Meet the designers behind the SA fashion brands you need to know
From jewellery to dresses, these creative directors and designers are creating fashion magic in South Australia. See our top 10.
Lifestyle
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Whether you’re a dedicated follower of fashion or not, there’s a pretty good chance you’ve heard of South Australian designers Paolo Sebastian’s Paul Vasileff and Cristina Tridente fromom couture+love+madness.
But there’s also a number of other talented creatives in SA who are busy making a name for themselves and their fashion brands.
Meet the 10 SA designers and creative directors of the local labels you need to know.
AUTARK
TAFE SA fashion graduate Sophia McMahon’s brand gives new meaning to the fashionable phrase “less is more”. Autark is a sustainable slow fashion brand which, as the name suggests, is the antithesis of mass-produced fast fashion, which often ends up as landfill. The quality over quantity collections are made from natural fibres and “deadstock” fabric bought from other designers who have no use for it.
While Autark might be a quiet achiever, last year it got a big shout out at Melbourne Fashion Festival when it was a finalist for its National Designer Award and had a presence at Sydney’s Australian Fashion Week – our country’s only international event.
Check out Autark here
HOUSE OF CAMPBELL
In January, we named this label’s founder Abby Potter as one of South Australia’s rising stars of 2022. We weren’t wrong. The TAFE SA fashion graduate’s sustainable brand, which is designed and produced in Adelaide, has just been featured in the May issue of British Vogue.
A tribute to Annie Campbell, Potter’s maternal grandmother who was a seamstress, House of Campbell already had a strong foundation: It was showcased on the runway at New York Fashion Week in 2019 and at last year’s Australian Fashion Week.
Check out House of Campbell here
IRIS & WOOL
Specialising in garments made from 100 per cent Australian merino wool, Emily Riggs’ label is guaranteed to make you feel warm and fuzzy. Founded in 2018, it was named in honour of the knitwear designer’s late mother Belinda, whose favourite flower was the iris. As another tribute to her mum, who died from breast cancer at just 43, 5 per cent of every Iris & Wool sale is donated to the McGrath Foundation.
Working out of her family’s sheep station, near Burra, in the Mid North, Riggs wants her brand to go global. Recent collections include a collaboration with Getaway presenter and Australian Wool Innovation ambassador Catriona Rowntree and a range of super-stretchy, comfy jeans made from Merino Denim.
Check out Iris & Wool here
KALILA & NAMOI
Now that travel is a thing again, it’s time to stock up on this made-in-Adelaide luxury resort-wear brand. Founder Kalila Stewart-Davis, who used to work for the legendary George Gross & Harry Who back in the day, knows exactly what women want to wear. And that’s effortlessly stylish pieces, such as her bestseller signature wrap top. Like a number of Kalila & Namoi designs, it can be worn in a multitude of ways, making it the perfect holiday companion to accompany you from the beach to the bar. PS, this label isn’t just for trips away. It’s also great for desk-to-dinner and weekend wear.
Check out Kalila & Namoi here
KARLACOLA
Talk about colour me happy! Originally making clothes for her own wardrobe, Karla Schumann started this label so others could enjoy wearing her feel-good fashion, which she describes as “dopamine dressing”. With a global fanbase, and particularly loyal following in Japan, KarlaCola is sold online. The majority of garments are made in SA, with Schuman also collaborating with other independent designers. “I match up each and every textile design with an earring maker that I feel can do the print justice,” she says. “Every design is chosen with the intent to spark joy.”
Check out KarlaCola here
KATYA KOMAROVA
Founded by its namesake – who also happens to be a Finesse model – this accessories brand has sustainability in the bag. Ethically handmade in SA, Katya Komarova bags are minimalist, but can be customised to suit the occasion thanks to interchangeable straps and handles.
They are also fashioned from a single piece of leather or wool felt, with press stud closures that can be undone to pack flat for travel. This season Komarova has added on-trend hot pink and orange to her signature palette of timeless neutrals.
Check out Katya Komarova here
KENNEDYS
Average isn’t a word we like to use because we’re all unique individuals, but according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics the average Australian woman is a 14-16. And there’s nothing average about a size inclusive brand that’s also super stylish.
Adelaide’s Kennedys, which was founded by its creative director Jacqueline Sinclair-Stuart, has on-trend offerings in seasonal colours and wardrobe classics such as denim jackets and pleather pants. Every garment comes in sizes 10 to 24/26, and there’s also One Size Fits All pieces which can be dressed up or down. What’s not to love.
Check out Kennedys here
LIAN BY LIAN
Vanity Fair UK has just profiled Rachelle Gosden’s new label. Not a bad effort at all, considering her brand is in its infancy. Lian by Lian – pronounced Lee-en by Lee-en – is named after Gosden’s late grandma; Lian also being the emerging designer’s middle name. Gosden’s final student collection for the Bachelor of Creative Arts dual degree offered by TAFE SA and Flinders University will be showcased in the course’s graduate parade on May 13 at the Adelaide Convention Centre. Gosden says Lian by Lian is “your new go-to brand for the effortlessly cool boss woman you are”.
Check out Lian by Lian here
POP ROCK PARK
“I don’t want to be bored any more. And I sure as hell don’t want to be boring.” Those are the words of Pop Rock Park creative director Kimberlee Brown, who has made it her mission to spark joy with the brand’s ever-increasing range of accessories.
Bursting on to the scene with cute and oh-so-colourful little pieces of army candy, Tila Bracelets – which look even better when you wear a stack of them at once – Pop Rock Park also does necklaces, earrings, rings, keyrings and sunglasses.
Check out Pop Rock Park here
SOLOMON STREET
Lauren Crago has shown her label at Austin Fashion Week, aka Fashion X Austin and is continuing to show everyone a thing or two about sustainable fashion. Solomon Street’s latest range of hemp leisurewear Far North was inspired by a trip she took to Queensland’s Daintree Rainforest.
Its prints are handrawn by Crago and the collection includes undies, bralettes, leggings, shorts and crops tops that can be worn back to front – giving you a choice of two necklines.
Committed to being low waste in all areas of her business, Crago doesn’t even use fabric labels on her garments.
Instead, the info is printed directly onto the inside of them: “It tells you what you need to know, and looks a bit pretty.”
Check out Solomon Street here
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