Melbourne Fashion Week has kicked off today, and will run until Sunday, October 25. This time around, there’s over 100 free and ticketed events and sessions, with over 300 designers and retailers taking part in the program. The theme this time is Wear the Moment, celebrating self-expression, and inviting everyone to join in on the fun. With runways, exhibitions, workshops, talks and more, there’s so much to see and do! If you’re not sure where to begin, or you’re a bit short of cash, we’ve found some free things to do during Melbourne Fashion Week.
Fashion Capsules
Spread across five locations around the city, you’ll find a series of free exhibitions as part of the Fashion Capsule Program. Each Fashion Capsule celebrates technical skill and artistic expression, with spaces dedicated to First Nations sisterhood, bridal fashion, sustainability and more. You’ll find these capsules in City Square, Melbourne Town Hall forecourt, 1 Hotel Melbourne, Emporium and Collins Square.
The Fashion Market at Collins Square
Over 35 local makers and creators are taking over Collins Square for The Fashion Market. Look out for handcrafted bags, jewellery, accessories and more, then stick around for giveaways, photo ops and live entertainment.
Out of Fashion Book Fair
At the Out of Fashion Book Fair, you’ll see independent booksellers and publishers, showcasing a range of books and magazines centred on fashion and the pop culture space.
Kowtow Presents: AU & NZ Designer Clothes Swap
Bring up to five pre-loved Australian or New Zealand designer garments to Kowtow in Fitzroy. For each accepted piece, you’ll receive a token to take part in the swap event. If you can’t bring it to the Fitzroy store, you can also arrive on the day with your pre-loved garments from 10am. Then, from 11am, you can browse through the collection of designer pieces.
City Square Runway
City Square will host three free runways, starting with a showcase of Melbourne’s street style, followed by a tribute to Melbourne’s style after dark. The night will end with a glimpse of on-court style for the Australian Open in 2027. These runways will all have free standing room available on the day.
That’s just scratching the surface of all the great stuff you can do this week. See the full program here.
