So how do I begin? Putting a whole week of fashion, people, atmosphere and infinite amounts of inspiration into one article has been quite a daunting task for me.
Mainly because I haven’t be able to decide, 1. How I want to present my work at MFW and 2. Do I separate this article into multiple instalments or just one big juicy story to sink your teeth into?
Well, I eventually chose to take smaller bites.
Today and throughout the next few weeks, I’m going to dive into my time working for Melbourne Fashion Week this year and the images, people and fashion captured during that time.
Now to get the formalities out of the way, I was contacted by the lovely people at Long Story Short a few months before MFW in helping them cover aspects of the runways and event.
Ill be forever grateful for the opportunity as it gave me access to the world that lives behind the catwalk and the efforts from everyone involved to make it the spectacle it is.
It’s easy to look at a beautiful runway and see its awe-inspiring design and appearance but it’s another thing to see how one such runway is pulled off.
It involves many many hours of effort and not much in the terms of sleep. But at the end of the day, 99% of the people that make these events happen wouldn’t want it any other way. There really is nothing like Fashion Week
Melbourne Shows The World
We are very lucky to have a few fashion events happen in Melbourne. For our relatively small size (population wise) we have quite a strong fashion scene in Melbourne and MFW is the spokesperson for that.
The event that’s on its 31st year brings together a broad array of designers and runways scattered across Melbourne’s city.
7 days of fashion events, talks and seminars all centred around the design, industry and personal style. While I only covered the main runways and one independent runway, over the week. There were still plenty of other activities happening giving more than enough to keep a fashion lover busy.
It’s also a great opportunity for local artists, designers and stylists to showcase there skills and creativity to a wider audience. One showcase here, could lead to bigger things in the future.
Opening Night: ganbu marra runway
Melbourne fashion week celebrated the opening of the event with a showcase highlighting insidious fashion and designers working in Australia, pushing the boundaries of local design and textiles as well as giving a platform for artists who may reside in more remote parts of our country.
How was the night you ask? It was a real vibe, everything from the venue where the runway was held at (Hotel Melbourne) to the food, drinks and attendees. Everything was feeling electric and exciting and there were plenty of well dressed patrons of fashion flaunting there style
Street Style
Some shots of the lovely attendee’s
Venue
The venue was the newly built Seafarers Melbourne apartment building that serves as a restaurant, hotel and event hub next to the old Mission to Seafarers Building along docklands highway.
The runway was huge and plenty of really good lighting. I will say apart from the closing runway which was on the Sunday. It had one of the best lighting setups I’ve seen. Very similar to Gary Bigeni’s runway in Sydney. Rows of guests with lighting pointed towards runway centre.
Designers and Showcase
This really was a fitting start to the week, the designs and theme of the runway was just amazing, we had natural fibres, beautiful colour print fabrics and country inspired designs that would give wrangler a run for there money.
Kaninda
The first onto the grey carpet was designer Kaninda. A clothing and swimwear label out of the Pilbara region in Western Australia.
Airy light fabrics and casual wear for the heat of the northwest of Australia. But not just up here but anywhere you want really.
Kaninda (mum and daughter team) showed a great array of colourful summer wear that will keep you cool and looking cool at the same time
Yanggurdi
Second is an ethical fashion label by artist Cassie Leatham. A multidisciplinary artist working with natural fibres to represent her culture and storytelling through fashion
Jaru Girl
Western Australian designer gives a look into her latest collection from the Milky Water collaboration. Western vibes are very prominent with the styling and also the looks of the garments. One of my favourites from the night
KingKing Creative
Sisters Tarisse and Sarrita King, contemporary aboriginal artists showcase there latest summer designs
Gammin Threads
The creation and passion of Tahnee Edwards. Gammin Threads gives the good vibes and the bright colours to go along with it.
Goompi’s Girl
Cairns artist and fashion designer Nicole Chatfield aka Goompi’s Girl. Shows us her Kanyarra
Collection of beautiful mixed media denim dresses and skirts, all pieces being upcycled. These were styled beautifully and gave us amazing tones of blue for the runway
Yarrenyty Arltere Artists
Art group from the centre of Alice Springs. Originally formed as an art project for the community in 2000 now holds many locally based artists in its gallery including a textile division. Two local artists, Louise and Rhonda are the designers which was shown on the night.
Banbu
This is the second time I’ve had the pleasure to photograph Brooke McGlone designs, the founder of Banbu. It was back at MFF25 that we saw the Back In Blak runway
Laundry Gallery
Located in Darwin as an art hub for local indigenous artists, Laundry Gallery is a multi purpose exhibition space for artists of all mediums to display there work. All works garments on the night were printed in house at the Gallery by Bridget Bunduck, Titled “Ku Tek” (Black Cockatoo)
Yapa Mali
This is also another great designer that I got to photograph back earlier in the year at MFF.
Yapa Mali is a label founded in 2022 by Maddy Hope-Hodgetts.
Most of this “Bunggan” collection is printed on Flax Fibre Linen, which is not only long wearing but also plant based and bio degradable for more of a sustainable approach to everyday wear.
Tjarlirli & Kaltukatjara art
Tjarlirli and Kaltukatjara gives support to their artists through the community run and operated centres in both SA and Western Australia for multiple projects and genres.
The Pirriya Collection shown here came down from its home in Darwin to be displayed on the runway. It’s a collection of painted silk shawls and dresses done by artist Faith Butler. (From the best of my research, that’s who I think did these wonderful pieces)
Faith is not just a silk painter but also a master basket weaver and wood carver “purnu”
Closing
Runway Stylist
Models
Aavaisha Cockatoo-Collins
Amber Kerr
Angelique Salley
Ben Davis
Bernad Ngendakumana
Cassie Puruntatameri
Cuba Moore
Elaine George
Emmanuel
Idriss Kwiata
Jaylen Brown
Ji Wang
Karita Ombiga
Karsha Pereiraa
Lui Burns
Marvin
Meiba
Mike Nguyen
Nepal
Owen Hennequin
Rowena Xikang
Savannah Kruger
Tabard
Zanthe Evans
Zelia Rose Kitoko
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