With a pre-existing reputation for being one of Australian Fashion Week’s annual creative highlights, the Iordanes Spyridon Gogos runway more than lived up to the hype in 2025. Renowned for its unique energy, unbridled artistry and beautifully bold commitment to colour, one would imagine that the hair looks accompanying the show would take a back seat to the larger-than-life garments taking to the runway.
But with Redken Hair Director Richard Kavanagh at the helm for the third consecutive year, one might want to think again. Forget the sleek wet looks or effortlessly textured looks one can expect to see on the runway, Richard’s hair direction once again dived right into the world of hair artistry matching the creative expression of Jordan Gogos’ designs, with the collaboration between Designer and Hair Director unlike any other. With hair looks unique to the garment – almost an extension of each piece or concept – instead of a hair trial, Jordan and Richard instead met for a collaborative brainstorm in the Iordanes Spyridon Gogos workroom amongst the creations destined for the runway the next week.
“The hair moments from this show were something else,” says Redken Hair Director Richard Kavanagh. “For the major ‘jaw drop’ hair moment of the show, we took inspiration from surrealist art, powdered wigs and intricate pillars to create this larger-than-life ionic pillar of hair that literally took it to the next level.”
“It’s a really collaborative process between Jordan and myself when deciding on hair direction and the looks for each piece.”
“The hair and what Richard does creates the world around my piece, and it makes me see it for the first time again.”
Jordan Gogos, Iordanes Spyridon Gogos Designer.
“Any collab has to have a sense of trust,” continues designer Jordan Gogos. “This year I felt like I was able to be like, you know what -you just let me know.”
“Hair is supposed to be fun and stimulate people’s senses – and it does! There are hair moments that happen in the show – especially from Richard and the team – that are mind blowing.”
“The hair and what Richard does creates the world around my piece, and it makes me see it for the first time again.”
What resulted was hair taken to new heights – quite literally in some cases – and perhaps the purest example of creative collaboration leading to a land somewhere over the rainbow.
From hair trial through to the manic moments prior to the first model hitting the runway, Richard Kavanagh took us along for the ride through his Redken Hair Director Diary.
Click here to check it out, and immerse yourself in the magic and madness of life back stage at Australian Fashion Week.
