Melbourne Fashion Week’s Fashion x Theatre show is an ode to the creative arts
Words by Bianca O’Neill
“I think this presentation illustrates that fashion can be more than just clothing on bodies but also about storytelling and emotional connection.”
If there was a personal highlight at last year’s Melbourne Fashion Week, it had to be the Fashion x Art show. Walking through the specially-opened rooms in the State Library, decorated with some of the most innovative and beautiful pieces from the week-long event, attendees were privy to the future of most fashion weeks around the world: that of fashion as entertainment.
The combination of fashion, art and performance was not only inspiring, allowing us to see a deeper vision of the pieces as envisaged by the designers, but also excellent for the ’gram – in particular, the moment featuring opera singer Shauntai Batzke singing a haunting piece from a balcony overlooking the historic reading room, model atop a platform, moving to the music and wearing a dramatic J’Aton Couture dress. A goosebump-inducing moment, both in person and online, that was shared hundreds of times.
- Melbourne Fashion Week’s 2023 program runs from October 23 to 29
- There are nine premium runways and 100 events and sessions, 300 participating designers and 300 involved retailers
Fashion Journal is, once again, a proud official media partner of this year’s Melbourne Fashion Week. And now, Melbourne Fashion Week is set to deliver a new vision of this event, but this time with a focus on Melbourne’s thriving theatre scene.
Partnering with the local production of Moulin Rouge, it’s brought together eleven Australian designers (Gail Sorronda, J’Aton Couture, Jason Grech, Mariam Seddiq, Saint Stella M, Paul McCann, Posture Studio, Sean Rentero, SZN, Wackie Ju and Youkhana) to reinterpret the bohemian stage play’s themes of truth, beauty, freedom and love, set against the backdrop of the lavish Regent Theatre.
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“Last year’s runway, I created alongside the production company,” says stylist Joseph Romano, who has been locked in to deliver this year’s Fashion x Theatre iteration. “It was focused on the underlying themes of discovery and curiosity… I was so proud of the final product and how it pushed the envelope of what people have long expected from fashion shows in Australia. Being able to begin to blur the line between fashion, art and performance was a highlight.
“This year is very collaborative, with the involvement of other disciplines within the arts field. Being able to work with other artists that are experts in their field and allow them to interpret the concept has pushed and challenged the idea of a fashion show beyond what has previously been experienced. The big difference is the performance element which is stronger this year, [but I] don’t want to give too much more away!”
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Sydney-based label Youkhana, who made a splash at its Australian Fashion Week debut earlier this year with its forward-looking collection of unique, one-of-a-kind braided pieces, is one of the designers involved in the special show this year. Chatting with designer Nathaniel Youkhana ahead of the show, it’s clear that Joseph’s vision for a more modern runway interpretation is one shared with the designers.
“I think when there’s like a really beautiful narrative behind a show, it really affects people and makes them think a little differently about this industry, or fashion in itself… I feel like designers have more to offer than just putting garments on a runway,” he tells me.
“I think people want more… you know, fashion gets a bad rap – like it’s a bit like vapid or narcissistic or whatever. But I think, as a designer, there’s a lot of heart and love and passion, and motivation and there’s a community behind it.”
Along with Youkhana, J’Aton Couture returns for a second bite at the drama, as well as some new names like Posture Studio and long-time independent label SZN. It’s going to be an exciting look at a diverse talent pool that’s keen to change the way that audiences usually engage with clothing at fashion week events. While it’s always beautiful to see a garment walk a runway, without interference from other visuals, there’s something to be said about viewing clothing move in a more natural way – on performers, on stage.
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“I feel like my garments are quite theatrical in general,” says Nathaniel. “Movement is also really important in my work too – a lot of my braids, and a lot of my pieces flow really beautifully. And so, I think that a show, a performance, it always gives so much more texture and power.”
“I think this presentation illustrates that fashion can be more than just clothing on bodies but also about storytelling and emotional connection,” says Joseph. “This runway really speaks to how Melbourne fashion and art intersect, and celebrates this in such an exciting way. These are rare experiences as a stylist to be able to access, so I’m super excited to be able to work with some really talented individuals.”
The Melbourne Fashion Week Fashion x Theatre runway is on Monday October 23 at 6.30pm and 9pm at the Regent Theatre. For more information head here.
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