It's fashionable to know about depression and anxiety

Blue is the new black at this year's L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival (LMFF) as the fashion extravaganza names beyondblue as its Official Charity partner for 2009.

Patrons at the festival will be treated to cutting edge design from Australia's most innovative designers while the festival promotes important mental health messages.

The LMFF runs from March 15 to March 22 at various venues around the fashion-focused Melbourne and is one of the largest fashion events in Australia and arguably the world. There are dozens of runway shows and stylish events to keep even the most discerning fashion aficionado enthralled - and at which members of the public are welcome..

The event, now in its thirteenth year, is expected to attract a diverse audience from all around Australia and the world. Last year's LMFF drew a crowd of over 360,000 people.

CEO of beyondblue, Leonie Young, said she was delighted the LMFF organisers had chosen to focus on depression and anxiety disorders this year.

"This partnership is a wonderful opportunity for beyondblue and will enable us to reach a broad range of people who work in and have an interest in the fashion industry. We want people to know that depression and anxiety are common and can occur in people from all walks of life - even those on the catwalk," she said.

"People shouldn't be embarrassed to ask for help because depression and anxiety are no different from any other illnesses. Effective treatments are available and with the right treatment, most people recover."

LMFF Festival Director Karen Webster said the partnership will give beyondblue the opportunity to reach a diverse range of people attending the Festival.

"The Festival provides an opportunity for beyondblue to communicate with people from varying backgrounds brought together by their interest in fashion," she said.

"To think that one in six women and one in eight men are likely to experience depression at some stage of their lives reflects how vital it is that we raise awareness about the signs and symptoms and encourage people to seek help early."

As part of the partnership, beyondblue and the LMFF team have created a postcard which will be distributed at festival events with beyondblue wristbands and supporter pins. Click here to download. A community service announcement has also been produced with Channel 10 to bolster awareness-raising efforts. Click here to view.

To find out more about the L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival visit the website at www.lmff.com.au

Runway Deluxe - fabulous fashion and classy cuisine - Saturday March 21

The official fundraising fashion event - Runway Deluxe - will grace the stage on Saturday March 21 in Melbourne.

Runway Deluxe is presented by MYER and will feature International fashion from the creme de la creme of design including:

BOSS Black, Donna Karan, Moschino Cheap and Chic, Narciso Rodriguez, Paule Ka, Sonia by Sonia Rykiel, Vera Wang Lavender, Viktor and Rolf and many more.

It will also feature couture from Australia's top designers: Camilla and marc, Jayson Brunsdon, Josh Goot, Karen Walker, Leona Edmiston, Maticevski and Nicola Finetti.

After the Runway Show, ticket holders will get the chance to rub shoulders with the fashion elite at a Deluxe Supper at the Central Pier at Docklands in Melbourne, featuring a menu designed by celebrity chef Guy Grossi.

Tickets to the Runway Show and Supper are $250, which includes a gift bag and champagne on arrival.

One hundred limited edition indulgence gifts can be bought for $200 each - each gift will contain products to a minimum value of $250 and all proceeds will be donated to beyondblue.

Tickets to Runway Deluxe are available by calling Pamela Darragh 03 9663 7570 or email ticketing@lmff.com.au

Tickets to the Runway Show only are available for $70 through Ticketmaster outlets. Log on to www.ticketmaster.com.au or call 13 61 00 (booking fees may apply).

Giving Beads jewellery auction in support of beyondblue

A group of Australian jewellery designers has banded together to create a unique project in aid of beyondblue.

The 'Giving Beads' project was created by Melbourne contemporary jewellery store e.g.etal in 2007.

The project involved setting the challenge to over 50 of Australia's top jewellery designers to produce a single unique bead each. These beads are then strung together to make necklaces.

Some consist of one bead only and the range continues through to the major piece made completely of these distinctive beads. Every piece is a collector's item. Some of the beads include small Argyle diamonds, donated by e.g.etal.

The necklaces will be auctioned at a cocktail party in Melbourne, along with other items donated by Melbourne businesses. The cocktail party and auction will be held at Comme in Melbourne, hosted by Virginia Trioli.

All profits will go to beyondblue: the national depression initiative.

Emma Goodsir, Director of e.g.etal, said the beads seemed a fitting way to communicate the mental health message.

"We chose the idea of beads for their symbolic, functional and spiritual meanings," she said.

"More than 20,000 years ago, people began using beads for exchange and communication, from worshipping to trading.

"So it seemed like an appropriate medium for raising awareness and funds for a particular cause. The last Giving Beads auction was a huge success and we hope to build on that this year."

The beads will be on display at both e.g.etal stores at Little Collins Street and Flinders Lane, from March 3, 2009.

The 2009 Giving Beads Cocktail Auction will be held Tuesday March 10 at Comme, 7 Alfred Place, Melbourne at 6.30pm. Tickets are $30 and are available though e.g.etal. Call 03 9639 5111.

Visit www.egetal.com.au for more information.