Newtown is Fashion

Overview

This article is sponsored by our partner The City of Sydney.

Since the 1960s, Newtown has been a haven for mavericks of all stripes — from bohemians and old-school rockers to skate punks and glam goths. In fact, they're all still there. While the melting pot has not fully escaped gentrification's whitewash in the interim, it has fiercely fought to stay in character. Irreverently genuine. Warts and all. Oh, Newtown.

These days, King Street often feels like a sort of historic catwalk for Sydney's malcontent — a 3km kaleidoscope of weathered leather, tacky tartan and electric hair. And the City of Sydney have decided that it's about time you celebrated this non-uniformity. Hence, Newtown is Fashion, a three-week style extravaganza beginning on Thursday, 22 August and part of the city council's Sydney is Fashion festival.

For three Thursdays in a row, the velvet merchants, DIY artisans and vintage treasure troves of Newtown will be launching a fashion blitz with free in-store champagne, next season exhibitions, interactive workshops, one-off clearance sales, jewellery-making masterclasses, and festival-only pop-ups. Each night has a different focus: 22 August is 'Mainstream, Vintage, Retro, Collectibles'; 29 August is 'Designer, Designed, DIY, Artisan'; and 5 September is 'The Wildlife of Newtown – Alternate, Burlesque, Goth, Punk, Tatts'.

Dendy Newtown is even presenting a sartorial series of films every week, including Breakfast at Tiffany's, The September Issue and Bill Cunningham New York.

If fashion's your 'thang', or if you're just a lover of all things Newtown, then head over to the Sydney is Fashion website to find out more. Nonconformists, unite.

Image: Noddy’s on King.