Rebuilding Australian Fashion Week, Kellie Hush spills the tea on their Trade Over Trends approach

From the editor’s desk at Harper’s Bazaar to the front lines of fashion tech and circularity, Kellie Hush has seen every evolution of the Australian style landscape. Now, as she leads the charge for a revitalised, newly not-for-profit Australian Fashion Week, Kellie is on a mission to bring the industry back to its roots: trade, community, and global recognition. In this episode, we pull back the curtain on the fashion festival to discuss the high-stakes business of the runway. Kellie gets candid about the lessons she learned from professional failure, the necessity of fantasy pieces, and why she’s trading the industrial walls of Carriageworks for the iconic backdrop of the Sydney Harbour. Inside the Episode: The Career Sprint: Kellie reflects on her journey from writing about "babies and dummies" at Practical Parenting to the helm of the country's most prestigious fashion titles. The Pivot to Not-For-Profit: Why the Australian Fashion Council took the reins from IMG to focus on supporting designers rather than corporate bottom lines. Trade Over Trends: A deep dive into the strategy of getting international buyers back to Australia and why our "lifestyle clothing" is our greatest global export. The Business of the Runway: The reality of show costs, infrastructure, and why some of those "money shots" on the runway never actually make it to the retail floor. Failure as a Credential: Kellie shares why her failed retail venture made her a better leader and more relatable to the designers she now champions. The New AFW DNA: Moving the "fashion walk" to the heart of the city and balancing avant-garde discovery with commercial viability. Join the Conversation: What part of Kellie’s Failure-to-Success story resonated most with your own creative journey? And are you excited about the move to the MCA and the harbour? Is Australian fashion finally getting the global credit it deserves? Let us know in the comments!  Fashion Week Dates: May 11-15. See you in the front row (or behind the scenes)!  Connect with Kellie:  Follow Kellie Hush: @kelliehush Australian Fashion Week: australianfashionweek.org The Volte : thevolte.com  The Seamlist: seamlist.com.au Join our community!  Your host, Arielle Thomas on Instagram, ⁠@arielle.thomas⁠ Us, on Instagram, ⁠@processthepodcast Follow us to get notified every time a new episode drops every Tuesday.  See you on the next one!