PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival is returning for 2025, here’s what we know so far

What to expect from PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival in 2025.

Our calendars are officially in countdown mode for the official launch of PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival 2025. One of the most anticipated events in Australian fashion, the 15-day festival is a celebration of the country’s best fashion, innovation, creativity and cutting-edge design. As an official media partner of the festival again in 2025, we’re particularly excited for what’s in store.

Marking its 29th year, the 2025 festival is guided by the theme, ‘anything and everyone goes’. Set to feature more designers than ever before, the newly unveiled program is packed with bold new runway concepts, panels, film screenings and interactive workshops.

• The 15-day program will run from February 22 to March 8.
• Celebrating its 29th year, there will be over 90 emerging and established Australian designers across 12 runway shows
• Tickets are on from Thursday, December 5 at 9am AEDT

It will also see the announcement of the highly coveted National Designer Award, which recognises the creativity of designers in their first eight years of business. Ten finalists will be selected to present their work at the National Designer Award x David Jones and the winner will be announced on the night.

Fresh off a headline show at Australian Fashion Week earlier this year, this will mark Madre Natura’s third show with PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival. “I absolutely love working with the team at PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival and it means the world to us as the event is focused on direct-to-consumer, which we believe is invaluable exposure and connection for our customers,” Jackie Galleghan, founder and director of Madre Natura told Fashion Journal.

This year’s lineup will also see collections from long-term contributors like Chris Ran Lin, who has been showing at PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival since 2013, alongside emerging talent such as Lucinda Babi, Gammin Threads and Sabatucci.

“PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival is a unique event to celebrate the distinctive Melbourne fashion culture and energy,” Chris Ran Lin told Fashion Journal. “The whole idea [of the latest collection] is to question myself how and why we wear, and what is meaning to the body in clothes.”

Of the 12 premium runways, a consistent highlight for the FJ team is the National Graduate Showcase x Emporium Melbourne Runway supported by Fashion Journal. Showcasing 13 graduate designers hand-picked from Australia’s leading fashion design institutions, it’s often an exciting glimpse into the future of Australian design.

High on our radar is also the Block Party Runway x Visit Melbourne, featuring a talented line-up of emerging designers including Homie and Wah Wah, as well as the F*** the Invisible Runway, which celebrates fashion at every age.

Another key standout is the New Again Runway, showcasing designers who use recycled and reclaimed materials, including Melbourne-based label Perple, which made its debut last year.

“Perple services customers that do not typically fit the usual mould of fashion trends and this event has been so helpful in shining a light on brands that deserve to be discovered and celebrated,” Perple’s founder, Huiliana Chandra-Curry, told Fashion Journal. “I am so grateful to be involved again this year and showcase my work alongside incredible creators.”

The Independent Programme will also feature a special curation of workshops, exhibitions, performances, independent runways, screenings, talks and more.

The FJ team will be sharing exclusive stories from designers, stylists and creatives in the lead-up to the event, as well as front-row footage, insights and street style during what is sure to be the biggest two weeks of the year.

For the latest updates from PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival, head here.