The WINGS Independent Fashion Festival has partnered with Sydney’s Metro Theatre to bring a month of fashion, art, and secret live music performances to Metro Social.
Taking place in May, WINGS’ fashion month will include eight designers as it takes over Metro Social. The events will host a Metro A.i.R. Runway in the round, performance art, and musical acts, which will be revealed on the night.
According to a press release, the events will host a brand-new format “in the spirit of Vivienne Westwood and The Prodigy at MTV in 1997” and encourage “catwalk madness” alongside raves.
It’s set to be “part music video, part runway, all rabbit hole.” The 2026 edition of WINGS’ Independent Fashion Festival is powered by Jack Daniel’s and the Australian Government via Live Music Australia.
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Metro A.i.R, The Metro Theatre’s weekly Wednesday residency, which has hosted several different musical events, will become the home of the month-long fashion show. WINGS’ program marks the venue’s first-ever fashion-led programme and, for WINGS, its most ambitious residency to date.
The events will take place on Wednesday, 6 May (opening night), Wednesday, 13 May, Wednesday, 20 May, and Wednesday, 27 May (closing night). Performers and fashion stars locked in for the residency include SPEED and Weird World Order (6 May), Lanterna and SHIYO (13 May), BAAQIY and A-D- Atelier (20 May), and Réseau and PIGSUIT (27 May).
Alongside the fashion and music events, WINGS is introducing the WINGS Independent Designer Award, which will be presented by the talent agency NOTICED. Up-and-coming Australian brands under five years old are eligible to apply. The winner will be announced on closing night and take home an epic prize package. You can enter here.
The fashion festival was founded in 2024 by designer Alvi Chung (SPEED) and cultural strategist Daniel Neeson. Officially recognised as Sydney’s first independent, multidisciplinary fashion platform, WINGS hosted its inaugural event last year at Sydney’s Plaza Hotel.
WINGS Co-Founder Daniel Neeson said of the residency, “Every designer on this line-up could have a career in London or New York tomorrow. Instead, they’re staying here, building here, fostering a scene that is uniquely Australian and internationally compelling. They dress Amy Taylor, PARTYNEXTDOOR, 2hollis, The Kid LAROI and BLACKPINK: some of the world’s biggest music stars.”
Neeson continued, “We started WINGS because Australia has a generation of designers more interesting and more diverse than anything the mainstream is paying attention to. What pub-rock bands like AC/DC, The Angels, Midnight Oil and Cold Chisel did for Australian music, these designers are doing for Australian fashion and culture.
“Sydney’s nightlife is finally showing signs of life again, and if WINGS can help that rebuild, it feels something close to a moral duty. One I couldn’t be happier to oblige.”
As Metro Social is an intimate venue, bookings to attend are essential. You can book your tickets here.
