Rebecca Vallance, Camilla & Marc and Ken Done are 2022 Australian Fashion Laureate winners
Rebecca Vallance took out the most-popular vote in The People’s Choice award, cementing her place as the favourite for party dressing.
The power of fashion to make us feel good was underscored at the 2022 Australian Fashion Laureate presented on Tuesday. Local designers who understood the collective craving for dopamine-dressing, spurred by a pandemic-induced style hiatus, were awarded across different categories.
Siblings Camilla Freeman-Topper and Marc Freeman, of Camilla & Marc, took home the top honour, the Designer of the Year award, while Rebecca Vallance took out the most-popular vote in The People’s Choice award, cementing her place as the favourite for party dressing. Vallance, who founded her brand in 2020 and has since become known for her feminine take on glamour, spoke about the public recognition.
“It’s an incredible honour,” she said, incidentally celebrating her birthday. “I have been designing for 12 years so it’s amazing to be recognised by the people and women who wear our pieces.”
The People’s Choice category, introduced in 2020, is voted by consumers, unlike the other categories, which are decided by a panel of industry leaders.
The designer is one of the winners who faced down the challenges of the pandemic, creating clothing for a return to real life, which appealed to customers: Vallance is enjoying success here and internationally, recently opening a flagship store at Melbourne’s Chadstone and seeing the best month in the 12-year history of the brand.
“We continue to see huge growth in the US and European market, which is exciting for an Australian brand to have continued success on a global scale,” she said.
Likewise for Camilla & Marc, which undertook a rebranding this year and will celebrate 20 years in 2023. “There’s so many great brands that have been nominated and this is really testament to the strength of the local industry,” said Freeman. “We’ve never felt more fuelled with a sense of purpose and creativity. It really feels like we’re just getting started.”
Art world stalwart Ken Done, who collaborated with Romance Was Born on a colour-filled Australian Fashion Week collection this year, received the Lifetime Achievement award.
A sense of reinvigoration post-Covid was felt in the room.
“(Today) follows more than two years of overwhelming change for Australian fashion and we are proud to come together in celebration of their accomplishments,” said Natalie Xenita, vice-president and managing director, IMG fashion events and properties, Asia-Pacific.
“There’s a renewed sense of energy amongst the industry and a palpable sense of excitement in Sydney as we celebrate the year’s end and cast forward to next May when Afterpay Australian Fashion Week returns.”
That will be opened by the winner of Emerging Designer of the Year, Lesleigh Jermanus, whose resort-ready, print-laden Alémais has picked up a roster of local and international stockists in just two years.
In its 15th year, the Laureate rounds out a challenging time for Australian designers. “Our industry has shown how resilient it can be even in the most difficult circumstances,” Xenita said.