Fashion week just got its punk moment. WINGS, Australia’s first truly independent fashion festival, is ripping up the runway rulebook and stitching in a soundtrack of gritty noise, genre-bending electronica, and boundary-pushing performance art. Running 8–9 May, the two-day takeover will transform Sydney’s iconic Plaza Hotel into a sensory explosion — part rave, part runway, all rebellion.
While fashion is the headline, music is its throbbing heart. Live sets from genre-defiant artists like Melbourne’s Maggz and Solsa blur the line between club culture and catwalk, while Sydney’s underground scene gets the spotlight it deserves with performances from G.U.N, Cold Heat, and Agony. This isn’t background music — it’s part of the fabric.
DJ sets will rage late into the night across secret levels of the Plaza, including a Tokyo-inspired Hi-Fi + Vinyl Bar and a heritage-listed art deco cinema. Expect everything from throbbing bass to raw noise curated by selectors like DJ Fukhead, Jebpi, Shuko, and Shantan Wantan Ichiban. Think Boiler Room meets underground fashion salon.
Showcasing their work at the WINGS Independent Fashion Festival runway shows are:
Catholic Guilt – Melbourne-based Ella Jackson’s cult chainmail creations, worn by Julia Fox, Christine Centenera and Sampa the Great, and featured in Vogue Australia and the NGV Gala.
Speed – Founded by Alvi Chung, Speed redefines sustainable tailoring with celebrity clients including The Kid Laroi, Brent Faiyaz and Zindzi Okenyo.
Joteo – Couture by Joash Teo blending Eastern mysticism with sculptural silhouettes, seen on Dami Im, Abbie Chatfield and the red carpet at Cannes.
Amiss – Vanessa & Joshua Gray’s poetic label blends tech and textile, proving to be a rising voice in the digital couture movement.
Jody Just – Launched by Roman Jody in NYC, Jody Just is known for its modern Western streetwear, worn by Post Malone and The Kid Laroi, and profiled in GQ and Esquire.
With backstage experiences crafted by cult Sydney chef Sam Bull and surprise collabs hinted across the bill, WINGS promises to be a chaotic, stylish, and sonically thrilling alternative to the fashion world’s more polished pretenders.
WINGS Independent Fashion Festival
Thursday 8 – Friday 9 May 2025
The Plaza Hotel, George Street, Sydney CBD
On Sale Now: Buy Tickets
WINGS Independent Fashion Festival Pop Up Store
Sat 10 – Sun 25 May 2025
The Plaza Hotel, George Street, Sydney CBB
FREE to attend
