AFW 25: DAY 1 HIGHLIGHTS

What a way to kickstart Australian fashion’s biggest week with a bang – and under the helm of the Australian Fashion Council, it’s got a whole new vibe.

Whilst officially there was only one show scheduled for Day 1 – the Carla Zampatti Opening Show – Thursday and Friday of the week prior hosted a fringe fashion festival – Wings – that certainly got Australia’s fashionista’s in the mood for the week ahead.

From the pretty punk finishes dreamt up by Wella Professionals Hair Director Renya Xydis for Speed to the effortless cool girls at Carla Zampatti created by Shark Beauty’s Madison Voloshin and O&M’s Pauline McCabe, AFC AFW 2025 has charged full steam ahead. Everything you missed, here!

WELLA PROFESSIONALS X SPEED

Wella Professionals Hair Director Renya Xydis took creativity to new heights at the Speed Phantom Resort showcase, with shapes that defied gravity and meticulously sculpted punk rock looks.

“Working on the Speed show with (designer) Alvi allows me and my creative direction to take on a whole new level of
adventure,” explains Renya. “Layering Wella Professionals products and creating a couple of different looks we could push the limits of hair and embrace movement and texture in more ways than one. My Number 1 backstage products
are the Wella Ultimate Repair Miracle Hair Rescue & Mistify Me Light Hairspray which helped me create these structured yet organic looks.”

 

O&M AND SHARK BEAUTY X O&M

Sixty models marched down the runway in celebration of sixty years of excellence from Carla Zampatti, with Hair Direction courtesy of O&M’s Pauline McCabe and Shark Beauty’s Madison Voloshin.

“This is an iconic collection for Carla Zampatti, a celebration of 60
years of timeless style, with 60 models showcasing exquisite
garments, and sophisticated design. The hair brings out the
designs, making the looks feel youthful with a bit of edginess, but
still paying homage to the brand,” said O&M Hair Director, Pauline
McCabe.

“The look today is a very deep side part with a gorgeous flip over to the side, with a soft bend just through the ends. It’s a very luxe, polished look with a bit of edge.”

O&M X AMISS

For the hair direction at the Amiss showing, O&M Hair Director Travis Bandiera crafted tech-inspired, ethereal waves that transformed the models into a parade of island sirens with a luxe, high end finish.

“The collection draws inspiration from co-founder Vanessa’s trip to Sri Lanka,” explained O&M Hair Director Travis Bandiera. “Joshua, also a co-founder of Amiss, brings a strong tech influence to the collection, with custom pieces featuring 3D imagery and printed elements woven throughout the garments.”

“I wanted to create ethereal waves- hair that looks perfectly imperfect,” he continued. “It’s about embracing all natural textures and highlighting the individuality of each model. We’re moving away from the typical wet look and opting for a more refined, polished wave.”

“Some of the looks feature 3D-printed shells sewn into the hair, think ‘Island Siren’ with a luxe, high-end finish. It’s really about the fusion of technology and nature, and bringing that concept to life through the hair.”