After a challenging year for the hair industry, the community is looking forward to a revival in 2021 with an industry first. The June long weekend has always belonged to the hair community and, with the cancellation of Hair Expo Australia and the Hair Expo Awards, two dynamic new events will once again allow the hair community to shop, learn, compete and connect with the entire hair sector.
Leading media and event experts, BHA Media (a subsidiary of The Intermedia Group, publisher of INSTYLE magazine and styleicons.com.au) and Mocha Publishing (HairBiz magazine and Australian Hair Industry Awards [AHIAs]), will join together in a collaboration over the 2021 Queen’s Birthday weekend in Sydney, honouring a traditional legacy and breathing new life into a changing world.
These respected companies together play host to two new events, Hair Festival and Australian Hair Industry Awards (Creative), supporting the hair industry by combining the unrivalled teams behind INSTYLE, HAIRBIZ, styleicons.com.au and the AHIAs. This formidable collaboration will harness both industry stalwarts’ dual experience to deliver a multifaceted event that truly meets modern hairdressing values.
Taking place on Sunday and Monday June 13 and 14 2021, the events will offer all of the activities the community has come to expect from its dedicated hair weekend.
Presented by BHA Media, a two-day marketplace will showcase exclusive innovations from a variety of hair and beauty brands, acting as a refreshed, product-focused and industry-specific buying experience.
Furthermore, a customised approach to à la carte education under the successful Real Talk Business platform, launched in 2019, will be showcased over the weekend. The esteemed format will present various speakers, topics and brands across both days of the event, with broader and more specific sessions to learn from at your leisure. A ‘festival style’ evening event on the Sunday night will prioritise industry networking and the celebratory nature of the weekend.
“The June long weekend has a special place in the hearts of the hairdressing industry and Hair Festival will capture that historic energy while offering refreshed, relevant new formats and ideas across education and the marketplace component,” shared Simon Grover, Managing Director of The Intermedia Group. “Every facet of the weekend, from what you can learn, what you can buy and how you can network, will be tailored to suit the modern hairdresser.”
On the Monday night, the reinvigorated Australian Hair Industry Awards (AHIAs, Creative), presented by Mocha Publishing, will allow hairdressers to compete in creative awards categories, inspire attendees with trending looks and ensure the industry can revel in the glamour of Australian hair’s night of nights. The categories in this new awards format will reflect all aspects of hairdressing with photographic, creative ability and written submissions, complementing the respected Australia Hair Industry Business Awards, held separately, with this new creative counterpart.
“We are 100 per cent committed and excited for the launch of the new awards held on the Queen’s Birthday weekend, June 2021, where the industry as a whole will celebrate Creative Excellence across the entire hair industry,” said Linda Woodhead, owner of Mocha Publishing. “We have worked very hard at becoming a respected and trusted brand and understand that taking on the responsibility of running these awards is a great honour, which we do with humility, gratitude and pride.”
As a longstanding hair industry weekend, the Queen’s Birthday will continue to act as a meeting point and beacon for our salon community, showcasing the renowned solidarity and spirit in hairdressing.
More event details, educators, brands and awards details will be named in the coming months, heralding an evolved extravaganza of what matters most in the hair industry.
For more information visit www.hairfestival.com.au and www.australianhairindustryawards.com.au