Melbourne Fashion Week brings over 100 events to the city, and it all starts next week
words by fashion journal
From emerging designer runways to a designer clothes swap, here’s what to book before M/FW takes over the city.
Melbourne Fashion Week is almost here, and we’re ready to get dressed up. Kicking off on Monday, October 19, M/FW will bring a week of runways, exhibitions, talks and independent events to some of the city’s most iconic spaces.
With more than 100 events on the program, there’s plenty to see. The only catch? Some of the biggest runways have already sold out, so if you’ve been meaning to book tickets, now’s the time to get organised.
For more fashion news, shoots, articles and features, head to our Fashion section.
Running until Sunday, October 25, this year’s program celebrates the emerging and established designers, creatives and communities shaping Melbourne’s fashion scene. Here are the shows and events worth adding to your calendar – including a few you can still get tickets to.
The major runways to book before they sell out
Cult Status runway
Wednesday, October 21
Inspired by the underground, the Cult Status runway will spotlight emerging and independent designers including FJ favourites, Club Venus, Perple, Gotham, Wilson Jedd Adams and Toile Studios. Held at State Library Victoria, this is one to get in early for, as tickets are selling fast.
The Edit runway
Thursday, October 22
Taking place at Younghusband precinct in Kensington, The Edit brings together a mix of contemporary Australian designers, including Bianca Spender, Third Form and Asiyam. There’s also a special Vivienne Westwood curation presented in collaboration with Raffaele Ciuca, to live out your dream bridal fantasy.
City Square runways
Saturday, October 24
After a long-awaited return to the M/FW program, City Square is back with two daytime runways celebrating local designers and retailers. The Street Style runway will feature labels including búl, Clothing The Gaps, Elk the Label and Gammin Threads, while After Dark brings together designers including Godwin Charli, Ngali and Tojha. There’s also a free third City Square Runway presented by the Australian Open, which will put the spotlight on courtside street style.
View this post on Instagram
The independent events worth knowing about
Beyond the main runways, there are more than 30 independent events to keep you busy throughout the week, including five fashion capsules to explore. Running from October 19 to 21, See Me, See Us: Black Joy in Fashion celebrates the creativity of Australia’s Black Diaspora through three evenings of community-focused conversations, while highlighting Black talent across hairstyling, photography, modelling and more.
On October 20, Emerging Artists Collective presents its Double Take runway at the Immigration Museum. Across three shows in one evening, it platforms emerging local designers including Misato Yukimoto, Cakey Sportsman and Hannah Nott. Tickets are already sold out, but it’s worth keeping an eye on EAC for future events if you miss out this time.
Also on Tuesday, M/FW Conversations returns to State Library Victoria with a series of talks presented by Collarts. Invest in Your Fashion Business looks at how designers can build resilient, future-focused businesses, while Visible and Valued explores representation, visibility and opportunity in fashion, including why women over 50 remain an overlooked audience.
On Wednesday night, Amnesty International Australia’s youth collective ACRUX presents Stitched Up, a runway and workshop program featuring emerging designers responding to garment worker exploitation in South Asia and exploring fashion’s role in human rights.
For the craft-inclined, Fencesitter invites creatives to a hands-on beading workshop in Carlton on Thursday. Participants can make custom bag charms using beads crafted from reclaimed plastic bottle tops by Dizcarte, while learning about the recycling process and basic beading techniques.
Rounding out the week, bridal institution Raffaele Ciuca takes over The Long Room at the Immigration Museum on Friday, with a curated runway of the world’s most revered bridal designers.
Make a Saturday of it
If you’re heading into the city on Saturday, October 24, there are a couple of events worth adding to the itinerary. Presented by Tomorrow Publications, The Out of Fashion Book Fair brings together photography books (including the latest release from Sydney stylist Rose Pure), magazines (including Fashion Journal!) and independent print at ACMI’s Cameo Room in Fed Square, with free entry.
Also happening on Saturday, Kowtow’s curated swap of pre-loved Australian and New Zealand designer clothing at Younghusband in Kensington. Take your pre-loved pieces into Kowtow’s Fitzroy store, bring along your tokens, browse the racks and see what you can find. The swap runs from 10am to 1pm, with more information available here.
For the full program and ticket information, head to the Melbourne Fashion Week website.
Liked this? You’ll love these...
