After months of announcements on the web and photos published on social media, Melburnians will finally enjoy the colours, swirls and swishes of a fashion show.

The long-awaited ‘Melbourne Fashion Week’ returns from 15 to 21 November with a packed program set to celebrate and uplift the city’s fashion scene and its talented designers, in some of the most iconic locations: Plaza Ballroom, Federation Square, Aquarium and Rialto, among many others.

In 2017, Melbourne Fashion Week already saw Italo-Australian model Stefania Ferrario as one of its four ambassador “faces”.

Ferrario pushed the diversity button in a number of ways – she’s a size 12 and blurs the male-female distinction by her penchant for men’s suits.

At this year’s show, we will see diversity on the catwalk thanks to Kerry and Angelo Pietrobon, founders of ‘Harlow’, an independent and Australian-owned business, based in Brunswick, that makes clothing in sizes 12-26.

Harlow is showing on 18 November at Rialto.

“It’s exciting, not only for me, but for everyone who has supported us throughout the years,” said Kerry Pietrobon.

“Our brand has never been about being famous – it’s about making women feel good.

“This is not only a win for us, but for every single woman who, like me, has left a fashion show feeling rejected by society and the fashion space because of their size.”

Younger generations have certainly given greater impetus to diversity.

They do not care of the hetero-imposed guidelines on physicality, and they are continually driven by sustainability and inclusion.

Many fashion companies present themselves as champions of diversity, but the real test is whether they have the courage to hang a dress in their own boutique that is larger than a size 8 in order to send a positive message – to take care of their customers and not to dress them in the back room where the ‘plus-sizes’ are hidden.

“It’s still very slow, but it’s getting better,” said Pietrobon.

“This year, we’ll have at least a size 18-20 – that’s an important step.”

Harlow will show at Rialto with urban-chic clothing for everyday life to reflect the current uncertainty due to the pandemic.

“We’ve stuck to black, white, and a little pop of colour,” said Kerry Pietrobon.

“There will be some sequins, lots of linen. And it’s less structured because that’s really how life looks in the next 12 months.”

Despite nineteen months of lockdowns, the company has continued to create and sell thanks to its local manufacturing based in Brunswick, and has also developed a small online community.

“We kept in contact with our customers not only by selling more clothes but by keeping them updated with playlists and ideas about what to do during lockdown,” said Angelo Pietrobon.

“We realised that people enjoyed it, or sort of needed it. Perhaps ‘needed’ is a better word.”

Melbourne Fashion Week is finally back with thought-provoking talks, exhibitions and workshops.

For Kelly and Angelo Pietrobon – who have always attended fashion weeks as spectators –, it’s really a dream come true.

“I don’t think that young Kerry and Angelo would believe it. Even adult Kerry still doesn’t believe it,” said Pietrobon.

“And I am sure that there will be no holding back my tears of joy. We sometimes forget how far we’ve come together.”