For 20 years, Australia’s most beloved designers gathered at The Strand Arcade for one fabulous evening to celebrate local fashion, the latest collections and the thriving creative community. While the event is hanging up its heels for 2024, we’re reflecting back on the past 20 years of An Evening With Our Designers and highlighting three of our favourites; each encapsulated the state of Australia’s fashion industry at that moment in time. (Think of it as a sort of fashion time capsule.) From the local talent who’ve walked the Strand Arcade’s hallowed halls over the years, to the outstanding activations and historic moments that made the events so spectacular, join us for a trip down memory lane.  

2013 

 Much like today, the Strand Arcade of 2013 was abuzz with the trendiest designers of the moment — think Alex Perry, Lover and Alannah Hill. Dinosaur Designs had made a name for itself, with co-founder and designer Louise Olsen attending An Evening With Our Designers alongside Heleena Trahanas, who had joined the company as its PR and marketing manager a year prior (and remains with the brand to this day). Michael Lo Sordo had launched his eponymous label seven years earlier, and was making a name for himself in Australia’s burgeoning fashion scene. Bloggers Elle Ferguson and Tash Sefton attended the event too, with their blog They All Hate Us on the precipice of going viral.  

2018 

Fast forward five years, and Australian fashion is now globally renowned thanks to a breezy mix of careful craftsmanship, laidback silhouettes and playful experimentation. At An Evening With Our Designers, it was a celebration of the women at the forefront of the industry. Rebecca Vallance, who launched her eponymous label seven years earlier in Paris and since it debuted Down Under the following year, was there, as was Lisa Dempsey of Jac + Jack, who offered a delightful monogramming service on the night. It was a family affair too, with Alexandra and Genevieve Smart of Ginger and Smart and Manning Cartell’s Vanessa and Cheryl Manning representing their brands.  

 2023 

 After a three-year hiatus as a result of COVID, An Evening With Our Designers returned in 2023 bigger and better than ever. So big, in fact, that it spanned the entire month. Collaborations between local artists and designers of the Strand Arcade, curated by creative community platform Arts-Matter, decorated the centre. Camilla and Marc teamed up with emerging artist Orson Heinrich on an instore installation, while Bassike’s boutique was adorned with ceramics by Amelia Lynch. A bar cart from Malfy Gin ensured libations were at the ready for anyone in the mood to celebrate, while designers appeared instore throughout the month to meet shoppers and offer styling advice. It became quite the send off for one of the city’s most iconic shopping events.