Your Guide to Sustainable Events
Melbourne Fashion Week 2023
Pack your reuseable cups, rent your outfit and borrow those bags for your most sustainable M/FW yet, as we guide you through the most eco-friendly events of Melbourne Fashion Week 2023.
The annual weeklong Naarm event celebrates the thriving community of Melbourne makers and designers and fashion. Laneways are taken over by pop ups, windows are decorated with thought provoking displays and well-know venues are decorated with flashing lights.
This year’s program is filled with pop ups, conversations, exhibitions and runways, all bursting at the seams with fashionable frocks and insightful discussions. Here are our sustainable picks for a fun filled week.
Runways
Take it Underground with a huge cast of independent designers showcasing their in-your-face Y2K inspired designs. Think the brilliant Eri-Yvon (image below), HoMie, Clothing the Gaps and many more.
Don’t miss the ganbu marra runway of outstanding First Nations designers at for an extrodinary lightshow at THE LUME. Everyone, models and guests alike will be illuminated in what promises to be a stunning exhibition of story-telling from the oldest living culture. Included in the exciting line-up are the renowned Elverina Johnson, Clair Helen and Ginny’s Girl Gang.
Strateas Carlucci‘s Worn Out runway will feature genderless fashion made from garments saved from landfill. Collaborating with Future From Waste Lab, the venue for this exciting offering is the uniquely named laneway of Waterfall Lane in Southbank.
Explore creative upcycled garments from a bunch of talented designers at the Vault Vintage Upcycyled Runway. And for those who love munching away while watching your favourite fashion runways, The Commons Collective is offering melting pot of food and diverse fashion. Or, take a peek at the the future of fashion with the Student Collections Runway.
Cost can often be a barrier to many events. Luckily, these Pop Up Runways are totally free. All of the glam with none of the cost!
Conversations
Join in the conversation about the new eras of sustainable fashion and how it interlocks with technology. Can AI really be the future of fashion? Ready to keep it circular? Join an in-depth conversation on how to create a circular fashion brand.
What could the future hold for fashion? A New Approach To Textiles is a conversation about how renewable resources and innovative textile can help a sustainable future.
Exhibitions
Collective Fashion Justice and World Animal Protection have joined forces for an foward thinking chat and exhibition about the future of animals within the fashion space. It’s going to be totally wild!
Wantsto save some stylish garments from landfill? Then grab your basket and join the queer folk from Fast Fashun at the Decay-Mart, where everything is rescued from trash.
If you’ve ever wanted to be a fly on the wall watching designers creative process, you can. Sneak one at Wastefest, where you can watch clothing being made from scratch from what was once waste.
Need some inspo on how to upcycle your old clothing? Let The HG Fashion Circular Studio help you breath new life into old pieces.
Ethical Clothing Australia is showcasing a who’s who of of ethical fashion brands in an amazing window display on the conrer of Little Collins and Royal Lane. Stroll by for a look.
Workshops
Struggling to tell your creative story? Let Sustainable Storytelling‘s practical business bootcamp forsmall business owners help you find your groove.
Get experimental with Collarts and turn bio-plastics into accessories with their Making Sustainable Statements workshop and come out with your own sustainable statement pieces.
Did you know that your local library might have sewing machines for rent? Neither did we! Pop along to City Of Melbourne Makerspace Open Day to see the range of equipment you can access, including laser cutters and 3D printers.
Learn how to renew your old treads with new techniques. RMIT is hosting an upcycling Touch Of Renewal workshop where you can explore all different kinds of sustainable fabrics.
Melbourne Fashion Week 2023 runs 23-29 October. See the full progamme.
Unless otherwise stated, all images courtesy of Melbourne Fashion Week for the purposes of review. Featured image: ganbu marra runway
Author:
Jenna Flood aka Ironic Minimalist
is a sustainable fashion stylist,
speaker and writer on slow fashion
and all things sustainable.
Like this? Then you’ll also like to see: Nina Gbor: Showing Us How to Dress Sustainably
