IMG has confirmed that 50 catwalk presentations and shows will be held at this year’s Afterpay Australian Fashion Week at the Carriageworks, Sydney, from May 9-13.
AAFW will showcase a mix of emerging and established designers like Sass & Bide, Romance Was Born, Oroton, Bondi, Aje, Matteau, and others will also be on the agenda, returning to the catwalk after a two-year hiatus to show its resort 2022/23 collection.
The event will open with a Welcome to Country show produced by First Nations Fashion + Design. Next, sustainable womenswear designer Bianca Spender will return to the event for her first appearance since 2018. You should also be on the lookout for  Hansen & Gretel Indigenous Fashion Projects catwalks. Gretel, Dyspnea, and Woolmark Prize finalist Jordan Dalah are some other catwalk shows to watch out for.
Natalie Xenita is the vice president-managing direct of IMG Fashion Events and Properties Asia Pacific. She stated in a statement that “The 2022 schedule for designer shows, programming, and special event features some of the most notable names in the industry, all ready to showcase their creativity and hardwork against the vibrant backdrop of Sydney, Australia, the resort wear capital.
“AAFW is the cornerstone of growth and recognition. It celebrates the ingenuity and creativity of Australia’s top creators and designers, giving them the opportunity to show their creativity and innovation throughout Australia and the world.”
IMG unveils Afterpay Australian Fashion Week Line-up
The IMG 2022 Changemakers will be a special focus on emerging talent. This includes Alix Higgins, Charlee Fraser, and Charlotte Agnew.
IMG also announced the winners of its NextGen initiative. This initiative aims to increase visibility and sales for emerging brands through a catwalk show during AAFW. Clea, Asiyam and Phoebe Pendergast are the 2022 winners. Next-Gen will be held on May 13.
Xenita said: “Next Generation recognizes the new guard innovators influencing the future fashion design in Australia. These 2022 winners are not only talented in design but also in harnessing fashion’s power to communicate social and environmental messages. This will influence culture.”
IMG will also host a series talks to complement the catwalk shows. These include ‘Empowering voices: Fashion’s cultural impact on representation and inclusion’ with Jordan Gogos, Jessie Sadler, and fashion educator Bryce Alexander McIntosh, and Bijang Slabb, a First Nations model. Grace Lillian Lee will host ‘First Nations Fashion + Design – Yours, Mine and Ours. In conversation with Caitlin Lomax, an augmented reality specialist and Charlotte Hicks, ‘Digital Fashion: The New Frontier’.
AAFW, Australia’s only international fashion event, attracts over 18,000 participants and attendees across five days. AAFW runs from May 9-13.
