The Times Australia
Fashion and Beauty

.

Runway With a Hug: Gary Bigeni’s Colourful Comeback

  • Written by Cesar Ocampo


By Cesar Ocampo

Photographer | AFW 2025

Some designers you photograph once, admire from afar, and move on. But others — like Gary Bigeni — pull you in and never let go. Not because of the spectacle, but because of the soul.

I’ve been lucky enough to shoot every one of Gary’s runway shows at Australian Fashion Week since he first took to the schedule. Each time, his shows feel like a celebration — not just of fashion, but of individuality, identity, and the beautiful, vibrant communities that surround him. This year, at AFW 2025 Day 4, I found myself back where I always am during his shows: behind the lens, smiling as I shoot.

There’s a kind of warmth in Gary’s world that translates so effortlessly into every frame. Polka dots, bright colour blocking, sequins, silkscreen prints — yes, they make the photos pop. But what gives them life is the way they move with the people wearing them. His collections aren’t built to sit still. They’re made to dance, to laugh, to hug — just like Gary himself.

 

This year’s runway ended just the way I hoped it would — in a full-blown burst of dancing and joy, hugs and applause. It’s a signature now, this emotional release at the end of his shows. The moment the final look passes, music swells, and his cast — which always reflects a beautiful spectrum of sizes, ages, and identities — come together in one collective embrace.

For me as a photographer, those are the most meaningful frames to capture. They’re not staged, not polished, and that’s exactly the point. They’re real. They’re Gary.

Over the years, I’ve seen how he casts not just models, but people — friends, muses, icons — like this year’s surprise runway debut from Melissa Leong, who absolutely radiated confidence and grace. His runways have never been about chasing trends; they’re about rewriting what a runway can be.

Gary’s refusal to shrink his vision or cast according to outdated industry norms isn’t just admirable — it’s necessary. In a world that’s far too quick to regress into narrow definitions of beauty, his shows remind us that style is for everyone. And photographing that truth — year after year — has become one of the greatest honours of my career.

I’ll never forget the first Bigeni show I covered. The energy backstage, the colour on the runway, the thunderous cheers at the end. I remember thinking: this is what fashion should feel like. And now, five shows later, it still does.

Every show leaves me inspired. Not just as an artist — but as a person. Gary brings the joy. And I’ll be there to capture it, every time.

 

Times Magazine

Building an AI-First Culture in Your Company

AI isn't just something to think about anymore - it's becoming part of how we live and work, whether we like it or not. At the office, it definitely helps us move faster. But here's the thing: just using tools like ChatGPT or plugging AI into your wo...

Data Management Isn't Just About Tech—Here’s Why It’s a Human Problem Too

Photo by Kevin Kuby Manuel O. Diaz Jr.We live in a world drowning in data. Every click, swipe, medical scan, and financial transaction generates information, so much that managing it all has become one of the biggest challenges of our digital age. Bu...

Headless CMS in Digital Twins and 3D Product Experiences

Image by freepik As the metaverse becomes more advanced and accessible, it's clear that multiple sectors will use digital twins and 3D product experiences to visualize, connect, and streamline efforts better. A digital twin is a virtual replica of ...

The Decline of Hyper-Casual: How Mid-Core Mobile Games Took Over in 2025

In recent years, the mobile gaming landscape has undergone a significant transformation, with mid-core mobile games emerging as the dominant force in app stores by 2025. This shift is underpinned by changing user habits and evolving monetization tr...

Understanding ITIL 4 and PRINCE2 Project Management Synergy

Key Highlights ITIL 4 focuses on IT service management, emphasising continual improvement and value creation through modern digital transformation approaches. PRINCE2 project management supports systematic planning and execution of projects wit...

What AI Adoption Means for the Future of Workplace Risk Management

Image by freepik As industrial operations become more complex and fast-paced, the risks faced by workers and employers alike continue to grow. Traditional safety models—reliant on manual oversight, reactive investigations, and standardised checklist...

The Times Features

Is our mental health determined by where we live – or is it the other way round? New research sheds more light

Ever felt like where you live is having an impact on your mental health? Turns out, you’re not imagining things. Our new analysis[1] of eight years of data from the New Zeal...

Going Off the Beaten Path? Here's How to Power Up Without the Grid

There’s something incredibly freeing about heading off the beaten path. No traffic, no crowded campsites, no glowing screens in every direction — just you, the landscape, and the...

West HQ is bringing in a season of culinary celebration this July

Western Sydney’s leading entertainment and lifestyle precinct is bringing the fire this July and not just in the kitchen. From $29 lobster feasts and award-winning Asian banque...

What Endo Took and What It Gave Me

From pain to purpose: how one woman turned endometriosis into a movement After years of misdiagnosis, hormone chaos, and major surgery, Jo Barry was done being dismissed. What beg...

Why Parents Must Break the Silence on Money and Start Teaching Financial Skills at Home

Australia’s financial literacy rates are in decline, and our kids are paying the price. Certified Money Coach and Financial Educator Sandra McGuire, who has over 20 years’ exp...

Australia’s Grill’d Transforms Operations with Qlik

Boosting Burgers and Business Clean, connected data powers real-time insights, smarter staffing, and standout customer experiences Sydney, Australia, 14 July 2025 – Qlik®, a g...