In a matter of a few short weeks, the red carpet will be rolled out and glammed up guests will walk up the steps of the National Convention Centre and enter another world: The world of FASHFEST.

Tickets were released only days ago, and are running hot with more than 50 per cent of VIP seats already gone.

For 2015, FASHFEST will feature more than 30 designers and, for the first time, interstate and international designers. More than 80 models will grace the catwalk bringing designer fashion to life. They’ll be made all the more beautiful by teams working under the new Directors of Hair, Darren Jones and Craig Rhodes, and the new director of makeup, Diana Cheetham.

FASHFEST is no ordinary fashion show. “It’s more of a fashion experience and each night is themed,” says co-founder Andrea Hutchinson. “The challenge is to line up the music, models and designers to each theme. The logistics involved are insane. It takes hours and hours and hours to get it just right.”

This year’s themes are the activist, inventor, cartographer and engineer and each is supported by an impressive line-up of DJs and live musicians, brought together by FASHFEST’s new director of music, Ashley Feraude (Magnifik). The line-up includes 14 live musical acts, ranging from rap to hip hop to jazz. No piped-in music for FASHFEST!

And then there’s the fashion. The incredible designs are as diverse as it could be in covering women’s and men’s collections.

Many designers return to the runway from previous years, including Braddon Tailors with garments made using artisan techniques and luxury fabrics. Corr Blimey is back with its sculptural streetwear, Rockstars and Royalty with its gowns and cocktail dresses, Sovata with its garments and millinery perfect for any occasion, and the refreshingly different and interesting fashion by Karen Lee of Assemblage Project. Then there’s the artistic headwear of BMdesignsheadwear… you need to check this out!

The aesthetics of 14 new designers will add an exciting element to FASHFEST 2015.

The Professor’s Daughter is providing exciting, colourful alternatives to the fashion stables of the little black dress and grey suits that do little to add life to the workplace. Also from Melbourne is Cameron & James with its contemporary menswear that stands out in the crowd. Miranda Sakhino’s designs are a fusion of African and Western fashion. Also influenced by the exotic are Hana Apparel Design, with influences of Persian culture, and The Prodigal Daughter, with fashion designer Phoebe Mwanza marrying Africa’s bold and colourful prints to the tempered, mute landscape of Australia.

FASHFEST, which has always supported the growth of the fashion industry in the capital, will again have graduate fashion designers on the catwalk from the Canberra Institute of Technology, including Illusory Cog, Little Jane Lane, MAAK, Mimetic, The Label and Ziyah. Participating in the largest fashion event on Canberra’s annual social calendar is a wow-factor chance for graduates to gain real-life experience.

And did we mention lingerie? French lingerie? For the first time it will be on the catwalk, with a show of Simone Perele each night, brought to FASHFEST by Stephanie’s Boutique Lingerie in Kingston.

Last, but not least, is Canberra’s Red Corner, a relatively new business that will launch an exciting, innovative and fashion-forward line-up of boxing gloves and focus pads never before seen in the marketplace, including for women. Red Corner is breaking the mould and will prove that boxing gear doesn’t need to be boring. Why just be fit when you can be fashion-fit?

FASHFEST tickets on sale now: www.fashfest.com.au