Australian fashion’s influential players who decide what you wear
Behind every outfit are designers, stylists, and creative directors who made it a trend in the first place. These are the Australian fashion players changing what we wear.
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From influential designers to category buyers, boutique owners, and celebrity stylists, the Australian fashion industry is known for its influential taste-makers and players who set the trends.
They’re the powerhouses behind the “it” dresses that go viral on Instagram or the ability to propel a clothing label to the next level simply by stocking it at a particular retailer.
These are the Australian fashion stars – from new faces to established names – who decide what we wear.
BRIDGET VEALS
HEAD OF WOMENSWEAR AT DAVID JONES
With nearly 30 years experience in the fashion industry, Bridget Veals started as a buyers’ assistant at Debenhams in London’s Oxford St. Now, she decides what brands are stocked at mega-department store, David Jones.
During her six year (and counting) tenure as head of womenswear at DJs, Ms Veals has been credited with catapulting Australian designers including P.E. Nation, Aje, Alemais, LMND, Clea, Sans Beast, and Sarah & Sebastian to mainstream status, signing brands that have “high quality, design integrity, uniqueness”.
“(David Jones) customers know fashion and all labels we look to carry need to have a point of differentiation,” Ms Veals said of her approach.
SHANNON THOMAS
DÉSORDRE
Known for its curated edit of “hot girl” Insta-worthy fashion spanning mini dresses to crystal-studded crop tops, Désordre was founded by Shannon Thomas (aka Shannon Désordre) in 2009.
Now with three boutiques in Sydney’s Darlinghurst and Bondi, and Armandale in Melbourne, Ms Thomas is the owner and director, stocking sexy, sleek styles from designers including Alex Perry, Dion Lee, and Christopher Esber.
In the hot pink-themed Désordre boutiques, homegrown labels are carried alongside international brands like Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, and Paris Hilton’s favourite, Poster Girl.
CHRISTOPHER ESBER
Leading the Australian designer brigade for cut-outs, Christopher Esber has transcended onto the international celebrity scene with his signature brand of detachable knits.
Launching his self-titled label in 2010, Esber celebrated a decade in business with a stand-alone show during Fashion Week last year, and counts influential retailers Net-a-Porter, MyTheresa, and Moda Operandi among his international stockists.
“I design for a woman who loves fashion but she is not willing to surrender herself to it,” Esber said.
He was named Vogue Italy’s Most Talented Designer Award in 2015 and was a finalist in the International Woolmark Prize.
NIKKI CAMPBELL AND SOPHIE COOTE
SIR THE LABEL
SIR The Label founders Nikki Campbell and Sophie Coote began their Sydney-based brand in 2014. Described as “minimal and simplistic wardrobe essentials and feminine silhouettes”, the brand – a favourite of Instagram “it” girls – is known for staple linen cut-outs and printed pant-top combos, driven by sustainability and diversity values.
Ms Campbell and Ms Cooke recently expanded their fashion empire with a flagship store in Bondi Beach.
ANNA HUANG
ANNA QUAN
Worn by Margot Robbie and Camilla Cabello, Anna Quan founder Anna Huang launched her label in 2015.
Known for tailored trousers, crisp shirts with exaggerated cuffs and silk dresses, Ms Huang counts Net-A-Porter, Moda Operandi, Bergdorf Goodman and Saks among her international stockists.
She presented her Resort 2022 collection in one of the most talked-about shows of Afterpay Australian Fashion Week last year, featuring linen safari suiting and longline ribbed cardigans.
“I wanted to embrace this concept of ‘revenge’ dressing. It’s rebellious and celebratory at the same time,” Ms Huang said, per GRAZIA.
SAMI LORKING-TANNER AND EVANGELINE TITILAS
WITH JEAN
Kim Kardashian caused a near-frenzy when she wore a bikini by With Jéan. It promoted a surge in popularity for the metallic two-piece, with the Australian-designed brand from Queensland being forced to restock the swim set – a $79 “Baby” bikini bra top and $69 pair of briefs from its “Baby Drip” collection – to keep up with unprecedented demand.
Known for its mini-dresses, cropped cardigans and swimwear, With Jéan had a “huge increase” in sales for the bikini Kardashian wore.
