Signalling a new direction as one of the country's most treasured designers, Gary Bigeni made an ecstatic return to the runway at Australian Afterpay Fashion Week 2022 with a colourful gender-neutral collection.
Gary's gentle spirit and bold commitment to non-toxic positivity was apparent throughout the presentation, with a diverse cast that included friends of CPC Roshan Ramesh, Mia Dennis, Jasmine O'Neill and Cameron Stephens, as well as the amazing Hanan Ibrahim.
"Gender inclusivity and diversity are a big part of my brand identity and DNA, we need to talk about it more in fashion," Gary said in a press release. "They are just colours and they are just clothes, they should be for everyone."
Retaining the fluid, sensual, body-conscious ethos consistent in his designs over the years, Gary declared a decidedly future-facing stance at the Carriageworks venue in his eponymous label's 32-piece collection. Taking its name from a literary term meaning 'come back to life', REDIVIVUS features unisex suiting in vibrant, refreshing colours as well as oversized silk shirting pieces and watercolour paint-style prints. And glitter. Oh, the glitter. Tank dresses, oversized T-shirts, floor-length shirt dresses and fitted tops all crafted in a semi-sheer glitter fabric made themselves known to us as future additions to our wardrobe.
To create samples for the show Gary worked with community-operated Newtown, Sydney retail store The Social Outfit, which employs and trains people from refugee and new migrant communities. The show's music was directed by long time pals and collaborators of Gary's Charlie Villas and Jonny Seymour, creating a soundtrack that included Vera Blue covering Madonna's 'What It Feels Like For a Girl' and English DJ planningtorock (aka Jam Rahuoja Rostron) covering David Bowie's 'Heroes'.
Features Editor: Emily Royal Photos: Chloe Hill
We acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation as the traditional owners of land on which this shoot took place.
