See The Designers Presenting At Australian Fashion Week 2025

THE NEW DAWN of Australian Fashion Week (AFW) is nearly here. After long-time sponsor and organiser IMG exited Australia’s premier fashion event late last year, and the Australian Fashion Council stepped in to reshape the event with input from industry veterans, designers, and fashion media, the new AFW has officially been launched. Excitingly, the preliminary lineup of participating designers has been announced, featuring returning and new local favourites from season opener Carla Zampatti, retail favourites SIR. the label and Aje, and independent favourites Jordan Gogos, Alix Higgins, Nicol + Ford, Liandra and more.

Slated to take place from May 12 to 16 at Carriageworks and other iconic Sydney locations, AFC AFW 2025 will be “an event to support the growth and evolution of Australian fashion, for the first time in its history led by the industry, for the industry,” per a press release.

“Under the stewardship of the AFC and a not for profit model, the event will elevate the position of Australian design in the minds of local and international consumers and buyers, while driving economic value for fashion businesses. AFW will also position Australia as a creative and sophisticated nation, and Sydney, as an innovative centre of fashion,” the press release continued.

At a Designer Breakfast held at the Art Gallery of New South Wales to celebrate the launch, a preliminary list of this year’s participating designers was announced. They include: Aje, Alix Higgins, Bassike, Beare Park, Bianca Spender, Boteh, Buluuy Mirrii, Carla Zampatti, Farage, Gary Bigeni, Haluminous, Hansen & Gretel, Jordan Gogos, Joseph & James, Karla Špetić, Ksubi, Lee Mathews, Liandra, Macgraw, Mariam Seddiq, Miimi + Jiinda, Nagnata, Ngali, Nicol + Ford, Permanent Vacation, Romance Was Born, SIR. the label, and 1800 Psycho.

Regular group runways Next Gen, which celebrates emerging designers, FDS: The Innovators, which celebrates a selection of graduate designers from TAFE’s Fashion Design Studio, and David Jones x Indigenous Fashion Projects group runway, a First Nations fashion showcase, are not present on the schedule this year. However, there are two new group runways set to debut in 2025. ‘New Gen,’ spotlighting emerging talents, will feature Miimi + Jiinda, Haluminous, Permanent Vacation, Buluuy Mirrii, and Boteh. Meanwhile, the Frontier Group Show will feature Amy Lawrance, Courtney Zheng, Common Hours, ESSE, MATIN, Paris Georgia and Wynn Hamlyn.

“We are thrilled to come together to celebrate the designers participating in AFC Australian Fashion Week 2025,” said Kellie Hush, CEO AFC Australian Fashion Week, in a press release. “The schedule has been carefully curated to showcase the very best that Australian fashion has to offer. Our exceptional talent is in high demand both locally and abroad, highlighting the criticality of this dedicated global platform for them to shine”.

In addition to this year’s presenting designers, AFC announced Shark Beauty as this year’s presenting partner, as well as partners eBay, DHL, Afterpay, Marque Lawyers, Carriageworks and Simply Seated.

Let the countdown to May begin.