With the majority of the world’s gaze focusing solely on the prestigious fashion weeks held in Milan, Paris, NYC and London, it is very easy for shows in other regions to be overlooked, or perhaps even unheard of. So, here are a few of the silent but equally stylish shows that go on without us even knowing it.
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia
Founded in 1996 by Simon Lock and sponsored by Mercedes-Benz since 2011, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia is a key platform for Australian designers to showcase their creations to the world. The annual event, held in Carriageworks in Redfern, Sydney, has received mixed reviews from critics, with some stating that the show has not kept up with the rest of the fashion industry. Yet, there have also been many highs for MBFWA, a notable example of this being Bella Hadid opening the show for Melbourne label ‘Misha Collection’ in 2016.
Above: Bella Hadid opens the show for ‘Misha Collection’ 2016.
Above: Toni Maticevski collection 2016 where he experimented with silhouette, texture and “bondage chic” jewellery.
Above: always eagerly awaited – the ‘Romance Was Born’ collection, with “Liberace” being its muse.
Berlin Alternative Fashion Week
Berlin Alternative Fashion week focuses on “the rise of alternative concepts in fashion”, thus showcasing items that break traditional perceptions of fashion in the aim to influence and inspire those who see them. It is a celebration of “non-conformity”, suggesting that through such fashion society can progress, with it aiming to challenge gender roles in the industry, for example. There is a sense of inclusivity in this event, opposing the somewhat exclusive stance that the popular fashion shows, like London Fashion Week, hold.
Above: Behind the scenes of Berlin Alternative Fashion Week.
Above: male models in Bas Kosters’ collection, highlighting the challenging of gender roles that the show strives for.
Hong Kong Fashion Week
Not so much a ‘fashion week’ in our traditional perception, but more of a trading fair that takes place every January at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. This is the largest fair in Asia, and the second largest in the world, where designers can launch their collections, and buyers can source the latest garments.
Above: Zoe Zhu’s Collection 2014 – ‘Myths of Southland’.
Above: Eleven Wu’s collection 2014 ‘Follow the Light’.
Caribbean Fashion Week
Produced by the Caribbean’s leading modelling agency ‘Pulse’, Caribbean Fashion week is always a sight to behold when it takes place in Kingston, Jamaica, with its outstanding vibrancy and unique collections. Many have praised it for its ‘electric’ energy and ‘warm hearted’ atmosphere.
Above: Robert Young’s eye-catching collection ‘The Cloth’ at CFW, exemplifying the vibrant displays to be seen at the show.
Tessa Jones
Cover Image: http://jamaicans.com/caribbean-fashion-week-2015/