Australian Fashion Week: Everything you need to know, the inside gossip
Australian Fashion Week kicks off on Monday. Ahead of the launch, Confidential has all the inside gossip. Here’s what you need to know.
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There’s one runway event taking place this AFW which the industry is anticipating will be touted as the show of the week.
Vogue Vanguard presented by American Express.
The hugely anticipated inaugural runway show, which shines a spotlight on the new guard of homegrown creative talent, willbe the final show on the AFW schedule and will be held at Rushcutters Bay on Friday.
The runway will showcase the best emerging Australian fashion designers including Emily Watson, Ruby Pedder, Ethan Bergersenand Samuel Lewis and is tipped to leave a lasting impression on the 500 attendees.
As expected, Vogue will pull an A-list crowd with VIP guests including Vogue Australia Editorial Director and Publisher EdwinaMcCann, Vogue Australia Editor-in-Chief Christine Centenera, actors Sophie Wilde, Olivia DeJonge and Sam Corlett.
Centenera came up with the Vanguard initiative in 2023, while the runway event is the brainchild of McCann.
“Uncovering and supporting the next generation of talent is part of the joy of working at Vogue. Harnessing Vogue’s reach to uplift these creatives has been part of my mission since the beginning,” said Centenera.
“It is crucial to support a thriving creative environment and exciting to be a part of it. We know the next household namesare among this inspiring, driven and innovative group.”
While McCann, who has been one of the main players which ensured AFC continued after owners IMG pulled out this year, said: “Vogue has a long history of supporting up and coming Australian design talent. With Australian Fashion Week now under the stewardship of the Australian Fashion Council it is crucial to support this vital pathway for our talent.”
Following the Vogue Vanguard show, Ksubi will host the official Australian Fashion Week afterparty in partnership with Vogue Australia and American Express. Special guest DJs C.Frim, Mirasia and Soju Gang will perform for 500 VIP guests.
Models, models, models - New Gen the biggest casting to take place this AFW
More than 150 models stormed the runway this week, hoping to land a spot in the hugely anticipated New Generation Runway show.
Beauties from the country’s top agencies including IMG, Priscillas, Chic, Viviens, Chadwick, Kult, Merci, Scouted, P.M, ICON,People and Silver made their way to Ovolo, Woolloomooloo on Thursday.
It’s by far the biggest casting of the week, with 150 models walking in front casting agents in just three hours.
Among them, veterans including Montana Cox, Cindy Rostron, Bambi, Inka Williams and Ploy.
Ploy believes designers are looking for three specific things when choosing the line-up for their runway show.
“Definitely how you walk in heels, the energy you bring, and whether your personality/ look fits the brand. Confidence is always a bonus,” she said.
“I’ve been told my look is strong and brings an edge to the brand. I also walk fast… which I hope is a good thing hahaha”
This will be Ploy’s third time walking in AFW and she hopes the New Gen runway will be one of the show’s she is a part of.
“The New Gen show highlights emerging Australian designers. I think it’s an important platform that encourages local talent to believe in their art. It’s special to be a part of that.”
“Being part of the process that brings the show to life is incredibly rewarding.”
Reuse, re-love, recycle the theme of this year’s AFW
Only a few years ago, Sydney’s style set wouldn’t be caught dead in an older season look, unless it was designer vintage.
However, the upcoming AFW is shaping up to be an archival trend revival as designers bring preloved gems from eBay Australia to the catwalk for a fresh take on vintage style, and attendees wear recycled pieces.
“I think for many years, wearing the same outfit twice at a high-profile event like Fashion Week was considered a major fauxpas, particularly for celebrities, influencers, and fashion insiders but it’s nice to see that now it’s no longer a ‘thing’ and its actually something that we are seeing more and more of,” said celebrity stylist and preloved fashion advocate JessPecoraro.
Not only are designers now taking a more considered approach to their designs, and using recycled materials like plastic bottlesand deadstock fabrics into their collections, the trend of hiring fashion and giving new life to older designs is also becoming common.
According to Pecoraro, style savvy attendees now desire fashion that is both stylish and environmentally responsible.
This year, eBay Australia is partnering with Vogue Australia to showcase archival looks from iconic designers including Aje,Bianca Spender, Lee Mathews, Nagnata and Romance Was Born.
They will be styled by Pecoraro, who said: “We’re at a turning point in the fashion industry, so it’s incredible to see the trend of archival fashion take centre stage at Australian Fashion Week.”
“As a stylist, I love working with pieces that have history and character, proving that great fashion is meant to be reimagined and repurposed. eBay has made it easy to buy and sell preloved, which empowers consumers to be more mindful of their wardrobe choices.”
“There has been a real shift in the last few years with sustainability, authenticity, and conscious consumption becoming farmore important than just novelty or status. As a stylist I think investing in quality over quantity is always the way to go.”
Carla Zampatti’s son to show refined collection on Monday night
Alex Schuman will present a landmark show when his late mother’s Carla Zampatti brand opens AFC Australian Fashion Week on Monday – marking an incredible 60 years of the iconic label.
And Zampatti’s son, the brand’s creative director, says the show will reiterate his mother’s legacy – something that pushes them to keep creating with purpose – just as she would have.
“This year, we’re proud to be presenting a landmark show that reflects not only the contemporary strength of our own brand,but the extraordinary creative power and maturity of the Australian fashion industry as a whole,” Schuman told The SaturdayTelegraph.
“Set in an iconic Sydney location, our collection is a bold statement of what Australian design can be – refined, innovative,and globally resonant.”
The Zampatti name has been a leading force in Australian fashion since 1965, so to open Fashion Week is only fitting.
“This is where our industry steps onto the global stage and asserts its voice, vision, and values,” he continued.
“For Australian designers, it’s a chance to not only connect with audiences here at home, but to show the world the depthof talent and creativity that exists on our shores.
“Staying relevant across generations is the greatest challenges facing every brand — including ours.
“What keeps a brand alive is its ability to listen, adapt, and evolve without losing its core DNA.
“We don’t take our heritage for granted, it pushes us to keep creating with purpose and clarity.”
He says this current generation understand better than anyone that fashion is our expression of values, choices and identity.
“It’s intimate, but it’s also collective — our fashion choices tell a broader story about who we are as Australians on the global stage,” he says.
“Clothing can empower, challenge, include — and that’s why it matters.”
Bright and bold - Melissa Leong to walk runway for the first time
MasterChef Australia host Melissa Leong will make her runway debut this week at Gary Bigeni’s AFW parade.
Leong (pictured), known for her bold fashion choices on the reality cooking show and Dessert Masters, is preparing to walk the runway in one of Bigeni’s trademark colourful ensembles.
Gary has now shown at Fashion Week 14 times, and his latest show is called Dance Bigeni, Dance.
“This collection is an homage to movement — to dancing for yourself before you dance for anyone else,” he said.
“It’s about showing up with confidence, in colour, in shape, in spirit — for you first. As someone who grew up with a disability,colour and form have always spoken loudly to me, they’ve been tools of joy, identity, and expression.”
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Originally published as Australian Fashion Week: Everything you need to know, the inside gossip
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