Everything To Know About Afterpay Australian Fashion Week 2023

Dust off your fancy pants and start planning your 'fits, because Afterpay Australian Fashion Week is starting on Monday. As one of the biggest events on Australia's fashion calendar, all eyes will be on Sydney as plenty of well-dressed babes descend on our streets.

With the final schedule of runway shows and programming locked and loaded, expect the 2023 event to be looking forward, with all eyes on the emerging generation of Aussie designers.

“The 2023 schedule features the next generation of Australian designers defining the future of Australian fashion alongside some of the industry’s biggest names and celebrates the ingenuity and unmatched creative talent of our country,” said Natalie Xenita, Vice President-Managing Director of IMG Fashion Events and Properties, Asia-Pacific.

“The Australian fashion industry is a global powerhouse and AAFW in Sydney is its keystone. IMG is proud to support Australian designers and creatives no matter what stage of their career journey they are at.”

Read on to learn what to expect for Afterpay Australian Fashion Week 2023.

As usual, Afterpay Australian Fashion Week will be gracing us this autumn, from the 15th to the 19th of May 2023.

You can check out the complete show schedule over on the AAFW official website.

Afterpay Australian Fashion Week will once again be taking place at Carriageworks, in Redfern, Sydney (aka, the home of industrial chic and the unofficial cultural hub of the city).

If you're not based in Sydney and flights are looking a bit too eye-watering, there will also be plenty of live streams and on-demand content so you can get your fix.

Afterpay Australian Fashion Week will feature 46 designer runway shows and presentations from homegrown Aussie talent. Some of the biggies include: Acler, Albus Lumen, ALÉMAIS, Alix Higgins, Aje, Anna Quan, Asiyam, Auteur, BEC + BRIDGE, Bianca Spender, Blanca, BONDI BORN, Caroline Reznik, Christian Kimber, COMMAS, Gail Sorronda, Haulier, Henne, INJURY, Joslin, macgraw, Mariam Seddiq, Nicol & Ford, Phoebe Pendergast, SARAH & SEBASTIAN, Speed, St. Agni, Verner, Wackie Ju, Wynn Hamlyn, Youkhana, and Yousef Akbar, among others.

You can also expect to see First Nations designers championed, with 10 Indigenous designers showcasing their brands on the runway, including Gali Swimwear, Gammin Threads, Ihraa Swim, Joseph & James, Kamara, Lazy Girl Lingerie, Mimi and Jiinda, Aarli, and MAARA Collective. In addition, Ngali will have a solo runway show and become the first First Nations designer to have their own show at AAFW.

Yes, influencers, designers, celebs and media folk will be flocking to the event, but there will also be plenty of ticketed events if you need your fashion fix. You can nab tickets to runway shows, panels and conversations, and even have a gin at special pop-up bars — the perfect location for some street-style scouting.

As usual, there will be a bunch of curated conversations and special events that will be taking place outside the runway. Some of these include: 'Gender Diversity and the Fashion Industry' featuring designer Jackie Wu, 'I Love The Nightlife: Club Culture and Fashion' with Byron Spencer and Jonny Seymour, and a conversation with key players in the industry dubbed 'On Trend: Key Directions in Australian Fashion'.

Between events, you can also settle in at one of the on-site bars to freshen up and take a well-earned load off. Both the Glenfiddich Valley of the Deer Disco & Bar, and the Hendrick’s Gin Parlour are returning for AAFW 2023 and will be serving up bespoke cocktails throughout the week. Both bars are open to ticket holders and the general public.