AAFW 2023: Nadia Bartel, Rebecca Judd stun at Henne show

A string of celebrities have turned out in support of Nadia Bartel, whose brand Henne put on its second show at Fashion Week.

A string of celebrities have turned out in support of Nadia Bartel, whose brand Henne put on its second show at Afterpay Australian Fashion Week this afternoon.

Bartel – who co-founded the label three years ago with her sister, Michelle Ring, and former Witchery buyer, Laura Broque – said on Instagram she was “excited” to be launching Henne’s new “Chroma” collection at the annual event, where it made its debut last year.

The 38-year-old promised a “nod to the ’80s” ahead of the presentation in a Monday interview with the Herald Sun, with power suiting a strong feature.

“I’ve loved attending Fashion Week as a guest for so many years. So to see Henne on the runway is such a surreal feeling,” Bartel said.

“This year’s runway will look and feel very different. The collection is inspired by the ’80s.”

Designer Nadia Bartel attends the Henne show during Afterpay Australian Fashion Week. Picture: James Gourley/Getty Images for AAFW

Bartel stunned in an off-the-shoulder white top and silk skirt. Picture: Matrix

She paired the look with sunglasses and natural makeup. Picture: Matrix

Leading the charge was Bartel herself, in an off-the-shoulder, fitted white top and silk skirt.

Rebecca Judd also embraced a colour-blocked look, in a long-sleeved blue top and shiny cargo pants. The mum-of-four paired her outfit in a white, point-toed heel and matching sunglasses.

Rebecca Judd at the Henne show. Picture: Matrix

Sarah Ellen. Picture: Matrix

Sydney fashion darling Sarah Ellen, meanwhile, rocked double-denim, accessorising with white shoes and a Chanel purse.

While Francesca Hung was tonal in brown, pairing her suede jacket with a mini dress and loafers.

Phoebe Burgess. Picture: Matrix

Francesca Hung. Picture: Matrix

Henne – Swedish for “her” – is now in its third year, with a brick and mortar store in Melbourne’s Prahran, a second physical location on the way, and plans to launch in the US “in the next few years”.

Bartel, who prior to launching the brand developed e-boutique The Connection, told The Sydney Morning Herald last year she’s “very involved in every single piece that we create”.

“It was only a few months ago that we hired our first designer. Laura’s commercial background, my sister being sophisticated and classic and me being somewhere in between keeps us on track.”

Harmony Butcher attends the Henne show. Picture: James Gourley/Getty Images for AAFW

A model walks the runway during the Henne show. Picture: James Gourley/Getty for AAFW

She pointed out the brand’s success has less to do with her own star power than one might assume – telling the publication that “a lot of people who follow Henne on social media don’t even follow me”.

“Melbourne is our core but 30 per cent of our customers are now in Sydney and we are developing support in Brisbane,” Bartel added.

“After Australian Fashion Week we saw a huge growth in visitors to our website and an increase in social media followers. That’s not because of me, it’s because of the product.

“Now with the store, I am meeting customers face-to-face and its professional women, university students and working mums. They’re the Henne woman.”