The Romance Was Born catwalk at MBAFW (Photo: Getty)

Mercedes Benz Australian Fashion Week (formally Rosemount Australian Fashion Week) kicked off in Sydney on Monday, but with a schedule that is noticeably absent of some of the country’s biggest industry names.

Dion Lee, Josh Goot both pulled out at the last minute while Camilla and Marc decided not to show after seven consecutive years at the event. Goot and Lee both said the decision had to do with focusing on international collections. “I think it’s important that we consolidate our position, rather than rush into a new collection to show at MBFWA,” Goot said in a statement.

Fair enough. It make sense that designers already accomplished on the local front would decide to focus their agendas on the international level just as Willow, Collette Dinnigan and Sass & Bide have done before them. Lee and Goot have both previously shown in London, so why not continue in that direction?