The Powerhouse Museum in Sydney will present its first runway show in the museum’s 142-year history in collaboration with acclaimed Australian fashion designer Iordanes Spyridon Gogos (ISG) as an official offsite location for Afterpay Australian Fashion Week (AAFW) 2022.
Artistic direction and set design are led by ISG collaborators Benn Hamilton and Max Rixon who have created over 15 sculptures in collaboration with the Powerhouse workshop team which will be presented across the runaway and the museum. The show will be presented at the Boiler Hall on Thursday 12 May 2022, alongside a curated Powerhouse Late program.
“The Powerhouse is thrilled to collaborate with ISG for AAFW 2022. Since our collaboration was first announced, Jordan’s epic vision continues to expand in new and exciting ways,” said Powerhouse Chief Executive Lisa Havilah.
“We are excited to galvanise the resources of the Powerhouse workshop team and production teams to transform the iconic Boiler Hall into the world of Jordan Gogos,” she added.
Iordanes Spyridon Gogos has collaborated across the Powerhouse to create several large-scale set pieces for the show bringing Australia’s evolution of art into fashion and textile. To produce the first show to be held at the Powerhouse Museum in its 142-year history, Gogos has enlisted 56 collaborators. The Powerhouse workshop team are part of 60 Australian and international creatives and organisations working across disciplines including architects, musicians, florists, artists and more.
“Our collaboration with the Powerhouse has enabled us to realise the full scale and magnitude of our creative vision for this year’s Afterpay Australian Fashion Week runway show,” enthused Gogos.
“Being embedded in the Powerhouse Ultimo Creative Industries Precinct as a Resident has generated thrilling new collaborations. Access to the incredible workshop facilities and production team at Powerhouse Ultimo will elevate the show to new heights in the iconic Boiler Hall.”
ISG ‘Wearables for the imaginative’ was founded by Jordan Gogos in 2019 with the intent to use the brand as a conduit for community-making and co-design. The label staged its first runway show at AAFW 2021, receiving widespread acclaim for its colourful celebration of community and collaboration. Earlier this year, Powerhouse announced ISG as a Creative Industries Resident, joining more than 20 residents as part of the Ultimo Creative Industries Precinct.
Vice President-Managing Director of IMG fashion events and properties, Asia-Pacific Natalie Xenita also expressed her excitement over this collaboration with the innovative Greek Australian designer.
“Since his debut show at Afterpay Australian Fashion Week in 2021, Jordan has continued to inspire the industry through his innovation, boundary breaking ideas and ability to foster community,” she said.
“IMG is proud of its commitment to the new guard of Australian designers like Jordan who are influencing the future of fashion and design. We recognise the pivotal role that AAFW plays in providing a platform for a designer’s creativity to be showcased on a global stage and are very excited to welcome Jordan back to the runway this season and seeing his vision come to life!”
Other collaborators include Australian fashion icon Jenny Kee; winner of the National Indigenous Fashion Awards 2021 Simone Arnol, working in collaboration with Pormpuraaw Art Centrenand Yarrabah Arts and Culture; model Basjia Almaan who as casting director will celebrate the unique and diverse looks and personalities across Sydney; Sydney designer Nathaniel Youkhana whose brand specialises in making one-of-a-kind garments for bold and diverse communities; Julia Baldini, an emerging shoemaker who will produce over 25 pairs for the runway; and international creatives like artist Patrick Church (NYC) and designer Jake Liu (Shanghai).
The runway show will be livestreamed into the Powerhouse Theatre for visitors to witness the event for free as part of Powerhouse Late, alongside artwork projections, documentary screenings and music curated by FBi Radio. The runway show will also be livestreamed at AAFW.com.au.
See the trailer below: