The Circular Fashion Festival has expanded to a three-month program across Perth and will stage a ticketed runway inside WA Museum Boola Bardip on 23 October, the first fashion show held at the venue.
'Circular After Dark' runs from 7pm to 10pm and is priced from $50, pairing couture from the first cohort of the Business of Circular Fashion Incubator with a luxury pre-loved designer market.
The incubator has taken 10 solopreneurs from around Australia through branding, social media and digital strategy. Their work is also showing at 'Circular in the Square' at Bank West Hall until 30 September and is profiled in the festival magazine, sold online and at selected sites.
A second ticketed event, 'Remade Runway', runs at PS Art Space in Fremantle from $25. The balance of the September to November program is free and spans Yagan Square, North Metro TAFE, the Great Global Mend repair offer, the RE: Fashion installation and the Perth Pre-loved and Down to Earth markets.
The festival is backed by Development WA and the City of Perth. Its debut year diverted more than 1000kg of textiles from landfill and repaired 298 items through The Great Global Mend with FabPatch.
WA Museum director of engagement Jason Fair welcomed the upgraded programme.
“Fashion tells an important part of Western Australia’s story. It reflects who we are, how our communities have changed over time, and the many ways people express their identity, creativity and values.
“At the WA Museum, we are committed to sharing the many stories that shape Western Australia, and fashion is one of them. We’re delighted to partner with The Circular Fashion Festival to explore fashion, identity and sustainability through experiences such as the CIRCULAR AFTER DARK runway and Luxury Designer Pre-Loved Markets."
The festival was founded by four Perth entrepreneurs behind the 2024 Stop Shein Pop-up petition, which drew more than 7,000 signatures and led to the launch of not-for-profit The Circular Fashion Council.