Online reach gives this Sydneysider designs on the big leagues

LOCAL designer Rebecca Vallance has been given a fashionable tick of ­approval, with her line being picked up by luxury e-tailer Net-a-Porter.

LOCAL designer Rebecca Vallance has been given a fashionable tick of ­approval, with her line being picked up by luxury e-tailer Net-a-Porter.

The prestigious online fashion store, currently only showcases a handful of Australian designers, including Dion Lee, Ellery, Zimmermann and Camilla.

Vallance said the Net-a-Porter order is a sign of international recognition for the label she launched five years ago. “It’s the biggest order I’ve ever done by far. To give you an idea of scale, it’s four times the size of my second biggest account,” Vallance told Confidential.

“It means so much to us. It’s a site that has such prestige and their buying is strategic. It stocks serious brands so it’s an honour to be on there and once you’re there it really shows that people believe in what you’re doing.

Fashion designer Rebecca Vallance outside her Mosman store.

“You need to be ready for an order this size. First you need great product, but logistics, warehousing, shipping, everything has to be right. There’s no room for error.”

It’s shaping up to be a dream year for Vallance. The mother of one opened her first boutique in May and the label has experienced 300 per cent growth this financial year.

Vallance first met Net-a-Porter in March, showing her SS16 collection and took on their feedback.

“They wanted us to develop an eveningwear line and initially I wasn’t that keen but then someone in the Middle East asked for that and so did other retailers. Once we had these international accounts that wanted it, I designed it,” she said.

“I think any feedback from buyers is something you have to take on board. You need to have the creative side to business and offer a unique product line they can’t get anywhere else but you also have to run a commercial business.”

The Net-a-Porter order came two weeks after Vallance showed a full resort collection at this year’s Mercedes- Benz Fashion Week, where it also picked up international buyers Revolve and Intermix.

“Resort for us is the one time that we sell the same season in the northern and southern hemisphere, so that really helped,” she said.

She plans to continue showing her main collections internationally and showcasing resort wear in Australia.

Originally published as Online reach gives this Sydneysider designs on the big leagues