BETA By STH BNK is a proud participant in the 2023 Melbourne Fashion Week to celebrate our city’s thriving fashion community. This year, MF/W’s runways are taking over unique and unexpected spaces with plenty of surprises to come along the way. Enjoy a full program that we are hosting that pull at the threads of curiosity, collaboration and creativity.
Wastefest | Future From Waste Lab
25 – 27 October, 12 – 2PM
28 October, 7 – 10PM
Experience the creative chaos of the emerging local fashion scene at WASTEFEST. Witness the design process in real-time as a group of designers create head-to-toe looks from scratch using only waste materials. These Open Studio events offer a first-hand look at the creative opportunities that come from using waste as a resource, backed by the facilities and staff at BETA By STH BNK’s Future From Waste Lab. Once the hard work is done, celebrate the exciting outcomes at the Wrap Party exhibition.
Strateas Carlucci Runway
26 October, THURSDAY, 6.30 – 7PM
Discover Strateas Carlucci’s new transeasonal collection at a hidden venue in Southbank’s Waterfall Lane. Taking inspiration from the classic Radiohead song Fake Plastic Trees, ‘Worn Out’ explores themes of human connection, artificiality, and the balance between creativity and the environment. Championing genderless fashion with a strong sustainability focus, the show will hero the designer’s collaboration with Future From Waste Lab, an initiative turning landfills into renewed garments.
Featuring a special musical performance and runway appearance by ARIA Award winning Indie pop favourites, Cub Sport.
Student Collections Runway
27 October, Thursday
Ever a favourite on the M/FW calendar, the Student Collections Runway will once again invite tomorrow’s top designers to show us what they’re made of. Expect innovative and daring silhouettes, free from the constraints of practicality, materiality, or commercialism. Peeling back the layers of the creative process, this show will explore ideas around determination, adaptability, and carving your niche. Attendees will join M/FW in congratulating the winner of the M/FW Student Award, who will be announced on the first show of the night.
Underground Runway | Collarts
27 October, Thursday
Embracing the ostentatious glitz of the noughties, the Underground Runway demands attention. Moving beyond traditional notions of the runway to combine performance and fashion, this show will reflect Melbourne’s iconic role as a hub that pioneers ideation, conception, and creation. Featuring a cast of independent designers, this is an unapologetically in-your-face celebration of revved-up Y2K dressing and underground culture.
Upcycle Workshop | Sans Beast X IntoCarry
26 October, Thursday 6.30 – 8.30PM
28 October, Saturday 11AM – 1PM
Get a hands-on look at how upcycling works at this interactive workshop by playing with a selection of broken-down Sans Beast bags that are beyond repair. Conceptualize how each bag’s panels can be reused and revitalised under the direction of Into Carry founder Luke Phillips. After the workshop, each design will be constructed by the Into Carry team into an upcycled pouch of your own – available for collection a week later.
Making Sustainable Statements | Collarts
28 October, Saturday 10AM – 1PM
Celebrating creativity and originality in fashion, this hands-on workshop invites consumers to challenge their assumptions on the way accessories are made and owned. The session begins with discussions on the environmental impacts of consumerism. Then, using tried and tested recipes, moulds, and freeform techniques, you’ll turn bioplastics and other found materials into your own unique, sustainable statement pieces–including neckpieces, earrings, and cuffs.
Sustainable Storytelling | Collarts
28 October, Saturday 1.30 – 4.30PM
Designed for small business owners and designers, the Sustainable Storytelling workshop addresses the unique challenges of promoting sustainable fashion brands. The goal is telling your story with authenticity and impact, engaging conscious and curious customers without fear of greenwashing.
Join an interactive and practical business bootcamp and explore effective ways of communicating your sustainable practices.
