The FJ team share the Australian and New Zealand fashion designers they’re loving right now
IMAGE VIA AMÉLIE KNITS
WORDS BY CAIT EMMA BURKE
“I feel like the label’s really come into its own in the past year and I’m looking forward to seeing where it goes next.”
Working in fashion media, you see an abundance of labels and their designs every day. Whether it’s new collections, studio tours, collaborations, pop-ups, or an impeccably styled shoot, we’re constantly scouring our inboxes, Instagram and the wider internet for local labels that capture our interest.
Looking for more on the fashion industry? We’re with you. Come on over to our Fashion section.
Each member of the Fashion Journal team has a different sense of style which informs the local labels they gravitate towards – variety is the spice of life (and your wardrobe) after all. Below, our team of writers, editors and contributors share the ones they’re loving in 2024.
Giulia Brugliera, Fashion Journal’s Managing Editor
Ramp Tramp Tramp Stamp
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Ramp Tramp Tramp Stamp designer Niamh Galea is one of the best creative minds in Australia right now. At a time when much of what we’re seeing in fashion feels very same-same (thank you micro trends and ultra-fast manufacturing), Niamh is creating work that seems genuine to her. Her AW24 collection is a meditation on motherhood, and it strikes a truly remarkable balance of meaningful, nostalgic, original and wearable all at once.
Her work is self-assured, bolstered by the fact that she’s also uplifting other designers through her retail space RTTS.land, instead of viewing them as competitors. It’s a refreshing change of tack in an industry that has long been hyper-competitive.
Harris Tapper
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I think I’ve saved every Harris Tapper piece to my wishlist at least once. I pore over the brand’s new releases and take notes on the women its designers Sarah Harris Gould and Lauren Tapper are dressing. I asked for the Carlos Dress for my joint Christmas/birthday present last year and it fit like a dream. Sarah and Lauren have a knack for balancing elegance with that little edge we’re often looking for, in a way that reminds me of Kiwi designers Paris Mitchell Temple and Georgia Cherrie. Their pieces are deceptively simple and perfectly executed, as each understated style leaves little room for error.
Cait Emma Burke, Fashion Journal’s Editor
Wixii
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I’m a long-time fan of the family-run New Zealand label Wixii. Its designs are simple yet effortlessly sexy, and bring to mind sexy minimalist icons of the nineties like Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy and Rachel Green. This year, I’ve been obsessing over its latest collection, particularly the cardigans and long-sleeved tops – the way they’re cut is impeccable, and the extra-long sleeves are made to peek out of an oversized coat this winter.
Laura Roscioli, Fashion Journal contributor
Marle
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I found Marle back in 2020, our first year in lockdown, and I fell in love with the brand’s storytelling. There’s an element of whimsical neutrality that stood out to me through the collections, pulling together something cohesive but for everyone.
The brand is based in New Zealand and female-founded by designer Juliet Souter, who is all about effortless versatility in her design and ethos. Each piece uses exclusively natural fabrics and fibres, which makes them low-impact and beautiful to the touch. Almost an entire quarter of my wardrobe is taken up by Marle pieces. I love their comfortable and soft silhouettes, and the ability to dress any piece up or down. Whenever in doubt, I always put on something Marle.
E Nolan
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I’m a little biased because Melbourne-based tailor Emily Nolan gifted me my most favourite shirt, but E Nolan is a brand that ticks so many boxes for me. Based in Melbourne’s inner north, E Nolan crafts gender-neutral suits by hand, taking her customers on an intricate and personal journey from start to finish. She makes pieces that embody her clients, regardless of ability, body size, job title or gender. She has a ready-to-wear offering that consists of shirts, trousers, knitwear, T-shirts and more but the real crème de la crème is her tailor-made suiting.
Izzy Wight, Fashion Journal’s Assistant Editor
Emily Watson
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As a Queensland coast-born Australian who spent her formative years in a rashie and saggy bikini bottoms, I’ll always be drawn to labels making swimwear feel interesting and fresh. Melbourne designer Emily Watson counts Bella Hadid, Kali Uchis and Emma Chamberlain as fans, and for good reason. Her colourful, ruched designs offer a new take on leisurewear, equally suited to poolside reclining and Friday night drinks.
Zemira Whitehead, Fashion Journal intern
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The streamlined silhouettes and minimal colour palette of Christopher Esber’s designs really speak to my style. I tend to lean towards elegant and simple, yet visually interesting pieces. I’m particularly drawn to items with spaghetti straps, low-cut necklines or high-cut slits (and even better if it’s in a sheer fabric or cashmere). I’ve been eyeing the Mason Bind Bodice and the Villus Crinkle Curve Dress from the label’s Spring Summer 2024 collection, both of which I would one day love to invest in. To me, Christopher Esber screams elegance and effortlessness, which is exactly what I want my wardrobe to emanate.
Kaya Martin, Fashion Journal contributor
All Is a Gentle Spring
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Going into fall, the one piece I can’t stop thinking about is this merino wool bonnet All Is A Gentle Spring released a few seasons ago. It had these extra-long ties you could style in all kinds of ways. It’s a personal tragedy I never got my hands on one when it was up for sale.
The brand’s muted, moody colour palette is just so chic, and its sexy, precisely-tailored basics remind me of the good old American Apparel days (RIP). The low-key medieval influences give the label a strong identity, while the high-quality fabrics and simple silhouettes make each piece infinitely wearable. I feel like the label’s really come into its own in the past year and I’m looking forward to seeing where it goes next.
Georgi Woolcock, Fashion Journal’s Partnerships and Campaign Executive
Amélie
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No matter how much I try to fight it, I’m ultimately a grandma at heart. My favourite way to spend a day off is on my couch with knitting needles and mohair in tow. Having this personal understanding of what goes into a handmade knit means I’m even more in awe of New Zealand label, Amélie. Using completely natural and traceable materials, designer Nat Robb puts so much passion and thought behind each design and it really shines through in her knitwear.
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