A resurfaced photo of model Jennifer Hawkins walking the catwalk in 2002 has revealed how much Australian Fashion Week has changed in recent decades.
This week saw the launch of AFW 2024, bringing influencers, reality stars and celebrities to Sydney’s Carriageworks arts center to check out the latest local fashion.
However, Australia’s premier fashion festival wasn’t always the extravagant spectacle it is today.
Earlier this week, influencer watchdog account Celeb Spellcheck uploaded a throwback photo taken during what appeared to be a relatively lower budget runway show during Australian Fashion Week in 2002.
The image shows former Miss Universe Jennifer Hawkins strutting her stuff at the launch of Elle MacPherson’s now-defunct swimwear brand Expozay.
A resurfaced photo of model Jennifer Hawkins walking the catwalk in 2002 (left) has revealed how much Australian Fashion Week has changed in recent decades. (Image at right is a model walking in the Michael Lo Sordo show at AFW 2024)
Looking every bit an early 2000s icon, Jennifer modeled a black and white floral print tankini, rimless sport sunglasses, a silk red scarf and a handbag with a small dog inside.
The fashion show took place in what appeared to be a conference room on Sydney’s Circular Quay, in front of an audience that appeared to have an average age of around 50.
At the time, tickets to Australian Fashion Week were reserved for fashion executives, buyers and journalists who were well established in their careers.
The viral image shows former Miss Universe Jennifer Hawkins strutting her stuff at the launch of Elle MacPherson’s now-defunct swimwear brand Expozay. Jennifer (left) is pictured at the same show with fellow models and pop star Sophie Monk (centre)
The fashion show took place in what appeared to be a conference room on Sydney’s Circular Quay, in front of an audience that appeared to have an average age of around 50. Nowadays the catwalk shows are a lot more extensive. (Image: Backstage at The Romance Was Born catwalk show at AFW 2024)
In the early 2000s, Australian Fashion Week was also known to attract international media and celebrity guests, including supermodel Linda Evangelista, who walked the runway for Alex Perry in 1997.
Things have changed since then, especially with the advent of social media.
A quick look at this year’s event shows that the majority of guests are influencers in their 20s, many of whom’s main goal is to be photographed and get a free gift bag.
Australian Fashion Week once had star status, with Bella Hadid (pictured walking for Misha in 2016), Linda Evangelista and Elle Macpherson on the catwalk
Guests were also controversial. Mischa Barton (left) attended Kirrily Johnston’s 2008 runway show and Lara Bingle (right) sat front row at the 2007 Ksubi show
A quick look at this year’s event shows that the majority of guests are twenty-something influencers. (Image: Influencers Bella Varelis, Jadé Brycki, Natalie Roser and Jessica Vander Leahy sit front row at the Third Form re-FORM show at AFW 2024)
Interestingly enough, there is one element of Jennifer Hawkins’ throwback photo that has managed to make a recent comeback: the speed dealer sunglasses.
These once-trendy glasses, worn by both Jennifer and a woman in the audience, have found favor again with the Australian influencer crowd, with the likes of Brooke Warne wearing a pair at the PE Nation runway show on Tuesday.
The blonde appeared to be inspired by her father Shane, who passed away in March 2022, as she wore a pair of white shades that resembled the sportsman’s signature silver glasses.
Interestingly enough, there is one element of Jennifer Hawkins’ throwback photo that has managed to make a recent comeback: the speed dealer sunglasses, with Brooke Warne (left) among others wearing a pair at the PE Nation runway show on Tuesday. (pictured right is her father Shane Warne)