Alleycat, the inaugural runway show from Common Hours, premiered at 8 Challis Avenue, Potts Point - the brand's creative hub - expanding on it's dynamic and emotive storytelling.

Inspired by founder Amber Keating's memories of her parents' bar, Alleycat fused elegance with a punk sensibility. The original Alleycat, tucked down a dark alley in a former warehouse, featured black paint, a red bar, and chalk graffiti covering every surface. Patrons sat on garbage bins and drank from chilli jars. Outside, Amber and her little sister watched the rowdy crowd from a converted van while their parents served drinks and food. Their father delivered Mexican dip and Coca-Cola before hurrying back to manage guests, bands, and police. Post-punk and new wave blared, drawing a lively crowd of regular patrons and raucous revellers. Through van windows and bar doors, the sisters observed the striking, unruly guests: beautiful, elongated, dishevelled, loud and unapologetic creatures that enthralled them with curiosity and want. These moments later inspired Alleycat: a collection of limitless possibilities.

In Alleycat, central themes clash: defiance and restraint, exuberance beneath austerity, chaos reshaping order. Darkness becomes a playground for exploration; the ephemeral and otherworldly fuses with the rough, defining the collection’s character. Sophistication anchors every piece, while heritage mill fabrics signal the tension between tradition and innovation. Alleycat embodies the evolving Common Hours aesthetic, a personal blend of luxury and time. Contrasts surface in bold dresses, daring catsuits, and subtler, more discreet pieces. Tailored lines blend masculinity and femininity, channelling an audacity fit to the fringes of society. A message of freedom and rebellion rooted in poetry, music, and art - an invitation to come as you are.

The show received strong support from the press, industry, media, and the general public in attendance, opening up discourse around the brand.

SHOW DIRECTION

The show direction, in partnership with RIZER Global, wrapped 8 Challis Avenue in a blank canvas, providing a bold contrast to Alleycat's debauchery and suggesting a space perpetually under construction and evolution. Models moved through many rooms, some tightly packed, others with seating, channelling turn-of-the-century couture salons and punk fashion parties from the late '80s and early '90s. Clean, diffuse lighting made details and fabrics easy to see and photograph.

IMAGE DIRECTION

A large team created content for the show, capturing Alleycat in varied ways. The team included Simon Lekias (runway and details), Anthony Lau (runway video), Michael Comninus and Myles Kalus (front-of-house, atmosphere and after-party), Jake Terrey and Claudia Rose (fittings, backstage campaign). Hidden cameras throughout the house recorded the runway as it wound through the manor and back lane, mixing high-definition and CCTV footage. 

BESPOKE NEWSPAPER ARTWORK

A custom print for the collection was created by collaging vintage international newspapers from 1971. These were plastered, torn, and layered into a word mosaic reflecting the era's trivia and sense of doom. The artwork was then photographed and digitally manipulated for printing on stretch mesh or crinkled, paper-like Tyvek. The handmade artwork was also featured on an upstairs wall during the show. 

HAIR AND MAKE-UP

The beauty direction for the show was developed with Hair Director Renya Xydis and Make-up Director Daren Borthwick. Focusing on perfect imperfection and inspired by notorious club kids of old, the looks were pared back for today, and designed to work organically with each model's best features. A DIY attitude echoed the feeling of doing your makeup before a night out and touching it up in a club bathroom, echoing the same memories of the Alleycat bar that informed the collection. Inspiration came from the freedom of the '70s and '80s, from anonymous characters to the grit of Patti Smith or the glamour of Jerry Hall.

DON JULIO HOUSE PARTY

Immediately after the show, the Don Julio 1942 house party celebrated Common Hours. Music Director Dan Lywood spun post-punk, punk, and new wave, spanning 1971 to today. Tacos and tequila cocktails anchored the event in Amber's Alleycat memories. Palomas, Margaritas, and Don Julio neat gave a luxurious twist to the classic house party.