Austin Fashion Week Wraps Season 17

For seventeen seasons, Austin Fashion Week has delivered runway excitement to local fashion lovers—from its early in-store retail events designed to boost foot traffic during the tough economic climate of 2009 to its glamorous red-carpet award galas. This event holds a special place in my heart, too, as it marks the very same day Fashionably Austin officially launched. It’s been a joy to witness firsthand how much Austin’s fashion scene has evolved and expanded over the years.

Before the runway festivities kicked off, a media night was held at the Renaissance Hotel in the Arboretum, spotlighting fashion author Jeffrey Banks as he celebrated the release of his new memoir, Storyteller: Tales from a Fashion Insider. The coffee-table book chronicles Banks’ decades-long career in fashion working alongside top designers, creating his own menswear line and creating looks for Hollywood starlets. He worked side by side with Ralph Lauren as his second assistant at just 17 years old, when the company had about a dozen employees. “I knew he was going to become as big as he is today—I instinctively felt that at 16,” Banks shared.

Banks also mentioned his time at Calvin Klein, fashion stories about New York Fashion Week, his favorite fashion icons, his fashion book about tartan plaid, which he is considered an expert and the only time in fashion history where Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren sat together which was at his menswear fashion show.

For AFW Fall 2025, three nights of shows featured 72 designers sending looks down the runway at the IPIC area of the Domain. The opening night titled INCUBATE showcased ACC Fashion Incubator’s past and present designers, showing looks focused on innovation and craftsmanship. Following was the BLACK DESIGNER SHOWCASE and showcased creatives from Central Texas and beyond.

CHECK OUT THE AFW RUNWAY GALLERY HERE!

The runway on Saturday’s RESILIENCE show was a place for celebration and reflection with survivors of domestic violence wearing garments accented in purple which is the color for the domestic violence awareness. The EMERGE show featured rising designers and to end the season Austin Fashion Week closed with LAUNCH787 a show full of fun with local Austin designers.

The shows moved from the street in front of Nieman Marcus to the IPic area of the Domain. “I love this new space! I think it feels really intimate and fun,” added Swinney. The space also enabled a smoother shopping experience for popup vendor shopping, food truck eating with seating and mingling.

My standout runway look of the evening was an oversized, belted black caftan styled top accented with ruffled tulle sleeve accents with a sheer skirt by Project Runway Season 13 designer Samantha Plasencia. Her collection was impeccably styled, featuring additional pieces that felt equally striking, modern, and refreshingly innovative. Runway honorable mention goes to designer Dania Cayetano with an equally cohesive collection.

Swinney shared that there will indeed be another Spring AFW event. Stay tuned for the details so you can be on the pulse of everything Austin Fashion.