Melbourne Fashion Week (M/FW) will return this October for its 30th year, and has secured internationally renowned talent to mark the milestone.
Melbourne-born global musician G Flip will be the 2024 ambassador for the fashion event, and will perform as part of the Closing Showcase at Melbourne Town Hall.
M/FW will run from October 21 to 27 and will feature 300 designers and 300 retailers, across more than 100 events and session.
The event’s usual seven premium runaways, taking place in city locations such as Queen Victoria Market and Little Bourke Street. Featured designers include Aje, Alpha60, Bec + Bridge, Clothing the Gaps, Erik Yvon, Grace Lillian Lee, Injury, J’Aton, MAARA Collective, Mariam Seddiq, Nevenka, Ngali, Oroton, Rebecca Vallance, Reigner and others.
Other key activations include three pop-up runways, and five Fashion Capsule exhibits that will showcase the works of more than 70 local designers, creatives, artisans and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Fashion Capsules program, seen by more than 10 million people.
A revised M/FW Conversations program will take place at Queen & Collins.
From 23 to 26 October, Spring Place will host a new ‘RE:Fashion’ hub – presented by Spring Place and supported by Collarts. The hub will offer talks, workshops and a public pre-loved clothing swap and market.
Among the 100 or so events include more than 30 independent activations, including a showcase of works by international fashion illustrator Megan Hess and a ‘dopamine dressers’ themed Melbourne Conversations event.
M/FW will also bring back its Student Collections Runway and Awards, highlighting the next generation of local fashion designers.
“For three decades, Melbourne has championed its brilliant local designers and creatives who have helped cement our city as Australia’s fashion capital,” Lord Mayor Nick Reece said.
“We’re expecting more than 100,000 people to join us at this year’s milestone Melbourne Fashion Week – driving the local economy through its runway-to-retail focus.”
“Since 2021, Melbourne Fashion Week has contributed more than $84 million in economic benefit, while supporting countless jobs along the way.
"This year’s program is a culmination of everything there is to love about Melbourne’s fashion and retail scene – with more than 100 showstopping free and ticked events and sessions – and everyone’s invited."
City Activation portfolio lead councillor Roshena Campbell said last year’s event contributed $23 million to the Melbourne economy and supported more than 1,000 jobs.
“As Australia’s longest running consumer fashion event, Melbourne Fashion Week’s runwayto-retail approach drives significant foot traffic into the city delivering strong economic outcomes to our designers and retailers.”
Speaking on their ambassadorship, G Flip said it was an honour to be chosen as the lead face of this year’s event.
“Fashion has played a huge role in my life, especially when it came to exploring and finding my sexuality and gender identity.
“I am so proud to be from Melbourne and I am thrilled to help spotlight the hugely talented designers from my hometown as part of my role with this year’s Melbourne Fashion Week. In addition to attending a few runways, I am stoked to be playing at this year’s closing runway to help celebrate 30 years of Melbourne Fashion Week."