Australia’s longest-running and largest consumer fashion event, Melbourne Fashion Week (M/FW), returns from 19 to 25 October, taking over the city with runways, exhibitions, and immersive events that spotlight the designers, retailers, and street style that shape Melbourne’s fashion.
This year’s theme, Wear the Moment, celebrates self-expression and the inclusive spirit of M/FW, inviting everyone to be part of the moment, on and beyond the runway.
In true M/FW style, 7 premium runways featuring more than 600 looks will take place across some of Melbourne’s most iconic locations, showcasing local emerging, independent and established designers.
For the first time, the week will open at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), taking over Gandel Hall with the ganbu marra runway.
Fashion will also make its long-awaited return to the newly revamped City Square, with two free and ticketed daytime runways featuring 100 per cent City of Melbourne-based designers and retailers. Returning locations include State Library Victoria, 1 Hotel Melbourne and Kensington’s Younghusband.
With more than 90 per cent of participating designers, models, students and retailers from Melbourne, the program will feature more than 300 designers and retailers across over 100 free and ticketed events and sessions, supporting approximately 1,000 jobs.
Featured designers include Bianca Spender, búl, CLEA, Clothing The Gaps, ELK the Label, Gammin Threads, Grace Lillian Lee, Lucinda Babi, NGALI, Perple, Sean Rentero and more.
Beyond the runway, a world-exclusive collection of couture bridal collections presented by famed local bridal business Raffaele Ciuca will feature internationally renowned designers Vivienne Westwood, Vera Wang, Steven Khalil and Nicole & Felicia as part of this year’s Fashion Capsules program.
The Fashion Capsules program will run from 28 September to 25 October across five locations, spotlighting more than 30 local designers and creatives. Other capsule exhibits will celebrate First Nations, sustainable and student fashion.
More than 30 independent events will also form part of the M/FW program, ranging from a dining fashion experience at Pastuso to a sustainability conversation and clothing swap with the United Nations Association of Australia, a runway showcase presented by Amnesty International, plus the return of the hugely popular Emerging Artists Collective.
M/FW Conversations presented by Collarts will return with industry experts leading discussions on growing a fashion business and the representation of women over 50 in fashion, moderated by renowned journalist and author, Virginia Trioli.
M/FW ticket holders can access exclusive partner and designer offers and hospitality specials at some of the city’s restaurants, cafes and bars.
Tickets will be available for purchase from Wednesday 16 September. To view the full program and purchase tickets, visit Melbourne Fashion Week.
Melbourne Fashion Week thanks its Event Partners: 1800 Tequila, 1 Hotel Melbourne, Collarts, Collins Square, Emporium Melbourne, Melbourne Quarter, The Big Group and V-ZUG; Venue Partners: State Library Victoria and Younghusband; Media Partner: Fashion Journal; Supporting Partner: ELEVEN Hair; and Program Partners: National Gallery of Victoria, Hart & Co, Aboriginal Melbourne, RMIT University, LCI Melbourne, Whitehouse Institute of Design Australia, Box Hill Institute, Moth Design, Austage Events, Resolution X and En Pointe Events.
Quotes attributed to Lord Mayor Nick Reece
“Melbourne is Australia’s fashion and culture capital, with self-expression at the heart of it – and we’re calling on everyone to embrace and wear the moment.”
“Melbourne doesn’t just follow the fashion trends, we create them. For a week Melbourne becomes a runway. This is Melbourne at its most creative, confident and completely itself.”
“More than 100,000 fashion fiends are expected to soak up the style – with everything from headline runways and exhibitions to fashion capsules on offer.”
“Across more than 100 events, the city will become the runway this October, showcasing the people and places that make Melbourne a global fashion destination.”
Quotes attributable to Tourism and Events portfolio head Councillor Mark Scott
“Melbourne Fashion Week is not only a major cultural event, but an important driver of economic activity.”
“The event delivers more than $32 million in economic uplift and supports 1,000 jobs – creating opportunities to discover emerging designers, shop local and support Melbourne’s thriving fashion and retail industry.”
