The girlies are heading to Carriageworks! Yes, it's that time of year again. Australian Fashion Week is just around the corner, taking place between 13 – 17 May 2024.
This year Australian Fashion Week will be presented by Pandora, with Destination NSW stepping on board as a partner, and American Express signing up as the Official Payment Partner of the international trade event.
Here at RUSSH we're bringing you everything you need to know about Australia's biggest week in fashion. Find all the details below.
The full schedule for Australian Fashion Week Resort 2025 has officially been announced, and boy are we in for a great season of shows. Designer runway shows and presentations include Acler, Albus Lumen, Alix Higgins, all is a gentle spring, ANNA QUAN, ASIYAM, Beare Park, Blanca, Carla Zampatti, David Jones Indigenous Fashion Projects Runway, EM on Holiday, FDS: The Innovators, INJURY, Iordanes Spyridon Gogos, Karla Špetić, Liandra, madre natura, MASTANI, Michael Lo Sordo, Nicol & Ford, P.E Nation, Romance Was Born, Rory William Docherty, Speed, Third Form, Verner, Viktoria & Woods and Wackie Ju. Next Gen presented by DHL, Australian Fashion Week’s leading emerging designer showcase, will feature designers Amy Lawrence, Emily Watson, House of Campbell and Potirakis.
“The 2024 schedule features designer runway shows, curated conversations, consumer activations and special events taking place at Carriageworks in Sydney and online at australianfashionweek.com, the digital destination for Australian Fashion Week,” said Natalie Xenita, Vice President-Managing Director of IMG Fashion Events and Properties, Asia-Pacific. “We’re proud to celebrate designers and fashion industry leaders during the most anticipated fashion event in the Asia-Pacific.”
Australian Fashion Week schedule
The Australian Fashion Week schedule for 2024 has now been released, and there is a great mix of established and emerging designers showing throughout the week. Carla Zampatti is making a return as the closing show of the first evening, and David Jones Indigenous Fashion Projects Runway will show ahead of Iordanes Spyridon Goggos on Thursday evening. Much-loved RUSSH brand Albus Lumen will also be the opening show, kick-starting the week.
Find the full schedule on the Australian Fashion Week website.
When is Australian Fashion Week and where is it held?
Sydney's Carriageworks will remain the home of fashion week in Australia, and, as mentioned Australian Fashion Week will occur across five days from May 13 through to May 17. Each year there are designers who choose to stage their collections in select off-site locations, but most runways will take place at Carriageworks.
How is Australian Fashion Week different?
Australian Fashion Week will mirror past events – previously known as Afterpay Australian Fashion Week and Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia, in line with the event's former headline sponsor.
Though, there will be some key changes around inclusion and accessibility. By bringing on major partners, IMG is afforded the opportunity to waive designer fees, which are often a financial barrier for smaller brands getting involved. There will be no fees applied to designers, instead designers will be invited to present. Having Destination NSW and Pandora onboard will also shape the kind of workshops and panels on offer throughout the week.
Meanwhile, DHL will present Australian Fashion Week's Next Gen program, which has a reputation for being a consistent highlight of the week, likened to London Fashion Week's Fashion East showcase. A prize of up to $100,000 will be given to four up-and-coming designers presenting in the program.
Who can attend Australian Fashion Week?
Similarly, Australian Fashion Week was previously only accessible by delegates: fashion professionals, media, organisers, buyers and models and other industry professionals. But now, select parts of the event will be open to the public, and tickets can be found at the Australian Fashion Week website.
History of Australian fashion week
Australian fashion week began in 1996. It was founded by PR professional Simon Lock. Mercedes Benz was the first headline sponsor until it passed over to Rosemount Estate wineries in 2006. But in 2011, the sponsorship was passed back to Mercedes Benz and the event was named Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia. From October 2020, the event was subsequently named Afterpay Australian Fashion week in line with newest headline sponsor, Afterpay.
Australian fashion week was held at the Overseas Passenger Terminal in Circular Quay for many years before moving to Carriageworks in Eveleigh in 2013.
Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia 2020 was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic outbreak. It was set to be the 25th anniversary edition of the historic event.
Some of Australia and the world's biggest designers have showcased at Australian fashion week in the past. Names include Oscar de la Renta, Aje, Christopher Esber and Ellery.
Due to its global placement and event timing, Australian fashion week had drawn some criticism for being out of sync with global fashion. In 2015, the event moved to become a showcase for Resort shows and was moved to May.
