Australian Fashion Week

Overview

Australian Fashion Week, the southern hemisphere's biggest fashion event, has been part of the international fashion calendar for nearly three decades.

The 2024 iteration, which runs from May 13-17, promises to be one of the biggest yet. Its five-day program features emerging designers alongside established names and culminates in the final night runway show.

It's not just catwalks. There are panels discussing burning fashion topics like gender diversity, club culture, and sustainability. While it may not have the reputation of London or Paris, the Carriageworks event still pulls in 33,000 attendees annually and has been the launchpad for big names in the industry, like Anna Quan and Bec + Bridge.

Perhaps most interesting, however, is AFW's selection of Changemakers: an exclusive group of industry luminaries pushing fashion forward and getting the privilege of impacting the week's programming. This year's chosen few include Rumbie Mutsiwa, a Chippendale-based hairdresser specialising in curly and afro hair, and James Bartle, whose Outland Denim brand provides jobs for women affected by human trafficking.

Plenty of the events during the week are open to the public, but you'll need to purchase tickets in advance, so get in quick.