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Introducing
WINGS
Independent Fashion Festival
at Sydney’s Plaza Hotel
in May
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Daniel Neeson and Alvi Chung – Festival Co-Founders
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“WINGS is an electric reminder that Sydney’s underground is not only alive but redefining what Australian fashion can be.” – Harper’s BAZAAR Australia
Founded by designer Alvi Chung and cultural strategist Daniel Neeson, WINGS is Australia’s inaugural Independent Fashion Festival — where fashion collides with music, art and digital culture to provide an unfiltered, immersive and accessible alternative to traditional fashion week events, which Harpers Bazaar has dubbed “An electric reminder that Sydney’s underground is not only alive but redefining what Australian fashion can be.”
Running from 8-9 May, WINGS will reimagine The Plaza Hotel’s grand interiors across three levels, combining full-scale runway shows with large-scale installations, creative lighting design and immersive performance art, while providing a platform for emerging designers like Catholic Guilt, Speed, Joteo, Amiss and Jody Just to showcase their incredible bodies of work.
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The Kid Laroi wearing Jody Just
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Tastemakers will also be treated to live music performances from fashion-adjacent upstarts, like Melbourne’s genre-bending electronic acts, Maggz and Solsa, and leading figures from Sydney’s punk, alt-electronic and noise scenes including G.U.N, Cold Heat and Agony. Further live performances, surprise collaborations and DJ sets from DJ Fukhead, Jebpi, Kilimi, Thick Owens, Shuko, Lau and Shantan Wantan Ichiban will pop up across The Plaza Hotel’s hidden levels, including the Tokyo inspired Hi-Fi + Vinyl Bar, as well as the heritage listed art deco cinema and underground caverns.
Backstage experiences will also be curated by acclaimed chef Sam Bull (formerly of Icebergs, North Bondi Italian Food and Prince of York), ensuring the festival is a must-see for any fashion, art, music and food fan.
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Barbara Castellanos wearing Joteo
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Showcasing their incredible 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.
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Julia Fox wearing Catholic Guilt
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WINGS co-founder and festival organiser Daniel Neeson explains further “WINGS was born out of the underground Sydney scene where fashion, art and music instinctively collide. We wanted to create something unique in this spirit — a gritty guerrilla fashion week with authenticity and cultural teeth that was compelling to fashion fans and accessible for emerging designers to share their work.”
“This isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about space, storytelling, and reclaiming authorship. This is our most ambitious project yet.” adds co-founder and renowned Speed designer Alvi Chung.
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Following the main event, WINGS will launch a two-week curated pop-up store on George Street in Sydney’s CBD from Sat 10 – Sun 25 May, showcasing work from emerging Australian designers, artists and makers. The store will feature exclusive garments, limited-edition art pieces and collaborative workshops throughout the two week pop-up.
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
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WINGS
WEBSITE – INSTAGRAM
PLAZA HOTEL
WEBSITE – INSTAGRAM
HOW GOOD
WEBSITE – INSTAGRAM
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AMNPLIFY – DB
My nickname is “The Amnplifier”. Why? Because around here my focus is on being a conduit for providing greater outcomes that people come here for. My day to day “work” is living in the moment, and I love helping others concentrate on finding their connection to themselves through their experiences.
Why start a music environment? The truth is I love music, I love writing, and I love life. I work with musicians every day, and I feel certain that I will be until they put me in the ground. I have been managing people in businesses of some sort for over thirty five years so along the way I have developed some “wisdom” from my regular and constant “observations”.
Amnplify your experience. That is what we want you to do here, and if you want to let me know why you do, or don’t, shoot me a message on Facebook.
Hope you enjoy yourself here and find something that hits you somewhere.