Back of House: Creatives involved in M/FW share how they got their start in fashion
image via Amelia Hermawan
words by Ariana Rigazzi
“Both logistics and styling are one big puzzle, but the end result is always worth it.”
Melbourne Fashion Week (M/FW) is set to take over the city, and we’re only days away from experiencing the glamour of it all. But behind the scenes, hundreds of local creatives have been working tirelessly for months to bring this massive event to life.
Orchestrating a week packed with over 100 events and 300 designers is no easy feat. It takes a village, from producers to stylists, makeup artists to models. Each role comes with its own challenges, intensified by the adrenaline of a deadline.
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Of course, it all looks glamorous from the outside, but those involved have fought and found their way into the industry through many different paths. After all, making it in the fashion industry has never been a one-size-fits-all journey. It takes determination, passion, creativity, grit, a proactive approach and a bit of luck to be in the right place at the right time.
I’m currently at the cusp of my own fashion career (right now interning at Fashion Journal), so as we step into one of the biggest events of Australia’s fashion calendar, I’ve been curious. How exactly have some of this season’s top creatives broken into the industry and worked their way up?
I asked five of those involved in this year’s program to share the beginnings of their careers, along with what it takes to be one of the brains behind this year’s M/FW.
Amelia Hermawan, Producer
Hi Amelia! How did you first get involved in M/FW?
Like many others who work on M/FW, I actually started as a volunteer dresser back in 2012. During a dress rehearsal, there was a zipper malfunction and the designer didn’t want to cut the look from the show. I offered to sew the dress shut onto the model during a quick change, and that little moment helped me get noticed by the production team. Since then, I’ve worked in a range of different roles over the years and gradually worked my way up.
Tell us about your role and what a day in your life looks like during M/FW.
My days are filled with calls, spreadsheets, schedules and lots of coffee! With such a big team, there’s a huge amount of organisation and logistics involved to keep everything on track. The nature of live events means that even with meticulous planning, things can (and do) go wrong, so a big part of my day is troubleshooting as we go.
What are the key skills (soft and hard) you need to be a great producer?
This job can be incredibly stressful, so the most important skills are adaptability, quick thinking and a good sense of humour. The days are long and things rarely go perfectly to plan, so keeping the mood light and fun is essential, otherwise, what’s the point?
Mike Nguyen, Model
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Hi Mike! How did you get your start in modelling?
It was truly all by chance. I never thought someone like me could be a model. But back in 2018 when I was visiting New York, I was scouted on the street while I was waiting for an Uber. I thought I was being pranked, but it was real. That particular agency only represented US models but that interaction alone gave me the confidence to say yes to any opportunities I was presented with in the future.
Fast forward to 2021, I was cast for my very first M/FW runway by stylist, Joseph Romano – I think he’d seen my work online. I must’ve made a good impression because the following year, I was cast for three shows for Melbourne Fashion Festival (MFF). You have to be a signed model to walk MFF and luckily, the person handling the casting was an agent at Chadwick Models.
They asked me to come in for a meeting (which at that point I thought to myself, ‘There’s no way they’re gonna sign me’) and somehow, I got signed to one of the most well-known and established agencies in Australia!
What would surprise people about your role as a model?
I think that your everyday person wouldn’t assume that I was a model, because of how unconventional my features are. But I like that I have the ability to switch this character on when I walk down any runway, I think that definitely surprises people.
Even after modelling for a few years now, it all still feels a bit surreal and I constantly have to pinch myself. But more than anything, I’m truly grateful that I get to represent my Vietnamese community and anyone who sees themselves in me.
Kylie O’Toole, Hair and Makeup Director
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Hi Kylie! How did you get your start in makeup?
I ended up working in the film industry for 17 years and then transitioned into fashion. I’ve been directing all the shows for M/FW for five years now. It’s all-consuming and I love it.
What does a day in your life look like during Fashion Week?
A day in my life during M/FW is hectic. After getting in early and preparing the product, my team arrive for a briefing. They have to take in a lot of information in a short time, so I need to be available to answer questions and problem-solve.
I then follow the models to the runway location and watch the rehearsals, where I can see how they look under the lights. My team arrives for touch-ups, and I direct them accordingly. After I watch the show, I head back to do some work on the show for the next day, and then the next morning it starts all over again.
What advice would you give to someone wanting to break into the fashion industry?
My advice is to work for free to get to know people. Watch, listen and look after whoever you’re assisting; they will have more on their mind than you think. The other thing is being a team player. Talent and grit will get you so far, but working well with others and being kind and helpful will be the quality that really makes you hugely employable and in demand.
Tyler Lindsay, Back of House Manager
Hi Tyler! How did you first get involved in M/FW?
I interned as a production assistant with Moth Design for my first M/FW in 2022, which was a work experience unit for my Fashion Business course. I was living in Perth at the time and flew over for two weeks to do prep week and then show week. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing or what was going on, but I loved it.
Tell us about your role and what a day in your life looks like during M/FW?
My role for M/FW is the Back of House (BOH) Manager for all runways, so I manage the models, volunteers, hair and makeup teams and photographers that are backstage during the shows.
My day usually starts when I arrive at the venue to set up BOH, which could be anywhere from a small hotel gym to a tent in Queen Victoria Markets. I make sure all teams are organised and that all elements of the show go as planned.
What would surprise people about your role?
People would be surprised to know that in four years working at M/FW, I have only ever watched one show. My role is entirely behind the scenes, so sadly, I never actually get to see what we have produced, but I do think it’s more fun being a part of it.
Joseph Romano, Stylist
Hi Joseph! How did you get your start in styling?
I studied Fashion Merchandising at RMIT and in 2010, I volunteered for M/FW, which exposed me to the world of styling. I ended up doing the entire week across all the designer runways and continued to volunteer as an assistant stylist, where I styled pop-up runways until 2018.
In 2019, I got the chance to style my first designer runway for the ‘High Rise’ series and I’ve styled designer runways ever since.
What would surprise people about your role?
The amount of preparation that goes into a 40-minute show. Emails upon emails for months, and shoes, so many needed for a show! Both logistics and styling are one big puzzle, but the end result is always worth it.
What advice would you give to someone wanting to break into the fashion industry?
My advice is to stick to your guns, put your hand up for anything, even if it’s not something you initially think you’ll enjoy, because you might surprise yourself. And be nice, people remember those who are nice and easy to work with. Being kind costs nothing.
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