Melbourne Fashion Week (M/FW) running from 31 August to 7 September, celebrating Melbourne’s world-renowned fashion scene, has something for every fashion enthusiast with runways, exhibitions, films, workshops and many other free fashion experiences.
The team at Ethical Fashion Review™ have surveyed the MFW’s hefty event calendar to locate, and provide recommendations for the best ethical and sustainable events from over 150 appointments on the week-long schedule.
We’ve avoided the events driving fast-paced consumerism to bring you the best of slow, recycled, upcycled and inclusive fashion innovation.
Click heading links for Ticket Sales & Location Maps.
For the full fashion week program visit mfw.melbourne.vic.gov.au
Won’t be in Melbourne for Fashion Week? Watch live feeds via Instagram
DISCLAIMER: The brands and events featured in this article meet one or more of our ethical and sustainable criteria, according to our independent research. As the MFW program includes hundreds of events and businesses, exclusion from this article or our website should not be considered an indication of suitability. As always, we recommend that you make decisions based on your values supported by your individual inquiries.
RE-FASHION
WORKSHOP
Discover the art of being a more sustainable consumer. Aimed to inspire and educate about sustainable design concepts, this workshop explores turning ‘old’ into ‘new’, ‘waste’ into ‘want’. This workshop will discuss design sustainability concepts such as zero waste, upcycling, re-cycling and mending.
Box Hill Institute’s experienced sustainability fashion teacher Barbara Niglio will demonstrate a variety of recycling and upcycling techniques. All participants can then get creative to upcycle or recycle an accessory, homeware item or simple garment from leftover items provided. Barbara Niglio’s sustainable design practice focuses on transforming discarded materials into works of art.
Tickets are $30
SAT 1st SEPT | Centre for Adult Education (CAE) Melb | 9.00am-1.00pm
OUR WOMEN
RUNWAY
The Indigenous Runway Project celebrates the creativity of Indigenous women from around the world. Basking in the light of the Leonard French ceiling in National Gallery of Victoria’s Great Hall, Indigenous fashion designers will collaborate with artists and musicians to deliver a unique 60-minute Indigenous cultural spectacular honouring the strengths and talents of female creators.
Our Women is inspired by the tribal and cultural stories featuring female indigenous figures from around the world.
Tickets – $85 incl canapes & wine
SUN 2nd SEPT | National Gallery of Victoria | 7.30pm-9.30pm
RAGS TO RUNWAY: GREAT SOUTHERN STYLE
RUNWAY
Sustainable Fashion Stories – Rags to Runway: Great Southern Style features unique collections created by Kangan Institute’s fashion students, from recycled materials donated by Red Cross Shops.
The innovative up-cycled designs are inspired by the Australian landscape, our flora and fauna, Indigenous culture and iconic Australian fashion designers past and present.
TUE 4th SEPT | Meat Market | 6.30pm – 8.00pm
WHERE DO MY CLOTHES COME FROM?
TALK
Just a small change in the way you produce clothing or manage your business can have a great impact on the industry. Hear from designers, retailers and industry bodies and movements on how the industry and consumer approach to ethical and sustainable fashion is changing and what you can do to get involved.
Presented by Creative Victoria, panelists will explore ethical and sustainable design, production and business principles positively impacting the fashion industry.
FACILITATOR:
/ Fabia Pryor – Sustainability Strategy, Responsible Business & Education Design
PANELISTS:
/ Sally Townsend – Strategic Partnerships/Certifications and Event Management, Outland Denim
/ Marnie Goding – Co-founder & Creative Director, Elk
/ Angela Bell – National Manager of Ethical Clothing Australia
WED 5th SEPT | Deakin Edge | 5.00pm – 6.00pm
THE ILLUMINATED SEA
Exhibition | FREE EVENT
The Sea Between Us is a project between the fashion students of Anhembi Morumbi University in Sao Paulo Brazil and fashion students, researchers and designers from RMIT University in Melbourne.
The Illuminated Sea lights up these two worlds, it brings them together en masse across the sparkling ocean. The distance between the two spheres of water and light is where this project sits. The Sea Between Us: The Illuminated Sea takes the sea of plastic that we as consumers have created and discarded and transforms this sea into materials for making, lacelike structures, crotchet, knitting and illusive/elusive remnants of luxury.
This project has been presented by S!X and supported by The National Trust of Australia (Victoria).
FREE | AUG 31st – SEPT 4th | Tasma Terrace | 10.00am – 6.30pm
WEAR FOR SUCCESS
Charity | FREE EVENT
MFW is partnering with Wear for Success, a Melbourne-based non-profit organisation, who supports women and men facing barriers to employment, self-sufficiency and financial independence. This is done by providing free professional clothing and accessories, one on one styling sessions as well as career coaching in the form of interview advice and resume preparation.
MFW and Wear for Success are looking for donations that will assist men and women dress appropriately for interviews and integration into the workforce. Clothes and accessories of quality, pre-loved items that will make their new wearers confident and ready to conquer the work force are desired. Wear for Success ambassadors will be available at the Clothes Check locations to provide further information about the organisation.
Wear for Success ambassadors will be available during peak periods at the Clothes Check locations to provide further information about the organisation.
You can check in your donations at either of the two Wear for Success Clothes Check locations below.
FREE EVENT | AUG 31st – SEPT 7th
– Melbourne Town Hall | 11.00am – 10.00pm
– Collins Square | 8.00am – 6.00pm
RMIT STUDENT DESIGNER SHOWCASE
Exhibition | FREE EVENT
View the work of the third year students from RMIT University’s Bachelor of Fashion (Design) (Honours) program. This showcase in partnership with Melbourne Central, will explore and respond to various material techniques, methods and approaches through a range of interactive making sessions, performance and fashion film.