With Jean founders Sami Lorking-Tanner and Evangeline Titilas are based between Australia and Los Angeles, where its campaigns are shot on “it” girls in the Hollywood Hills.
With Jean’s “Andy dress” – a long-sleeved button down in bright orange and purple – was one of the must-have pieces of 2021.
PIP EDWARDS AND CLAIRE TREGONING
P.E. NATION
No brand defined the activewear aesthetic of the lockdown era quite like P.E. Nation.
Sported by everyone from Instagram models to mums, Pip Edwards and Claire Tregoning’s label is known for its high-shine leggings and oversized logo sweaters, inspired by the Bondi lifestyle and which basically became the WFH uniform of Millennials and Gen Z.
Speaking on the sixth anniversary of its launched, Edwards described the P.E. Nation ride as a “whirlwind”.
The Sydney label announced plans to open its first flagship store on George St, with international stockists including Selfridges, Nordstrom Shopbop and Farfetch.
BECKY COOPER AND BRIDGET YORSTON
BEC & BRIDGE
The design duo from Sydney are the pin-ups of the party mini. Under the guise of Bec & Bridge, Becky Cooper and Bridget Yorston’s designs have been worn by A-list fashion stars including supermodel Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber and Emily Ratajkowski.
Bec & Bridge announced it would return to Afterpay Australian Fashion Week schedule in May, after a two-year hiatus, where it will presents its upcoming 2022/2023 collection on opening night.
DANIELLE CASTANO
CREATIVE DIRECTOR AND PHOTOGRAPHER
With a career spanning a decade, Danielle Castano is known for her sharply-honed fashion eye shooting every A-list runway in Australia, from Fashion Weeks to commercial campaigns.
Based in Melbourne, Castano knows how to make a shoot pop, including street style and BTS at the recent PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival.
Castano serves as a creative director for shoe queen Lana Wilkinson and has shot ad campaigns for Novo, Raef The Label (starring Jessica Gomes), and Ena Pelly.
DALE MCCARTHY
BONDI BORN
Luxury swimwear and apparel brand Bondi Born has B Corporation status, achieving one of the highest sustainability credentials possible. Founded in 2015 by ex-media marketing executive Dale McCarthy, Bondi Born, spanning swim and resort wear, is made in Sydney from eco-conscious fabric.
“We’ve been operating in a sustainable and ethical way, making in Australia, and only using sustainable and ethical fabrics,” Ms McCarthy said.
“A lot of brands say they’re sustainable and ethical but you dig deeper, and they’re made in China using fabrics from China.”
Bondi Born is stocked via its own website and at David Jones, and internationally via Net-a-Porter, Saks and Goop.
DARIA SAKIC
TUCHUZY
Located in Bondi and with a strong presence online, Tuchuzy was founded by Daria Sakic in 1995.
As the director, Ms Sakic’s influential store at The Beach House on Campbell Parade stocks high-street and designer brands including ANINE BING, Alexander Wang, and Rag & Bone, as well as her own in-house brand, Chosen by Tuchuzy.
The retailer, known for a mix of high street looks to party outfits, has rebounded since it went into voluntary administration in 2020.
JESS PECORARO AND ELLIOT GARNAUT
CELEBRITY STYLISTS
Behind every celebrity is a stylist who pulls together just about every piece of clothing, pointy-toed stiletto, and shade of eyeliner they wear. Between them, Jess Pecoraro and Elliot Garnaut are two of the country’s most influential stylists.
Sydney-based Pecoraro’s clients span Delta Goodrem, Jesinta Franklin and Tahnee Atkinson, and she has also dressed Georgia Fowler and Bambi Northwood-Blyth.
“There are parts (of an outfit) that we purchase and parts that we loan,” Pecoraro said, of styling her clients. “Sometimes they’re custom pieces and we work with designers to make them.”
Melbourne-based Garnaut’s stable includes Rozalia Russian and Rebecca Harding. He recently launched a collaboration with eyewear label, BANBÉ X ELLIOT GARNAUT, and has partnered with Estee Lauder and Polo Ralph Lauren.
Originally published as Australian fashion’s influential players who decide what you wear
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