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The Australian and New Zealand fashion brands worth watching, according to the Fashion Journal team

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ABIGAIL LENGUI FOR APRÈS STUDIO

WORDS BY TESS FISHER AND FASHION JOURNAL

A growing list of top local makers and creators.

There are no points for guessing that at Fashion Journal, we’re a sartorially driven bunch. The hint is in the name. We’re always searching for emerging talent and appreciating our favourite established designers, while keeping an eye on the latest releases from industry heavyweights. As an FJ reader, chances are you’re exactly the same. 

Part of the joy of finding a new label – whether it’s genuinely new or just new to you – is introducing it to somebody else. As the proverb goes: a pleasure shared is a pleasure doubled. So, to spread the love, the team at FJ have put our heads together and created an ever-expanding list of our favourite Australian designers.


For more fashion-related features, browse through our Fashion section. 


Some are labels we wear daily, while others are investment pieces we’ll be scrimping and saving for. Whether they’re fledgling designers, or in full flight, we’re spotlighting local labels that feel good, look good, and, more often than not, do good. 

Perple Women

 

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I fell in love with Perple Women when I first saw some of its pieces available at the NGV. There’s something so decidedly grown-up and powerful about them. The Melbourne-based label headed up by Huiliana Chandra-Curry has been around since 2019, but it’s only really getting started. “Intimate design,” “forever wardrobes” and “modern luxury” are some of the terms Huiliana uses to describe her design practice, and I couldn’t agree more.

perplewomen.com

Summi Summi

 

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Coastal label Summi Summi was founded in 2016 by designer Ashleigh Vallis, who saw a gap in the fashion market for relaxed yet refined womenswear. Characterised by easy silhouettes, bright colours and playful prints, Summi Summi pieces are perfect for your dopamine-dressing days.

summisummi.com.au

Briar Will

 

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Melbourne designer Briar Will’s modus operandi is transforming discarded materials, using a sublimation print to “digitally recontextualise” the nature of garments. Briar uses end-of-the-roll synthetic sports fabrics and trompe l’oeil design to create futuristic jerseys, miniskirts and tracksuit pants/jeans.

briarwill.com

Coreprêt

 

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Melbourne label Coreprêt has been on my watch list for a while now. From its inception, it’s clear the brand has had a strong ethos and visual identity, morphing traditional menswear design techniques with a romantic edge. In what I would consider a modern approach to a traditional capsule wardrobe, Corepret’s designs underline the duality of femininity and power-dressing, boasting a range of beautifully tailored shirts, trousers and knits. The brand has placed a strong focus on design and supply-chain transparency and offers both bespoke pieces to celebrate creativity and innovation without the constraints of scalability.

corepret.com

Bodicia B

 

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In the populated space of ‘sustainable’ labels, it’s hard to differentiate brands’ ethos at times. Not with Bodicia B, though. The Sydney label is a standout for multifunctional, effective and ultra-cool pieces. It’s hard to believe the founder (and sole worker) behind Bodicia B is 24-year-old Bodie Keely. She produces pieces under a made-to-order model, saving on materials and waste. Bodicia B is for those seeking high-quality basics with an edge.

bodiciab.com

Après Studio

 

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I saw a video on TikTok of someone wearing a dress from Melbourne-based label Après Studio, and it’s been living rent-free in my head ever since. Founder and designer Meg Wilcher aimed to create a brand all about transparency, proving that you don’t have to compromise on values. Respect for the environment is at the heart of its practices, using recycled and organic materials, natural dyes and deadstock fabrics to create elevated everyday essentials that inspire self-expression and individuality.

apresstudio.com.au

Amélie Knits

 

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New Zealand knows how to make good knitwear. It’s no secret. Founded by Nat Robb (Ngāti Whakaue), the emerging label focuses on using traceable, natural materials. Apart from its unique designs and ultra-comfortable silhouettes, Amélie Knits has a strong understanding of itself.

amelieknits.com

R.Sport

 

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While Australia is captivated by the action of the Women’s World Cup, now is the ideal time to nab some sportswear while supporting a local, community-led label. R.Sport creates clothing that merges style, function and performance. Its colourful, genderless pieces and unique collaborations are perfect for on and off-field wear.

r-sportswear.com

Esse

 

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Conscious consumerism is front and centre at Esse. Having spent over a decade working with global fashion brands, the label’s founder Charlotte Hicks created Esse in defiance of the industry’s notorious levels of excess and waste. The brand is big on creating Esse-ntials – slowly released capsule collections that are crafted to last, and blend easily with future drops. 

essestudios.com 

Monphell

 

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Genderless Melbourne label Monphell is “bound to no age, sex or season”. Its designs prioritise silhouette and fabrication, bringing new life to timeless shapes through vibrant colours and unique prints. The close-knit team operates out of Brunswick, ensuring transparency across its supply chain.

monphell.com

Iordanes Spyridon Gogos


Jordan Gogos is one of those people you don’t want your parents to become friends with, because he’s good at everything. A multidisciplinary artist, Gogos has a background in set design and furniture making (you might’ve clocked one of his steel pieces dotted in Dion Lee stores across the country). Better described as ‘wearable art’, his whimsical pieces are a fantastical explosion of experimental prints and bold hues.

gogos.online 

FME Apparel

 

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Created locally in Melbourne, FME Apparel prides itself on being a truly independent alternative to high street fashion. The comfort-first ranges use high-quality organic fabrics to produce everything from dresses, to outerwear, and accessories. The label’s aesthetic blends vintage inspiration with clean cut, contemporary silhouettes, and the dreamy colour palette includes irresistible tones like sky, celery and seashell. 

fmeapparel.com.au 

E Nolan

 

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Suiting star E Nolan has set a new standard in women’s tailoring. Unlike that fuckboy who hasn’t returned your text, E Nolan garments go the distance. Head to The Dressing Room in Fitzroy for a full made-to-measure experience, where you can choose from a selection of exclusive in-house patterns and over 600 natural fibre cloths in a rainbow array of colours. 

enolan.com.au

Maara Collective

 

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You know a brand is in good hands when it’s helmed by Julie Shaw, winner of the 2021 Australian Fashion Laureate Indigenous Designer of the Year Award. Maara works closely with Indigenous artists and creatives, entwining interpretations of Country with a modern aesthetic. As part of the Buy1 Give1 program, Maara invests proceeds from every garment to support education in remote Aboriginal communities.

shop.maaracollective.com

Caves Collect


Boasting elegant cuts, functional design, and quality craftsmanship, Caves Collect is the epitome of ‘cool girl’ dressing. Creators Sarah Russell and Johanna Howe are big advocates for sustainability and local manufacturing, which is why all Caves Collect clothing and leather goods are made in Melbourne. You can overhaul your entire wardrobe here, with everything from light layering pieces like simple tanks, all the way through to trans-seasonal blazers, timeless leather belts and even a small selection of shoes.

cavescollect.com

For more on Australian fashion and the importance of buying local, try this.

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