very inclusive environment.”
Cairns Fashion Week continues throughout the week, with major runway showcases scheduled for Friday and Saturday night.
More information is available at the Cairns Fashion Week website at www.bit.ly/4patpX6
