Our top picks from Melbourne Fashion Week’s 2022 program
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MELISSA COWAN
WORDS BY DAISY HENRY
M/FW is here and you’re invited.
It’s no wonder Melbourne is widely considered the fashion capital of Australia. Perhaps it’s our endless list of established and emerging designers or the fact that no matter where you look, Melburnians are nailing it with their street style – but either way, Melbourne is well-known for its culture and aesthetics.
And what better way to celebrate than with a seven-day program dedicated to showcasing the city’s vibrant and diverse fashion community? Yes, it’s that time of year. Melbourne Fashion Week (M/FW) has just released its 2022 program, featuring a series of runways, unique events and experiences spanning from October 10 to 16.
- M/FW’s 2022 program runs from October 10 to 16
- There are 10 premium runways and 100 events and sessions, 300 participating designers and 300 retailers
- Tickets are on sale from September 8 at 12pm
In an effort to celebrate diversity and creativity, this year’s campaign platform is ‘Everyone to the front’, encouraging everybody to come together and express themselves through fashion. And with 300 participating designers, 20 stylists and a host of hairstylists, makeup artists, models and volunteers, everyone’s input is valued.
As with previous years, M/FW will feature a combination of emerging, independent and well-established designers, and will have a focus on championing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, as well as other diverse cultures within Australia’s fashion industry.
For more fashion news, shoots, articles and features, head to our Fashion section.
As part of its commitment to sustainability, the event will also be carbon-neutral certified, with $1 of ticket sales going towards carbon offset. You can expect a series of runways, panel talks unpacking issues like local manufacturing and circular fashion, independent events and masterclasses, and exclusive drink and dine offers from some of Melbourne’s best restaurants.
The award-winning Indigenous singer-songwriter Thelma Plum is the 2022 M/FW ambassador and will be delivering a special closing-night performance to round up the week. Tickets go on sale on September 8 at 12pm, but as lovers of local fashion and an official media partner of the event, we have put together some of our top picks from the program so that you can start planning your week.
Runway ready
This year, M/FW will feature 10 premium runways set in a variety of iconic city venues and will be styled by some of Melbourne’s leading names in fashion. The Urban Garden Runway, held at Wesley Place, will start the week off on October 10 in one of the city’s newest cultural landmarks.
The outdoor runway will commence with a Welcome to Country curated by Creative Director, Nina Fitzgerald, and will showcase new collections from designers including Acler, Gorman, Ngali, Kuwaii and more.
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That evening, the Fashion x Art Runway, taking place at the breathtaking State Library, will showcase some of Fashion Journal‘s favourite emerging designers, like Alix Higgins and Moss Tunstall, as well as established designers Arnsdorf, Verner, Strateas Carlucci and others.
For those who have embraced the return of Y2K maximalism and ’90s styling, look no further than the Dockside Runway on October 11. Head to Shed 21 in Docklands for the contemporary fashion runway, and enjoy innovative and forward-thinking looks from Erik Yvon, HoMie, Szn, Suku Home, Toilé Studios and The Social Studio, among others.
If you’re the type who would prefer some wining and dining while enjoying your fashion, stop in at the Queen Victoria Market Dairy Hall Runway on October 12. Sit back with a grazing plate as you take in crisp, modern styles from the likes of Elk, Veronika Maine and more. Or, if you prefer over-the-top silhouettes and bold designs, visit the Student Collections Runway at Meat Market, with collections from the next big names in fashion.
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Make sure you add the Emporium Melbourne Hidden Runway to your must-see list – located in a hidden space in Emporium Melbourne, this Runway will champion high-end Australian design, with iconic labels like Bassike, Bec and Bridge, Manning Cartell, Oroton and Viktoria and Woods.
Featuring some incredible emerging and established First Nations designers including Adjadura, Gammin Threads, Nungala Creative, Paul McCann and more, the Ganbu Marra Runway (First Nations Runway) will be another M/FW highlight.
In conversation
Presented in collaboration with Creative Victoria, the M/FW Conversations series on October 13 will offer thought-provoking and forward-thinking discussions. Led by the Australian Fashion Council, Driving Demand – The Australian Fashion Campaign will unpack the world-first campaign and trademark and how it was tasked with promoting Australian fashion to both local and international customers.
Following that will be the Roadmap to a Circular Fashion Economy discussion. This panel will explore the National Clothing Product Stewardship Scheme, an initiative tasked with halving the nation’s textile waste by 2030.
To round off the day, watch the premier of the Make It Melbourne three-part documentary series, followed by an interesting discussion between brands and manufacturers on the hidden costs of offshore manufacturing and the innovative makers located right in Melbourne.
Fashion capsules
Presented by Creative Victoria, Fashion Capsules is a series of seven exhibition displays across the city “designed to spark intrigue” and showcase some of the country’s creative talents. Running from September 12 to October 16, the Capsule series encourages viewers to grab a coffee and wander through the city streets and alleyways as they take in the exhibitions.
Fashion Capsule One in Southbank will showcase the traditional knowledge and skill of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander master weavers, whose craftsmanship and storytelling have been passed down across generations.
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Fashion Capsule Five at Emporium Melbourne is another stand-out that will feature a series of installations and exhibitions. It’s set to be a multi-sensory experience designed to showcase brands that “are at the intersection of fashion and augmented reality”.
Though there are many capsules, I have to say, I’m particularly intrigued by Capsule Seven at Collins Square. The Reset Room promises to treat viewers to a “funny, opinionated, design-driven and relatable capsule” experience, inspiring people to creatively connect with themselves, save money and reset their approach to work-week fashion.
Pop-up runways, independent events and more
But wait, there’s more! M/FW is hosting almost too many excellent events to name, including pop-up runways, the much-loved Vogue American Express Fashion’s Night Out, a series of masterclasses, a Trading Blak pop-up store, the Bella Unsigned Model Search, and many more.
Have a browse of the full program, clear your calendars and make sure to secure your tickets. We can’t wait to be immersed in the vibrancy of Melbourne’s creative scene while wearing some of our favourite local designers. We’ll see you there!
To view Melbourne Fashion Festival’s full program, head here.
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