Melbourne Fashion Week has just launched and we’re definitely ready for style to take over our streets, Insta feeds, minds and bodies—too far? The program this year has over 150 events, and you can check out the complete rundown here. Keep reading for our picks of M/FW 2019.
Celebrating their 25th year, Melbourne Fashion Week is focusing heavily on sustainability, and this theme runs through the entire week. Highlighting sustainable designers and practices, M/FW 2019 is also the first certified carbon neutral fashion event in Australia and have a zero plastic straw policy.
All Festival
Forecourt
Located at the foot of the Melbourne Town Hall, Forecourt should be your first stop. This hub will play host to a series of bespoke activation and hospitality spaces, so you can meet your friends and have a couple before you hit up your runway show. From runways to industry talks the M/FW Information and Ticketing booth is open daily and can help curate an M/FW experience tailored to you. They also have a charging station, so you’ll never miss a photo opp!
For more info, click here.
Wednesday 28 August
Highrise Runway 1
I’m afraid of heights, but I’ll suck it up to see this runway. For the first time, ever, floor 85 of the Eureka Tower will host an incredible runway show, with a line up of excellent designers; The Upside, Kloke and Gorman to name a few. Bringing together sportswear and luxury, Runway 1 looks to highlight some of Melbourne’s established, and emerging, designers.
For more info, click here.
Thursday 29 August
Street Runway 1 – Caledonian Lane
Presented by Emporium Melbourne, Street Runway 1 features designers such as Scanlan Theodore, Manning Cartel and Alice McCall. You can expect a range of new-season looks, with brands showcasing their spring/summer pieces. Cruise from the runway, into Vogue American Express Fashion’s Night Out and shop the runway looks.
For more info, click here.
Vogue American Express Fashion’s Night Out
Make sure you mark this one down in your calendar. M/FW is bringing you Vogue American Express Fashion’s Night Out, with store offers, experiences and activations you won’t want to miss.
For more info, click here.
Sustainable Design Thinking
I’ve said many times; fast fashion is doing a real number on the environment guys. With a strong focus on sustainability, Melbourne Fashion Week is hosting a talk with the zero-waste designer and winner of the International Redress Sustainable Design Award 2018, Tess Whitfort.
Tess is pretty impressive, and during her session, you’ll get some insights into her product development, the techniques she uses to create her collections and demonstrate how to make a zero-waste t-shirt.
For more info, click here.
Saturday 31 August
Street Runway 2 & 3 – Chinatown
This free event will take over Melbourne’s Chinatown, transforming the streets of the precinct into an open-air runway. Showcasing designers from across Asia, after the show you will be able to shop the runway pieces at the official M/FW Marketplace in Melbourne Town Hall. Street Runway 2 & 3 are free events—so why not stick around and catch both?
For more info, click here.
Sunday 1 September
Town Hall Runway 2 – Student Collections
Keep your finger on the pulse and check out some of Melbourne’s best upcoming designers. The Student Collection runway features work from some of Melbourne’s top design schools – RMIT University, Holmesglen Institute, Box Hill Institute, Whitehouse Institute of Design, The Masters Institute for Creative Education and Kangan Institute.
This year will also feature pieces by students from Ueda College of Fashion from Melbourne’s sister city, Osaka.
For more info, click here.
Wednesday 4 September
Poolside Runway
M/FW is pulling out some stellar locations, and for the first time will host a Poolside Runway at the historic Melbourne City Baths. Featuring the likes of Converse, North Face and Up There, the Poolside Runway will focus on athleisure looks, blending function and fashion.
For more info, click here.
Town Hall Runway 5
One of M/FW’s most anticipated runways and my personal call out as a must-see, Town Hall Runway 5 will showcase some of the city’s most innovative multi-brand international retailers; we’re talking Sandro Paris, Shifting Worlds, Maje and MASONS. If you’re looking to get on top of the seasons key trends, you don’t want to miss this one.
For more info, click here.
Thursday 5 September
Closing Town Hall Runway
Closing Town Hall Runway always produces the goods – leave the best to last, don’t they say? Anyway, judge for yourself, but this line up looks pretty sick; Arnsdorf, bassike, Bianca Spender, CAMILLA AND MARC, Manning Cartell, Scanlan Theodore, White Story and Viktoria & Woods. This group of high-end Aussie designers are all top-notch, so if you want to finish the week on a high, buy your ticket ASAP.
For more info, click here.
Melbourne Fashion Week will run throughout Melbourne from August 28 to September 5.
Keep up to date with all the latest fashion news around Melbourne on our Style & Design section.
Image credit: Melbourne Fashion Week