Every Australian Fashion Week, it’s incredible to see what creations our favourite designers have come up with, whether they’re tapping into international trends, starting their own or not straying too far from the styles they’re known for.
At the same time, it’s also exciting to see what the new designers on the scene do. We love seeing the fresh faces who haven’t yet shown, or who have only shown once before, as they try to make their mark.
With the year’s Fashion Week a little under two weeks away, we thought now would be the perfect time to shine a spotlight on some of those up-and-coming designers. From Henne, with its sleek silhouettes, to Phoebe Pendergast with its bold designs, here are eight up-and-coming designers to look out for this Afterpay Australian Fashion Week.
Henne
Henne means ‘her’ in Swedish, which is fitting considering the Melbourne-based brand takes its inspo from their country’s simple yet wildly stylish silhouettes. Founded by WAG-turned-fashion designer Nadia Bartel, Henne aims to creates quality pieces in classic styles, all designed to last. Henne will present on Friday, May 13 at 4pm.
Rumer
Nikita Sernack, the designer behind Nookie, is the founder of Rumer, a new feminine brand featuring linens, earthy tones and floral patterns. Effortless sophistication is the promise from all its pieces. The show is at 9am on Thursday, May 12.
Clea
Designer Natasha Gordon founded Clea in 2021, embracing an aesthetic that proposes a fresh balance of opposing elements — masculine and feminine, textural and clean, strength and softness, intricate and minimal. Clea will be featured in the Next Gen show, held on the last day of Fashion Week. Top industry names including Akira, Anna Quan, BEC + BRIDGE, CAMILLA AND MARC and sass & bide all got their start in the Next Gen program.
Phoebe Pendergast
Another designer in the Next Gen show is Phoebe Pendergast. Launching her eponymous label in 2019 after graduating from RMIT’s Fashion Design Honours program, Pendergast’s design process draws inspiration from personal memories and experiences she wants to relive, creating pieces that evoke a visceral response within the wearer.
Beare Park
Beare Park is all about masterful tailoring – their pieces are meticulously crafted from luxurious materials sourced from Italy and Japan, but with simple designs. The brand champions inclusivity. Watch the show Monday, May 9 at 5pm.
All Is Gentle Spring
Focused on sustainability, All Is Gentle Spring releases limited and one-off collections, made with found fabrics, and small, collaborative capsules created with artists, all of it made in Australia. They’re interested in short supply chains, pre-loved costumes and flexible fabrics. Their motto? “We do what we can, when we can.” Catch the show Friday, May 13 at 3pm.
Designers at the Indigenous Fashion Projects
Five First Nations women will present their collections at the Indigenous Fashion Projects Runway, presented by Afterpay and supported by David Jones, on Tuesday, May 10 at 2pm. Designers include Amanda Healy, Liandra Gaykamangu, Julie Shaw, Natalie Cunningham and Denni Francisco. Each collection draws on the designer’s connection to Country, inviting guests on an immersive sensory journey through Australia.
Anna Antal
Inspired by the glamour and femininity of the 1960s and 1970s, Anna Antal’s designs are an explosion of colour and pattern. They’re produced in limited numbers, and are designed to be treasured for generations to come.
