The Rising Australian Fashion Designers to Have on Your Radar

There are a number of reasons why Fashion Week Australia is of major importance for the Australian fashion industry. In addition to showcasing our country’s best talent and giving current designers a platform to showcase their latest collections, it also gives emerging designers a chance to gain exposure on a local and international scale. 

Because Fashion Week is chock-full of industry insiders, what better place to generate buzz about the next noteworthy designers? After all, for those in the know, having a finger on the pulse of Australian fashion is essential in staying ahead of the game. 

Teneille Oakley, David Jones's womenswear buying manager shared that, "The fashion industry is forever changing and evolving and there is always hunger for newness. We have established relationships with amazing emerging designers at fashion week over the years and seen these grow into highly sought-after labels." This year, Oakley said she'll be keeping an eye on the "very talented" Thomas Puttick.

Lisa Aiken of Net-a-Porter shared similar sentiments. "You can’t underestimate Fashion Week as a platform for exposure," Aiken shared. This year, she was particularly interested by Anna Quan. "I’ve enjoyed watching Anna Quan develop as a designer from her first ever collection to an on-schedule show.  It’s been an exciting development."

All things considered, every designer has to start somewhere, and a good amount of our country's finest have in fact used Fashion Week Australia as a platform to launch their careers. So without further ado, here are the up-and-coming names to know from fashion week this year.