Façon exhibition brings Newcastle’s fashion story to the museum

newy.com.au – Newcastle Museum will roll out the red carpet tomorrow for a new exhibition celebrating the city’s connection to Australia’s fashion industry through 10 years of Newcastle-based fashion magazine and modelling agency Façon.

The free exhibition, Façon 10: Retrospective, will remain on display at Newcastle Museum until 27 June 2026.

The retrospective explores couture culture through the lens of Façon, with a focus on how local designers, models, personalities and locations have been celebrated in print and on the runway.

City of Newcastle’s Director of Museum Archive Libraries and Learning Julie Baird said the exhibition recognised the vision of Façon founder and stylist Lara Lupish, who brought her international fashion industry experience together with her hometown.

“Newcastle Museum is a place where local stories are shared, celebrated and preserved and this same ethos has been at the heart of Façon from the very beginning,” Ms Baird said.

“They proudly prioritised their Newcastle identity, providing opportunities for local photographers, models, designers and creatives alongside nationally and internationally recognised names.

“They celebrated the place where the magazine was produced, showcasing the city’s iconic locations like Fort Scratchley, the Civic Theatre and the Newcastle Ocean Baths.

“From the famous faces that have adorned its covers, to the designers whose looks have styled its pages, Façon has spent a decade bringing high fashion to Newcastle – and Newcastle to the world.”

The exhibition features enlarged reproductions of the magazine’s covers and fashion shoots, including images of Newcastle’s Miss Universe Tegan Martin, actor and television personality Kate Ritchie and Indigenous supermodel Samantha Harris.

Some of the magazine’s signature looks are displayed on mannequins dressed in clothing and accessories from Newcastle-based and nationally recognised designers, including Jean Bas, High Tea With Mrs Woo, Saretta The Label, Studio Melt and vintage Givenchy.

Never-before-displayed couture from the museum’s collection is also included, with mid-20th century gown The Lantern Dress by Newcastle designer John Robinson among the pieces on show.

Robinson was known for made-to-measure craftsmanship and theatrical embellishment, often using hand-applied sequins and beads. A selection of his gowns from the museum’s collection appeared in the Winter 2021 issue of Façon.

The exhibition’s showpiece is a sculptural evening gown by Australian designer Toni Maticevski, worn by singer and television presenter Ricki-Lee Coulter on the cover of Façon’s Summer 2019 issue.

Ms Lupish said Façon had grown beyond its original role as a magazine.

“Façon was designed as a celebration of Newcastle and the Hunter; a way to highlight local businesses and creatives alongside luxury national and international brands,” Ms Lupish said.

“But it has become more than a magazine; it is a record of time, place and community.

“We’re proud to have launched and progressed the careers of countless up-and-coming models including Face of Façon finalist Sarah Henderson, who went on to sign with Metropolitan Models Group in Italy, walk the runway at Australian Fashion Week and for DIOR in Paris.

“We’ve prioritised First Nations models and stories including the development of The Indigenous Storytellers Scholarship to celebrate, sustain and grow Indigenous art, design and storytelling.

“This has allowed us to support recipients including filmmaker Jahvis Loveday, photographer Sean Kinchela, fashion brand Miimi and Jiinda, who have now showed at Australian Fashion Week numerous times and singer-songwriter Ruby Shay, who went on to secure an ABC Country Charts #1 after her scholarship win.

“Through it all we’ve proudly celebrated our city and its stories. We will continue to create and put Newcastle on the map, not only in our own country but in the world.”