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Lauren Sams

Yesterday

Mecca Brands revenues up 25pc to $1.2b but profits stay flat

The strong revenue increase for calendar 2023 was offset by expenses growing by a similar percentage.

Danielle de Niese at home in Glyndebourne, East Sussex.

From Young Talent Time to Carmen: opera star names her style favourites

At home in her English castle, Australian soprano Danielle de Niese is every inch the diva.

This Month

Matt Jensen, founder and CEO of MJ Bale, wearing the blazer made from the wool of sheep fed seaweed.

The next trend in menswear? This unusual jacket

The Australian company at the forefront of sustainable clothing has a new climate-conscious jacket made using seaweed – and the firm has global expansion plans.

May

Matt Heine in his home gym. “Routine is essential. Making sure I find time to stay fit, enjoy downtime and, most importantly, get enough quality sleep is critical.”

From normal to nuts, the fitness habits of top entrepreneurs

Personal trainers aplenty, at-home Pilates studios and full-body scans put the “well” into wealthy.

The choices are pretty much exactly what you’d expect to find when you type in “party dress” to a search engine that doesn’t know you.

ChatGPT is coming for your shopping cart

Would you allow an AI assistant to pull together your wardrobe purchases?

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CJ Hendry: “I don’t have a definitive answer about where we go when we die. That’s OK. I’d rather not know.” Illustration by Sam Bennett

It’s all about the jazz and memories for this creative artist

Provocative prize-winning artist CJ Hendry wants to go out with a negroni, a jazz band . . . and no readings.

Ginger & Smart’s runway show at the Australian Fashion Week in 2021.

Ginger & Smart’s future uncertain after private equity fire sale

Alquemie has offloaded the high-profile womenswear label for a token amount at the same time as selling the remaining assets of online retailer SurfStitch.

Australian Fashion Week 2025.

The best (and worst) of Australian Fashion Week reborn

All eyes were on Carriageworks this week as the industry scrambled to create a new event after major sponsor IMG pulled out. Did it work?

After spending her early career making products for other brands, Isamaya Ffrench is now creating them under her own name. Isamaya Beauty is due to launch at Mecca this month.

Luxury brands are lining up to work with this unconventional founder

From children’s face painting to fashion runways and celebrity clients, make-up artist Isamaya Ffrench is now bringing her beauty range to Australia.

What Allegra Spender’s fashionista sister wants

On day three of Australian Fashion Week, established designers Bianca Spender and Aje made their case to make women feel floaty and free.

Nigella Lawson, Maggie Beer among fans of designer at top of her game

Two years ago, Lee Mathews said she would never have a show at Australian Fashion Week again. Now she’s among the designers breathing new life into it.

he opening show of fashion week shot of Carla Zampatti model Sophia.

Carla Zampatti opens Australian Fashion Week in monochrome

With just six months to pull it together, the Australian industry gathered to celebrate one of its brightest stars under a full moon.

Sydney artist’s greatest extravagance is seeing the world

The figurative artist loves fresh flowers, dressing up and India’s golden triangle.

Nicole Kidman in custom Balenciaga at the Met Gala.

$48m raised at fashion’s most outrageous night of the year

This year’s Met Gala’s theme encouraged masculine tailoring and flamboyant style – and celebrities delivered.

Kellie Hush at home.

The fashion CEO who spends an hour sorting her wardrobe every weekend

Sport, swimming and the odd cinema visit keep Kellie Hush sane for her busy weekdays – but mostly she likes to hang out at home.

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RM Williams COO Tara Moses and AFC CEO Jaana Quaintance-James at RM Williams’ Adelaide headquarters on Monday.

Fashion industry eyes local production to fight Temu, tariffs squeeze

The industry wants a Made in Australia strategy to fight fast fashion giants like Temu and Shein, and US President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

April

Author Marian Keyes, seller of 35 million books, will appear at the Sydney and Melbourne Writers Festivals.

This author’s sold 35m books, but still thinks she’s ‘rubbish’

Marian Keyes is one of Ireland’s best-known exports, but the writer still feels “abject terror” at the keyboard.

CEO of the Australian Fashion Council, Jaana Quaintance-Kames, at Valhalla Grind cafe in Glebe.

The CEO who doesn’t look at her phone until she gets to the office

Jaana Quaintance-James, the CEO of the Australian Fashion Council makes it a point to stay away from her phone when walking to and from work, and reading.

RM Williams board member and co-owner Nicola Forrest launching the $8 million factory expansion in Salisbury, Adelaide.

Philanthropy 50: Which Australians gave away the most?

The transfer of wealth to the next generation, plus some notable relationship break-ups, is putting more women in charge of giving.

Lauren Zonfrillo at Fratelli Paradiso, where she penned most of her book, Til Death Do Us Part.

Lauren Zonfrillo could write the book on grief. So she has

On May 1, 2023, Lauren Zonfrillo lost her husband, star chef Jock. Two years later, she’s releasing her memoir of that time – the book she wishes she had read.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/by/lauren-sams-h1bzh6