All the events you can attend at this week’s Afterpay Australian Fashion Week
IMAGE VIA @KARLASPETIC/INSTAGRAM
WORDS BY KAT CHRISOULIS
Afterpay Australian Fashion Week is here, and you’re invited.
Previously an affair reserved for the industry’s elite, Afterpay Australian Fashion Week (AAFW) is opening up to the public in 2022 with its new offering, AAFW: The Experience.
Typically, Australian Fashion Week offers the general public a glimpse into its magic on weekends only, seldom during the week. But this year, AAFW announced it has lined up a week of both consumer-accessible and industry-exclusive events, meaning that you too can join in on the fun.
Discover more up-and-coming local designers in our Fashion section.
AAFW: The Experience will showcase an array of Australian designers including Dyspnea, First Nations Fashion and Design (FNFD), Karla Spetic, Hansen & Gretel, St. Agni and a showcase of AAFW’s Next Gen winners. See our guide to the 2022 program, which runs from May 9 to 13, below.
Monday
Terry Vinson, 12pm
Powered by Shopify, In Conversation With… is a series of intimate discussions with some of Australian fashion’s most esteemed creatives. Synergie Skin founder Terri Vinson is set to chat with Gritty Pretty founder and editor-in-chief, Eleanor Pendleton, about how she engineered her success. Get tickets here.
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Empowering Voices: Fashion’s Cultural Impact on Representation and Inclusion, 4.30pm
Part of The Talks series, this panel will explore representation and inclusion and unpack how fashion has ignited a wider cultural shift. It will feature the managing editor of Inside Retail, Jo-Anne Hui-Miller, artist and designer Jordan Gogos, founder of Adaptive Clothing Jessie Sadler, designer and entrepreneur Liandra Gaykamangu and hair artist Laura Mazikana. Get tickets here.
Bec & Bridge, 8pm
After a two year intermission, Bec and Bridge will return to AAFW to celebrate its 21st birthday. The cult-favourite label will exhibit its Resort 22/23 collection on the opening night, first to the industry at 7pm, and then again to the public at 8pm. Get tickets here.
Tuesday
Anna Quan, 12pm
As part of its In Conversation With… series, Anna Hoang, the founder of contemporary womenswear brand Anna Quan, will break down her experience during the pandemic, and how she harnesses nostalgia in her designs. Get tickets here.
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St Agni, 3pm
Having had its AAFW debut in 2021, St Agni returns to the runway to offer an exclusive look at its Resort ’23 collection. Known for its premium ready-to-wear pieces, you can expect an elevated take for its encore fashion week. Get tickets here.
Digital Fashion: The New Frontier, 6pm
Part of The Talks series, this panel will break down all things metaverse, with NFTs and augmented reality on the agenda. It will feature Popsugar publisher Amanda Bardas, founder and creative director of Injury, Eugene Leung, game producer Caitlin Lomax and CEO of BTC Markets Crypto Exchange, Caroline Bowler. Get tickets here.
Mariam Seddiq, 7pm
The Sydney-based eponymous brand Mariam Seddiq is set to present its Resort ’23 collection on the runway. Mariam’s designs pay homage to her cultural experiences and architectural structures. Get tickets here.
Indigenous Fashion Projects, 8pm
Indigenous Fashion Projects (IFP) will return to the runway, launching the collections of six of Australia’s leading First Nations creatives to close the event’s second day. The show, presented by Afterpay and supported by David Jones, includes an exclusive performance from Jessica Mauboy and artistic contributions from First Nations artist Wayne Quilliam. Get tickets here.
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Wednesday
Ngali, By Denni Francisco, 12pm
As part of its In Conversation With… series, Wiradjuri designer Denni Francisco will sit down with Yatu Widders Hunt to discuss her label Ngali and more broadly Indigenous fashion. Get tickets here.
Daniel Avakian, 12.30pm
Known for its eye for tailoring and contemporary design, Daniel Avakian’s eponymous label will launch its Resort ’23 collection on AAFW’s runway. Get tickets here.
Karla Špetić, 3pm
AAFW will feature Karla Špetić’s Resort ’23 collection on the 2022 runway. Since her debut in 2008, her eponymous label has been commended for its tailored luxury wear that draws on both masculine and feminine design. Get tickets here.