FREE | 31st AUG – 7th SEPT | Melbourne Central | 5.00pm – 9.00pm
ACCESS TO FASHION
RUNWAY
Endeavouring to address the pervasive issue of exclusion in the fashion industry, Access to Fashion provides disability platform in this runway show.
The event, comprises of a panel discussion and runway show featuring disabled models, emphasising the need for accessibility and authentic representation, and highlighting change makers and activists within the disabled community.
Tickets are $15
SAT 1st SEPT | Library at the Docks | 3.00pm – 5.00pm
THE COLOUR OF EUCALYPTUS
Exhibition | FREE EVENT
What is the colour palette of a place? Artist Sally Blake explores the potential of eucalyptus to colour cloth in this exhibition. Sally’s work is the culmination of research into the colour produced from over 200 species of eucalyptus at the Australian Botanic Gardens and will be on display at Kuwaii’s city store for all to enjoy.
This exhibition is bought to you by The Festival of Natural Dyes, a program of events in and around Melbourne for ethical, curious and botanical minds looking to explore the potential of local colour.
FREE | MON 3rd – FRI 7th SEPT | Kuwaii Store | 10.00am – 6.00pm
NATURAL DYEING DEMONSTRATION WITH REMUSE
Workshop – Meet the Maker | FREE EVENT
Join designer Tamara Leacock of Melbourne based label REMUSE as she provides a demonstration of how to create cosmic pigments with plant based dyes and natural fabrics such as linen and calico. REMUSE is the process of finding inspiration and reclaiming musedom from your environment, this workshop will guide you in that journey.
REMUSE’s signature hand dyed designs, as well as undyed versions of the label’s classic pieces will also be available at the AFC Curated Store inside the Melbourne Town Hall.
See the full schedule of designers, milliners, jewellers, shoemakers and fashion artisans exhibiting their skills and sharing their knowledge through workshops, demonstrations, displays and meet and greets at the Melbourne Town Hall Forecourt.
FREE | FRI 31st AUG | Melbourne Town Hall Forecourt | 11.00am – 12.00pm & 12.30pm – 1.30pm
CARE REPAIR WEAR WITH A.BCH
Workshop | MEET THE MAKER
Join A.BCH and find out how to make sure the clothes you already have last. Learn how to sew on a button, fix that ripped hem and stitch up that growing hole in your sweater live, onsite at MFW.
Bring along your broken wardrobe favourites to this interactive workshop and they’ll provide the rest. Network with other like minded humans whilst learning some neat tips from A.BCH founder Courtney Holm on how to make your mending fun and beautiful.
Your ticket cost is fully redeemable at the A.BCH pop-up at the AFC Curated Store, so come repair and stay for a chat with Courtney plus other local designers who will be there on the day.
See the full schedule of designers, milliners, jewellers, shoemakers and fashion artisans exhibiting their skills and sharing their knowledge through workshops, demonstrations, displays and meet and greets at the Melbourne Town Hall Forecourt.
Tickets are $20
FRI 31st AUG | Melbourne Town Hall Forecourt | 2.00pm – 3.00pm & 3.30pm – 4.30pm
AFC CURATED STORE
Meet the Labels | FREE ENTRY
A unique program from the Australian Fashion Council (AFC) built to support our local labels through direct industry mentoring, a series of business development workshops and exciting retail activations.
Meet the labels, connect with their stories and shop their incredible ranges. Take your time, say hello, and get to know the future of Australian fashion.
The Labels: A.BCH, Allora, Autark, Avila, Gehrich, Gloria Dulcie, Guerrilla Theatre Brand, Harlow, IVY NIU, Jude, Kholo, MAUDE Studio, Millicent Elizabeth, MNDATORY, Oneiric, Rbcca kstr, Remuse Designs, Salty Fox and Vincent Li.
FREE | 31st AUG – 7th SEPT | Swanston Room, Melb Town Hall | 11.00am – 9.30pm
SHOPPING FOR CHANGE
TALK
In 2018, you can shop for change and track the impact from your purchase. Learn about the movement of brands giving back to empower women and girls from i=Change founder, Jeremy Meltzer. Retail representatives and funding recipients will also share their stories.
i=Change is Australia’s fastest growing social enterprise tech start-up. They’re making it simple for online retailers to give back with 100 per cent transparency and receive the marketing benefits of turning every purchase into a memorable customer experience.
WED 5th SEPT | Academy Xi Melbourne | 6.00pm – 7.30pm
FIRST BORN
RUNWAY
First Reborn is a celebration of the rebirth of our First Nations culture in a contemporary fashion runway show. ‘First’ representing Australia’s original custodians enriched culture, and ‘Reborn’ the signifier of our ancient culture merging with our present and future world.
The event will showcase fashion from remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities utilising old traditional methods of bush dyeing. In the modern world we live in today, these artists continue to tell their traditional stories of culture through rock wall art and paperbark, to now the new age of fabric printing and designs.
FRI 7th SEPT | Koorie Heritage Trust Inc | 3.45pm – 5.00pm
Buy Tickets: See individual events and Book through website at mfw.melbourne.vic.gov.au
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Event images and descriptions courtesy of mfw.melbourne.vic.gov.au
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1 Comment
Meet the New Designers turning unwanted clothing into Statement Fashion – Ethical Fashion Review™ · 26 February 2019 at 3:08PM
[…] These events can be an opportunity to express political statements, spark discussions and network with like-minded people, and at this year’s Melbourne Fashion Week we were thrilled to see sustainability, ethics and diversity align with fashion at a growing number of events on the schedule. […]
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