More than 600 looks will be showcased during Melbourne Fashion Week in October this year, featuring local designers such as Bianca Spender with a few international appearances.
For the first time in 31-year history, Melbourne Fashion Week will open at the National Gallery of Victoria, taking over Gandel Hall with the ganbu marra runway, and will return to the upgraded City Square, with two free and ticketed daytime runways featuring Melbourne-based designers and retailers.
Other 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 and Sean Rentero.
Beyond the runway, a world-exclusive collection of couture bridal collections presented by 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 September 28 to October 25 across five locations, spotlighting more than 30 local designers and creatives. Other capsule exhibits will spotlight First Nations, sustainable and student fashion.
More than 30 independent events will also form part of the M/FW program, including a dining fashion experience at Pastuso and a sustainability conversation and clothing swap with the United Nations Association of Australia, as well as a runway showcase presented by Amnesty International, and the return of the Emerging Artists Collective.
“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,” City of Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece said. “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.”
Tourism and Events portfolio head councillor Mark Scott added that MFW is both a cultural event and 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,” Scott said.