Popular Australian designer Michael Lo Sordo allegedly owes ‘tens of thousands’ of dollars in unpaid bills over his Australian Fashion Week show.
The luxury fashion guru owes the large sum to vendors who helped him execute his successful 2025 Resort runway show, according to the Daily Telegraph.
It has also been claimed the catwalk was due to take place at the Sydney Opera House but had to be moved to Machine Hall after the deposit wasn’t paid on time.
An insider alleged: ‘He is incredibly talented but many people can’t understand why he stretches himself like he does to be in a position to not be able to pay his bills.
‘The industry is small. You cannot get away with not paying what is owed to often hard working people.’
Lo Sordo told the Telegraph: ‘We had a fantastic fashion week and we are incredibly grateful to all our partners in that success, and we are currently addressing outstanding payments associated with the event.’
Lo Sordo has previously come under the spotlight for delays in bill payments to the likes of cutting services, fabric suppliers, pattern makers and accounting firms.
In 2015, Chic Management reportedly won a civil case against the label after it failed to pay for models who worked at Lo Sordo’s 2014 Fashion Week parade.
Popular Australian designer Michael Lo Sordo allegedly owes ‘tens of thousands’ of dollars in unpaid bills over his Australian Fashion Week show
The esteemed show saw Sydney’s esteemed style set including the likes of Rebecca Judd (pictured with Victoria Burns) descend on Machine Hall to see Lo Sordo’s creations
That same year, Lo Sordo was allegedly ordered by the court to pay Bright Trading Pty Ltd $4,869 for work completed in another legal dispute.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Lo Sordo for comment.
For the AFW Le Club Lo Sordo show, the fashion house had partnered with jewellery brand Pandora and fragrance brand Creed to create two custom gowns.
Sydney’s esteemed style set including the likes of Rebecca Judd, Nadia Bartel, Jade Yarbrough and politician Julie Bishop had descended on Machine Hall for the event in May.
The luxury runway show was inspired by the era of Maxims as well as two Paris popular night hotspots – cabaret club Le Boeuf sur le Toit and gay nightclub Le Sept.
‘I thought long and hard about how we would top the success of last year’s 10th anniversary show,’ Lo Sordo told Grazia of the show at the time.
‘So, we decided to continue the celebration and treat this year’s show as the afterparty!
‘The Michael Lo Sordo customer loves a party and we always celebrate in our signature, glamorous way!’
Lo Sordo is often seen socialising with his high-profile friendship group including the likes of P.E Nation’s co-founder Pip Edwards.
Last month, Lo Sordo attended an Australian influencer retreat to the luxury Osborn House in Victoria’s Southern Highlands, which was hosted by Pip.
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