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One on One with Bianca Spender, 4pm
Designer Bianca Spender will sit down with the CEO and managing director of Porsche Cars Australia, Daniel Schmollinger, as well as Caitlin Judd and Anna Mackenzie from Lady-Brains to share her journey and process as a designer at the forefront of the industry. Get tickets here.
First Nations Fashion and Design: Yours, Mine and Ours, 6pm
Part of The Talks series, this panel is set to explore the increasing representation of Indigenous designers and the narrative of connection to country through textiles. Featuring the co-CEO of Agnt-Blak, Bianca Hunt, and the Mayor of Torres Strait Island Regional Council, Phillemon Mosby, among others. Get tickets here.
Sass & Bide, 7pm
After a five-year hiatus, Sass & Bide is due to make a return to the AAFW program. The mid-week show will flaunt the iconic brand’s latest Resort ’23 collection. This year marks the label’s 15th appearance at fashion week. Get tickets here.
Afterpay’s Future of Fashion, 8pm
To conclude a bustling day at AAFW, Afterpay will host an exhibition that will include over 13 of Australia’s esteemed designers. The stacked line-up boasts the likes of Manning Cartell, Blanca, Oroton, Afends, Salt Murphy and P.E Nation. Showcasing a fusion of technology, entertainment and fashion, AAFW has even flagged that a surprise performance could be on the cards. Get tickets here.
Thursday
Adaptive Clothing Collective, 10am
Just one year after its inception, Adaptive Clothing Collective will make its debut on the AAFW runway. The Adaptive Clothing Collective is a membership organisation that seeks to represent emerging Australian designers and labels that position inclusivity and innovation at the forefront of their work. Get tickets here.
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Bassike, 12pm
As part of the In Conversation With… series, the founders of Bassike, Deborah Sams and Mary Lou Ryan, sit down to dissect their brand, and the importance of sustainability. Get tickets here.
The Sustainable Business Journey, 4pm
Part of The Talks series, this panel will unpack the adoption of environmentally-sustainable business practices, and how they can have an impact. Featuring the fashion editor of the Australian Financial Review, Lauren Sams, and the CEO of the Australian Fashion Council, Leila Naja Hibri, among others. Get tickets here.
Back of House, 6pm
Part of The Talks series, this panel provides an insight into the behind the scenes of the world’s leading fashion runway shows. Featuring consultant to GQ, Grant Pearce, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of IMG Focus, Dominic Kaffka, and more. Get tickets here.
Dyspnea, 7pm
Perth-based label Dyspnea is set to showcase its Resort ’23 collection to consumers on this year’s AAFW runway. Created in 2013, by best friends Jameen and Rachel, the label describes itself as “clothing with enough fluff, sequins, silks and sass to give anyone a migraine.”. Get tickets here.
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Hansen & Gretel, 8pm
Closing AAFW’s penultimate day of shows, Hansen & Gretel will grace the runway with its latest collection. As an added bonus, Australian artist George Maple is set to perform live. Get tickets here.
Friday
Next Gen, 10am
Opening the final day of AAFW, the Next Gen show is programmed for the early morning. The presentation serves to highlight the work of the four winners of AAFW’s Next Gen program. Since its inception in 1996, Next Gen has helped launch the careers of Camilla and Marc, Sass and Bide and Gorman, among others. Get tickets here.
Michael Lo Sordo and Alyce Tran, 12pm
As part of the In Conversation With… series, designer Michael Lo Sordo and entrepreneur Alyce Tran will explore fashion partnerships and how to build a brand. Get tickets here.
Generation: Nxt, 4.30pm
Part of The Talks series, this panel will be moderated by the director of Parlour X, Eva Galambos, and feature the four 2022 winners of AAFW’s emerging designer program, Next Gen. Following their runway show earlier on Friday, the winners will sit down to share their journey as up-and-coming designers during the pandemic. Get tickets here.
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First Nations Fashion and Design, 7pm
Sending off the week-long event, FNFD is returning after a triumphant 2021 debut. This year’s runway is produced, styled, modelled and staffed by an all-Indigenous team. And in a Fashion Week first, a party is kicking off on the runway immediately following the show, bringing AAFW to its official closure. Get tickets here.
To view the full program, head here.
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