ADL Fashion Week (AFW) launches today, unveiling the events programme for the city’s newest annual festival celebrating fashion in South Australia.

Delivered by the Adelaide Economic Development Agency (AEDA) and held from
6 – 9 October 2022, AFW will feature a curated program of events designed to celebrate fashion and shopping in the city in line with the upcoming spring/summer season. With the best brands and biggest range, Rundle Mall is expected to be a hive of activity during the event with entertainment, free experiences and events for shoppers of all ages and tastes.

AEDA Managing Director Ian Hill says AFW puts fashion front of mind for South Australian shoppers and supports an industry that contributes $218m to the state’s economy.

“2022 has been a huge year with some of the biggest Australian and global brands investing heavily in Adelaide with the likes of JD Sports, Glue Store, and rebel opening its first CBD Customer Experience (rCX) flagship in Rundle Mall,” says Hill. “The highly anticipated Japanese fashion giant, UNIQLO, is due to open its doors at the end of the year.

“Rundle Street has welcomed Australian designer favourites, Carla Zampatti, VIKTORIA & WOODS and Assembly Label, all of which contribute to the ever- growing retail sector in the heart of Adelaide with more to come on the horizon.”

From home-grown designers to some of the world’s most iconic brands, shoppers can discover the latest looks at AFW events then take their favourite products home, taking advantage of some of the best offers and discounts from stores in Rundle Mall, Rundle Street and across the city as part of the year’s biggest shopping event.

Marking the event launch on Thursday, a ticketed lunch will be held at Fishbank featuring key South Australian designers, bespoke fashion moments and an unmissable live showcase.

To celebrate 90 years of iconic South Australian brand R.M.Williams, Sôl Rooftop at SkyCity will host an intimate dinner, with an exclusive Q&A with R.M.Williams Head of Product Development and TAFE SA alum Scott Faulder.

“It’s great to see fashion being celebrated in the city once again. I’m thrilled to be involved in the inaugural ADL Fashion Week,” shares Faulder.

“R.M.Williams is a homegrown, internationally recognised brand, and I look forward to sharing industry insights over an intimate dinner at Sôl Rooftop.”

Saturday will see ‘Slow Lounge Saturday,’ a series of immersive workshops held in North Adelaide presented by Fashion Est. and the South Australian Fashion Industry Association (SAFIA). Following this will be the inaugural SA Designer Showcase The Art of Fashion, taking place at the Art Gallery of South Australia celebrating local emerging, ready-to-wear and couture designers.

Other program events include Rundle Street Up Late on Friday and a collaboration with this year’s Adelaide Film Festival as they present the South Australian premiere of Fashion Reimagined at Palace Nova Cinemas on Sunday. Following the screening will be a Q&A panel featuring Melanie Flintoft of Sunset Lover and Sophia McMahon of autark.

AFW will celebrate fashion as a creative expression, a thriving retail sector, and a key economic contributor. The program has been developed in collaboration with industry experts spanning across the fashion sector, city operators and event partners, including the teams at Media Makeup and Clip Joint.

With the festival anticipated to grow year-on-year, it will provide a platform for city businesses and fashion industries to showcase their offerings on a national scale.

Tickets go on sale from 9am Monday 5 September for the two launch events on Thursday 6 October to kick off the four-day festival, with more events to be announced shortly. With so much anticipation around the event, tickets are expected to go quickly so fashion lovers are encouraged to get in early.