Thu 3 June •
Highlights from AAFW Day 4
A gray, rainy day didn’t dampen the mood at Carriageworks, where new labels, It-girls and all-out creativity dominated day four of Afterpay Australia Fashion Week.
Rumer
The influencer set was out in full force at Rumer, with Emily Venz, Isabelle Mathers, Vanessa Valladares and Shannon Lawson sitting front row to witness the brand’s official launch at Afterpay Australia Fashion Week. With a subtle nod to the ‘70s and a palette of fresh, earthy tones, this label—and its minimalist cut-out dresses and wrap-around, bell-sleeve tops—are surely destined to take over your Instagram feed.
The Innovators: FDS TAFE NSW
Inclusivity, slow fashion, disrupting gender norms, ageless beauty: up-and-comers from TAFE’s fashion design studio weren’t shy about their goals, projecting bold text across the massive screen at the end of the runway to close the show. The new generation of designers, including Thomas Anderson, Alexandra Dowsing and Thomas Zilioli, presented everything from appliquéd blazers to feather-trimmed, floor-skimming capes—a fittingly eclectic mix from a group out to celebrate diversity.
Indigenous Fashion Projects
After the high of yesterday’s First Nations Fashion + Design runway, Thursday’s group show included six established Indigenous designers like Indii Swimwear, Ngali Australia and Kirrikin, each of which featured artworks by contemporary Indigenous Australian artists. Think: high-waisted bikinis, wrap dresses and silky pleated skirts perfect for your warm weather wardrobe.
Auteur
Although Auteur was founded by Aussie-born, New York-based model Lucinda Taffs in 2019, today represented the brand’s first-ever show. “Auteur was born out of a love for vintage, creativity and for strong women who love to express themselves through clothes,” says Taffs. Held off-site at lush restaurant Mimi’s in Coogee Pavilion, and closed by Bambi Northwood-Blyth, Auteur’s show was filled with holiday-ready, one-shouldered slips, and silky, sarong-esque skirts. Even the lack of sunshine couldn’t stop us dreaming of cocktails by the pool.
Iordanes Spyridon Gogos
The atmosphere at Iordanes Spyridon Gogos’ show was abuzz even before the first model stepped out, thanks to the wild and whimsical papier-mâché horses that filled the runway. From there, the only energy only grew, and culminated in a finale, soundtracked by ‘90s club hit ‘Everybody’s Free (To Feel Good)’. A collective of 25 up-and-coming designers, Iordanes Spryridon Gogos was founded by Jordan Gogos and represented by a Trojan horse logo. “It symbolises the brand's approach to breaking into the industry and ushering new ideas,” said Gogos. Filled with asymmetric, patchwork-printed dresses and quilted jackets with neon accents, the collection lived up to the label’s Instagram bio: “Wearables for the imaginative!”
Manning Cartell
“We approached our Afterpay Australia Fashion Week collection by asking loads of questions: how can we reduce our impact on the planet, how can we innovate?” says Gabrielle Manning, who founded Manning Cartell with sisters Vanessa and Cheryl. For Resort ‘22, newness took the form of luxe, ‘70s-inspired pieces for every occasion—draped keyhole dresses in charcoal and hot pink, striped skirt suits and more than a few highlighly covetable takes on the trench coat.
“We’ve built inclusivity and individuality into our brand by understanding that really there is no one Manning Cartell woman,” says Gabrielle Manning, who founded Manning Cartell with sisters Vanessa and Cheryl. “The show was built around inclusive casting, and it’s quite a privilege—we feel really honoured to be able to do that.” As well as a diverse group of models, the runway welcomed a special guest: Delta Goodrem, who closed the show with a performance of ‘The Power’ from her latest album. Bravo!
