Nadia Bartel’s power shoulders and Y2K win over Melbourne’s influencer set

What’s the phrase, the higher the hemline, the closer to God? Or, is it the lower the waistband, the closer to God? Either way, Henne, the brand co-founded by influencer Nadia Bartel, had its prayers answered with a runway show at fashion week in Sydney on Wednesday.

Henne co-founder Nadia Bartel (centre) with models from her show on Wednesday.Credit: James Brickwood

Although the Harbour City is renowned for turning some of its best natural assets into runways for the annual industry preview of resort wear, Bartel and her army of followers, including several celebrities and influencers chose of all things a church to show a range that highlighted the natural beauty of the 24 genetically blessed models.

The sparse room, designed by Melbourne architects Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp and a finalist in several global design awards, was the ideal setting for the collection titled “Chroma”, which featured low-slung denim, suiting, and netting dresses that led show goers to observe that it was probably the first time the walls of St Barnabas had seen a hip bone or exposed nipple.

Backstage before the show, Bartel, who recently said in an interview she had moved on from an alleged COVID-19 lockdown drug-related scandal, said Henne had developed significantly from its debut show at fashion week 2022, let alone its beginnings in 2019 as a purveyor of slinky tops, leggings and oversized blazers, aka the uniform for the young social media set.

“We found a lot of inspiration from the ’80s’ power dressing, really big shoulders, ‘set’ dressing … and also Y2K, so a bit of sparkle and a bit of sci-fi,” she said.

Henne’s fashion show took place inside St Barnabas Anglican Church, designed by Melbourne architects Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp.Credit: Getty Images

While Henne may not be the most refined brand on the fashion week schedule, its popularity is unquestionable. It’s what led to young women queuing for kilometres in the cold and pitch dark in Melbourne a couple of months ago for the brand’s warehouse sale, or what makes its styles sell out when they regularly drop on a Monday night, thought to be the busiest time of the week for online shopping.

Models at the Henne show. Credit: Getty

Bartel, whose co-founders are her sister, Michelle Ring, and Laura Broque, also knows how to pull a crowd for a runway, with many travelling from her native Melbourne.

Joining the line at confession was Bec Judd, who, like Bartel is a footballer’s wife turned apparel business success story (Judd co-owns the active wear brand Jaggad), as well as stylist Lana Wilkinson and actress Sophie Wilde.

Henne wasn’t the only Melbourne brand making waves on hump day at fashion week. Joslin, which showed for the first time to expand its reach to a national audience, caused a literal splash when the tide at Clovelly Beach came in unexpectedly, sending seating cards into the surf and photographers running for dry land. Fortunately, once the runway was moved above sea level, it went off without a hitch. In a way, Mother Nature provided the publicity coup for the brand that money can’t buy.

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