Australian Fashion Week 2025: Innovation, Culture & Style Take Centre Stage

Australian Fashion Week 2025 has wrapped in Sydney, and this year’s event made a powerful statement. Held at Carriageworks from May 12 to 16, the fashion showcase was more than just a celebration of clothing—it was a reflection of where the industry is heading: toward a future built on innovation, inclusion, and deep cultural storytelling.

Shark Beauty Takes the Spotlight

This year, Shark Beauty joined as the official presenting partner, offering guests a hands-on experience with their high-performance hair tools. Celebrity hair stylist Madison Voloshin worked with the brand to create bold sculptural looks for the Carla Zampatti show, perfectly capturing this season’s energy of quiet confidence and modern elegance.

First Nations Designers Lead With Culture

Indigenous designers had a strong presence this year, with collections that honoured heritage while embracing bold new directions.

• Liandra Gaykamangu, founder of Liandra Swim, broke ground by integrating NFC (near-field communication) technology into her garments—allowing wearers to tap their phones and hear the cultural story behind each piece. It was a powerful example of how tech and tradition can blend to tell deeper stories.
• Other standout First Nations labels included Miimi & Jiinda, Ngali, Buluuy Mirrii, and Joseph & James. Each brought their own unique perspective rooted in Country, identity, and storytelling, with beautifully crafted pieces that reflected thousands of years of cultural knowledge. Juanita Page, founder of Joseph & James, shared how proud she felt bringing her designs to a solo runway show for the first time.

The New Guard: Rising Talent Makes Their Mark

AFW 2025’s Frontier show shone a light on emerging designers pushing boundaries:

• Courtney Zheng mixed bold, edgy streetwear with ethereal shapes—think denim suiting clashed with mermaid-style sheer gowns.
• Amy Lawrance, known for her hand-sculpted, vintage-inspired silhouettes, created dresses soaked in starch baths to give them a unique, artistic texture. She walked away with the National Designer Award this year.
• Wynn Hamlyn brought a technical and tactile touch to the runway with handwoven fabrics and vintage-printed tailoring, reflecting his background in engineering and a love for craftsmanship.

A Future-Focused Fashion Week

With more than 30 designers featured, this year’s event embraced a new direction under the guidance of the Australian Fashion Council. Themes of sustainability, cultural responsibility, and innovation were front and centre, as the industry looks to grow into a $38 billion sector over the next decade.

AFW 2025 wasn’t just about fashion—it was a celebration of where Australian style is going. From high-tech garments to ancient languages and global creativity, this year proved that the future of fashion is inclusive, smart, and full of meaning