Sydney Trunk Show Recap: Mardi Gras Weekend 2026

Two Days in Sydney: Trunk Show, Fair Day, and the Clients in Between

February 13 to 15, 2026. Ten trunk show appointments at Meriton Suites, a booth at Sydney's Fair Day, and a weekend that brought both sides of Isadora Nim together in one city.

Why Sydney, and Why This Weekend

Isadora Nim is a Melbourne-based tailoring studio specialising in made-to-measure suits for diverse body types and gender expression. Founded by Peter Nghiem in 2016, the studio in Carlton North serves clients year-round seeking custom suits in Melbourne with a precise, personalised fit.

To support interstate clients, Isadora Nim hosts Sydney trunk shows each quarter, offering the same one-on-one fitting experience without the need to travel. Each visit includes a limited release of just ten private suit fitting appointments in Sydney, running for sixty minutes and providing full access to the collection for consultation, measurements, and ordering.

The February 2026 Sydney trunk show was intentionally scheduled to align with Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras—one of the most significant cultural events in Sydney. Hosting the trunk show during Mardi Gras weekend created a natural opportunity to connect custom tailoring with LGBTQ+ clients, queer fashion, and community.

While the Kent Street trunk show appointments and the Fair Day booth differed in format—private fittings versus public engagement—both were grounded in the same goal: making inclusive, made-to-measure tailoring more accessible in Sydney.

The Trunk Show: February 13 and 14

Ten appointments across Friday and Saturday at Meriton Suites, 528 Kent Street. Each one ran for sixty minutes with Peter, one client at a time, with no one else in the space.

A Sydney trunk show appointment with Peter follows the same process as a made-to-measure suit fitting in Melbourne, offering a fully personalised, one-on-one experience. Each session is tailored to the individual—focusing on what the client needs, the occasions they are dressing for (including weddings, corporate wear, and formal events), and the specific fit challenges they’ve experienced with off-the-rack clothing.

This personalised approach ensures every custom suit in Sydney is designed with intention—considering silhouette, comfort, and versatility. The collection curated for each trunk show includes modern formalwear and professional tailoring that can transition across multiple settings, allowing clients to build a wardrobe that feels cohesive rather than single-purpose.

Across the two-day Sydney trunk show, clients represented a diverse mix:

• Returning clients investing in additional made-to-measure garments

• First-time customers discovering custom tailoring in Sydney after following the brand online

• Members of the broader community who connected during Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and booked fittings during the weekend

This blend of clients reflects the growing demand for inclusive tailoring, gender-affirming suits, and personalised fit experiences in Sydney.

One of the standout moments was seeing clients try on pieces and immediately light up when they saw themselves in the mirror.

That moment—when a suit fits exactly as it should—is what the entire made-to-measure tailoring process is built around. From precise measurements to fabric selection and multiple fittings over six to eight weeks, every step is designed to deliver a perfectly fitted custom suit. For clients who have spent years settling for off-the-rack options that almost work, this is where the difference becomes undeniable.

Throughout the Sydney trunk show, this experience came up repeatedly. Clients responded to the quality craftsmanship, precision fit, and versatility of each piece—highlighting how a single garment could move seamlessly between weddings, professional settings, and formal occasions.

Many also noted the clear distinction between a made-to-measure suit and an altered off-the-rack option. The difference in fit, structure, and overall finish is immediately visible—often from across the room. For those who have experienced both, custom tailoring quickly becomes the preferred standard.

To maintain the quality of each consultation, appointments were limited to ten across the weekend. This ensures every client receives a dedicated, one-on-one suit fitting experience with Peter. The result is a process that feels calm, focused, and highly personalised—never rushed, even during one of the busiest periods in Sydney.

Fair Day: February 15

On Sunday, February 15, Peter attended Fair Day at Victoria Park in Camperdown, part of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 2026 programme. As one of the largest and most anticipated events of Mardi Gras, Fair Day is a free, all-ages celebration that attracts thousands of visitors and features more than 200 stalls, performances, and community activations.

The Isadora Nim booth was located in the Cleveland Stalls Village, placing the brand within a vibrant mix of LGBTQ+ businesses, designers, and community organisations. The event programme included highlights such as the Drag King Games, Queer Fashion Runway, Trans Camp, and the First Nations Circle—reinforcing Fair Day’s role as a key moment for queer visibility, fashion, and inclusive community engagement.

From Private Fittings to Public Engagement

Unlike the private made-to-measure trunk show appointments in Sydney, Fair Day offered a more open and dynamic environment. Where fittings are quiet and highly personalised, Fair Day is energetic, social, and fast-paced—creating opportunities to connect with a broader audience interested in custom suits, gender-affirming tailoring, and inclusive fashion.

Throughout the day, thousands of attendees moved through the park, stopping to explore stalls and engage with brands. For Isadora Nim, this meant a wide range of conversations:

• Returning clients reconnecting with the brand

• First-time visitors discovering made-to-measure tailoring in Sydney

• Curious attendees learning how the custom suit process works

These interactions generated strong interest, with many enquiries expected to convert into future Sydney fitting appointments.

A Natural Fit for the Brand

For a tailoring brand that has worked with queer, trans, and non-binary clients since 2016, being present at Fair Day was a natural extension of its core offering. Isadora Nim’s approach to inclusive, made-to-measure suits aligns closely with the values of Mardi Gras—self-expression, identity, and community.

Many visitors commented on how important it was to see gender-affirming tailoring and custom suiting represented at such a visible event. Rather than a one-off appearance, Fair Day reflected the same ongoing commitment to accessible, personalised tailoring for diverse clients.

What Comes Next for Sydney Clients

The February trunk show is now closed. Clients who placed orders are in the six to eight week production window with Peter.

Sydney’s next trunk show will be late July.  If you want to hear about Sydney spots before they open to the general list, the best way is to get in touch with Peter directly. Isadora Nim is also looking to host a show in Auckland later this year. Register your interest here

If you are in Melbourne, studio appointments run year round. It covers what you are looking for, how the process works, and which fabrics and styles suit what you have in mind.