Voxfrock Rookie journalist Erin Visagie and photographer Aimee Hyde crewed-up to report their first Melbourne Fashion Week event, the evocative Urban Garden runway. This not-your-average fashion show was slung between a cathedral and a skyscraper. How Melbourne! Scroll down to meet the rookies and click back daily for more MFW reports from the 2022 crew.
Words: Erin Visagie Photographs: Aimee Hyde
My experience as a first-time reporter at Melbourne Fashion Week was a whirlpool of excitement anxiety and awe. So many stylish onlookers! Such an array of individuals united by their love of fashion. And always, upbeat music adding to the buzz.
Urban Garden was the first runway of MFW 2022, featuring models of all ages, sizes, and cultural backgrounds. The show played out on an orange runway between a gothic cathedral and Wesley place skyscraper.
It featured designers such as Ngali, Morrison, Viceta Wang, Kuwaii, Torrance, Gorman, Dom Bagnato, Acler, Atoir, Asiyam and Buluuy Mirrii, a span of styles from contemporary high fashion to garden party couture.
Sequins, animal prints, florals, puffy sleeves, cut-outs, and tailored suits in vibrant shades of pink, green, and blue, contrasted with classic whites and navy, dominated the collections.
Before the show I spoke with Elsa, an MFW event team member. “I love seeing all the different cultures of Melbourne pop out,’ she said. “You see all the niche groups of people lean into their style, and it’s fun to see it all come together.”
I was honoured to catch up with creative director Todd Anthony, wearing a pink sequin blazer and pants by Viceta Wang. Finally, I met Viceta Wang herself, dressed in an exquisite tulle dress, button-up cardigan and oversized sleeves.
Viceta Wang’s ‘Metamorphosis’ collection embodied an ethereal, butterfly-like motif. My favourite was a deluxe Valentino-style pink gown with exaggarated sleeves reminiscent of rose petals and butterfly wings.
Later I spoke to Viceta about her inspiration. “The “Metamorphosis” collection draws on the constant self-transitional phases of our lives portrayed by the butterfly cycle and its key stages of development,” she said. “The Spring Summer 2023 collection illustrates this journey, expressing graceful movement, bright, vivacious hues, and powerfully structured forms. The butterfly’s transformation process references a woman’s life-changing journey, starting in the early nurturing stages, slowly transforming into a more graceful form, honing their skills until finally presenting themselves, re-born, into a new powerful woman.”
Morrison and Kuwaii presented party looks: printed garden-core pieces, cutout dresses, plaid details, and square neckline dresses!
Ngali showcased First Nations designs that emphasised Australia’s natural landscape and captured the idea of ‘Yindayamarra’, meaning to show respect, gentleness and cross-country collaboration.
Torrance captured an air of eccentricity, luxury, and modern elegance while fresh, colourful floral patterns, sets, and giant bows dominated Gorman’s collection. Acler showed gorgeous water-coloured pieces, flowing dresses and garden couture.
Dom Bagnato’s creations captured the palette of a European sunset with shades of dusty pink, salmon, white, teal greens, and royal blues. A highlight was this baby pink tailored suit.
Atoir’s collection was breathtaking, particularly one sparkly white sequinned mesh set and some bright blazer dresses.
From gorgeous plisse pieces to silk belted dresses in vibrant pinks, sky blues, and sage green, Asiyam’s collection evoked an ethereal, “float-on-air” feeling. The sky-blue plisse flowing silhouette gown was a standout piece.
In the Buluuy Mirrii collection, each piece was printed with artwork created by First Nations creatives. Colleen’s for example, was captivating, with exceptional prints and finally, my favourite piece was a striking shirt adorned with First Nations prints.
Meet the Rookies
Journalist, Erin Visagie
Erin Visagie is a final year Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) student from RMIT. She is a proud South African and Filipino woman. It’s her passion to write about art and fashion. She writes reviews for The High Tea Society and interns at the fashion discovery platform Monde. Her fields of interest include fashion, culture, entertainment, beauty, lifestyles, and entertainment.
Photographer, Aimee Hyde
Aimee Hyde is an LCI Melbourne student undertaking a Bachelor of Design Arts. She aspires to work photographically in a commercial field, to create meaningful content in the lifestyle, event, automotive and product fields.
