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Everything you need to know about Afterpay Australian Fashion Week 2023

Celebrate our Aussie fashion talent.
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Afterpay Australian Fashion Week (AAFW) 2023 is set to showcase some of our best and brightest local designers across five fabulous days in Sydney.

Afterpay Australian Fashion Week, running from May 15-19, will present roughly 10 runway shows per day in which designers show-off their resort collections for spring/summer 2024. 

Popular names like Aje, St Agni, Bondi Born, Anna Quan and Bec & Bridge are among the brands showing this year.

Meanwhile, the week is welcoming some rising stars and exciting fresh faces, including Asiyam, Youkhana, Erik Yvon, Iordanes Spyridon Gogos, Wackie Ju and Nicol & Ford.

doja-cat-performing-on-stage-in-blue-and-orange-show-costume
Doja Cat is just one famous fan of Aussie designer, Caroline Reznik. (Credit: Instagram) (Credit: Instagram)

Bright and bold Alemais is opening the week at 10am Monday. May 15. Meanwhile, the last individual designer to show will be Caroline Reznik, whose designs are worn and loved by A-listers like Cardi B, Doja Cat and Kendall Jenner.

Wrapping up the event overall is the #WeWearAustralian group show.

Can anyone go to Australian Fashion Week?

There’s something for everyone at AAFW 2023! Tickets for runway shows are here and although some are already booked out – you can grab some last-minute tickets for Michael Lo Sordo, Gary Bigeni and Erik Yvon. 

The #WeWearAustralian show, like select others during the week, are classified as “The Experience” events. These are ticketed shows that will be available for the public to attend. 

still-of-model-on-catwalk-in-colourful-patterned-dress
The Experience events are ticketed and able to be attended by the general public. (Credit: Getty) (Credit: Getty)

Guests will also be able to purchase tickets for ‘The Talks’ – a series of panel discussions peppered throughout fashion week. These include:

  • Gender Diversity and the Fashion Industry – In conversation with designer Jackie Wu (Wackie Ju), IMG model Manahou Mackay and model Kai Clancy
  • I Love the Nightlife: Club Culture and Fashion – a panel conversation featuring multidisciplinary artist Byron Spencer, model and casting director Basjia Almaan and Sydney queer icon Jonny Seymour moderated by fashion journalist Isabelle Truman
  • New Voices in Fashion Criticism – featuring fashion researcher and digital creator Kim Russell and @upnextdesigner’s Albert Ayal moderated by Vogue Australia’s Jonah Waterhouse
  • On Trend: Key Directions in Australian Fashion – In conversation with Net-a-Porter’s Market Director Libby Page, Harper’s Bazaar Features and Fashion News Director Patty Huntington, Stylist Miguel Urbina Tan, Urban List Fashion Editor Sammy Preston, and IMG Fashion Events and Properties Asia-Pacific’s Vice President-Managing Director Natalie Xenita moderated by POPSUGAR publisher Amanda Bardas.

See the rest of the line-up and schedule below.

WATCH: A Maggie Marylin showcase from the archives

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Monday, May 15

9am – Welcome to Country

10am – Alemais

11am – St. Agni

12:30pm – Bondi Born (offsite)

2pm – Yousef Akbar

3pm – Asiyam

4:30pm – Maggie Marilyn (offsite)

5pm – The Talks: Opening Reception 

6pm – Youkhana

7pm – Michael Lo Sordo 

8pm – Mariam Seddiq (offsite)

8:30pm – Michael Lo Sordo (tickets)

A-woman-wearing-a-flowy-white-organza-coat-from-Aje
Aje will be hosting an offsite show for their new collection. (Credit: Instagram) (Credit: Instagram)

Tuesday, May 16

8:30am – Aje (offsite)

10am – Blanca

11am – Bianca Spender

12:30pm – Anna Quan (offsite)

2pm – Erik Yvon (tickets)

3pm – Christian Kimber

4:30pm – Bec & Bridge (offsite)

5pm – The Talks: Identity & Agency – Gender Diversity and the Fashion Industry

7pm – Gary Bigeni (tickets)

8pm – Iordanes Spyridon Gogos (tickets)

9pm – Wynn Hamlyn (offsite)

model-on-catwalk-wearing-blue-flowing-design-by-ngali
A previous Ngali design. (Credit: Instagram) (Credit: Instagram)

Wednesday, May 17

9am – Sarah & Sebastian

10am – Ngali

11am – Gail Sorronda

12pm – Sustainability & Industry 4.0 

12:30pm – HENNE (offsite)

2pm – Injury

3pm – The Innovators: Fashion Design Studio TAFE NSW (tickets)

4:30pm – Joslin (offsite)

5pm – The Talks: I Love The Nightlife – Club Culture and Fashion

6pm – Auteur

7pm – Karla Spetic (tickets)

8pm – David Jones Indigenous Fashion Projects Runway (tickets)

9pm – Commas (offsite)

couple-in-white-embrace-for-albus-lumen-fashion-campaign
A look from the previous Albus Lumen resort wear collection. (Credit: Instagram) (Credit: Instagram)

Thursday, May 18

11am – Verner

12pm – Women With Drive: Lesleigh Jermanus

12:30pm – Acler (offsite)

2pm – Albus Lumen

3pm – Ikunthi Artists (Tickets)

4:30pm – Macgraw

5pm – The Talks: New Voices in Fashion Criticism (Tickets)

6pm – Nicol & Ford

7pm – Speed

8pm – Cue (tickets)

Friday, May 19

10am – Alix Higgins

11am – Wackie Ju

2pm – Nex Gen (tickets)

3pm – Phoebe Pendergast

4:30pm – Haulier

5pm – The Talks: On Trend – Key Directions In Austrailan Fashion

6pm – Caroline Reznik

7pm – We Wear Australian X Afterpay (tickets)

Where is the AAFW located?

Most fashion week runway shows and events will take place at Carriageworks in Sydney, though a few are planning special displays off site. 

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