The Best Australian Clothing Brands To Know In 2023
From Bassike to Bec and Bridge, these are the hottest names to know Down Under.
Global searches for Australian clothing brands have quadrupled in the past five years. And, no, it’s not just the Aussies making up this statistic – the UK in particular is keenly pursuing the newest up-and-coming designers from Down Under.
Maybe it’s because we’re all desperate for a bit of sun after a holiday deficit. Perhaps it’s that Instagram has opened our eyes to a whole new world of independent labels, 24/7/365 travel and, subsequently, boho 'nomad' trends. Or maybe it’s because AAFW (Afterpay Australian Fashion Week) is bigger and better than ever (there are now 50 shows every season), not to mention one of the most diverse and inclusive fashion weeks around the globe. Our guess, however, is that beyond the beautiful clothes, it's mostly down to the fact Australian clothing brands are putting the planet – and its people – first.
Among the businesses tackling environmental concerns, St Agni is one of the most impressive: not only does it use sustainable water-saving fabrics and work with certified ethical suppliers, it also helps fund and educate the factories that aren't quite up to scratch yet. Sleeping With Jacques focuses on low-impact, biodegradable fabrics and Camilla uses recycled fabrics, while Bassike uses 97% of its organic cotton-jersey to minimise waste. Deiji Studios is now proudly carbon neutral and donates to charity yearly, as does iconic Aussie label Aje.
If this list of accolades doesn't pique your interest enough, just wait until you scroll through the clothes. From statement dresses to luxe loungewear, Australian brands are nailing it 2023 – so here are 13 of the best to have on your radar:
Camilla and Marc
Brother and sister duo Camilla Freeman-Topper and Marc Freeman launched their namesake brand 20 years ago, debuting at Australian Fashion Week in 2003. Still based in Sydney, the womenswear brand has gone from strength to strength since, opening 17 stores across Australia and securing stockists such as Harrods and Selfridges in the UK. Camilla and Marc's USP is easy-to-wear (and equally as easy to style) pieces with a directional spin – think versatile tailoring and sculptural separates meshed with sports- and streetwear elements.
Boteh
Boteh's founder, Amelia Mather is a woman who likes to take risks. She launched a resortwear brand in the middle of a pandemic in October 2020 (when no-one was travelling or even buying clothes!) and has just recently moved to Ibiza with her family (she really does embody the nomad vibes of the brand).
These risks have paid off. Boteh is phenomenally successful – not just in her homeland of Australia but globally, too. We've come to love the label for its in-house designed prints, louche linens and breezy cotton fabrics, as well its boho silhouettes and unique swimwear.
St Agni
Byron-based brand St Agni is committed to encouraging slower consumption habits. If this sounds like an oxymoron (especially coming from a clothing company) to you, hear us out. By crafting staples that are made to last – sticking strictly to monochrome colour palettes, simple leather accessories and timeless tailoring in sustainable fibres like linen – St Agni is guaranteeing these pieces will transcend trends.
The Australian brand is also conscious of its social responsibilities, to the planet and its people. St Agni helps to fund and educate factories to become certified as ethical suppliers, for the good of their welfare and the industry.
Christopher Esber
First on our list is fashion's current golden boy: Christopher Esber. The Lebanese-Australian designer actually launched his brand back in 2010, but quietly built up a loyal fanbase while working away in his hometown of Sydney for the best part of the 2010s (he's part of the reason Australia Fashion Week is so buzzy today). Now we're spotting the brand's influence – noughties-inspired shapes, keyhole cutouts and sultry strapping – absolutely everywhere. It also helps that Zendaya, Dua Lipa, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Emily Ratajkowski can't stop wearing his pieces.
Sleeping With Jacques
Sleeping with Jacques might have started off as a nightwear brand, but its luxurious pieces are too good to hide at home. Fashion's current penchant for louche, relaxed silhouettes has paved the way for comfortable clothes that can be worn as both loungewear and eveningwear. If you only buy one thing from this Aussie-based label, make it one of the velvet Bon Vivant pyjama suits – it pairs with slides on casual dinners out, strappy stilettos to parties and slippers at home.
Aje
Aje is the Australian brand on every fashion editor's radar – and its the hot-pink Tidal dress (pictured) we're spotting all over the ELLE office at the moment. Striking the balance between unabashedly girlish and contemporary, Aje's dresses are beloved for their 'grown-up' cutouts, asymmetric lines and generous sleeves. Buy one now for summer weddings, holidays or work (simply pair with loafers) and you'll be wearing it for years to come. We promise.
Bassike
Bassike (pronounced 'basic') was dreamt up in Sydney's Palm Beach in 2006. The concept is in the name: the Aussie brand is all about creating quality versatile, wardrobe essentials that are built to last. By working with natural, organic fabrics and sticking to Australian suppliers, Bassike has been responsible and eco-friendly from the very beginning – before 'sustainability' was seen as a must-have in fashion. The brand added denim to its main line in 2007 and has now branched out to menswear, swimwear, footwear, accessories and a children's line.
Deiji Studios
Deiji Studios was founded in 2016 with an aim to blur the lines between bedding and sleepwear. The Aussie brand succeeded: its luxurious linen creations drape rather than wrinkle, just like your favourite sheets. The generously cut kimonos and wrap pyjamas are breezy, but weighty enough to see you through winter and summer seasons. We also love the brand’s poplin-cotton nighties (they double as a summer dress or beach cover-up) and boxy co-ords which are far too cool to hide at home.
Bec & Bridge
Founded in Melbourne in 2004, Bec & Bridge is the brainchild of best friends Becky Cooper and Bridget Yorston who were inseparable while studying together at fashion school. Fast forward nearly two decades and the Aussie brand is a firm celebrity favourite: it's worn by the likes of Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber.
This season, the duo is nailing cutout dresses and knitted co-ords, but we're also obsessed with its range of strapless satin maxis – most of which are currently waitlisted in the UK.
Palm Noosa
Female-founded and Aussie-born Palm Noosa launched in 2018. An homage to the relaxed Beach-centric lifestyle of Noosa, Queensland, collections focus on breezy cottons, comfortable and cooling nightwear and pretty-but-practical swimwear. The brand's playful prints – we love the lemons and deckchair stripes – are hand-designed by artisans exclusively. Small stock rotation and only six drops per year keeps production more sustainable, too.
Camilla
Resortwear brand Camilla is all about print – each beautiful design is hand-drawn and painted in-house by artists. And that 47-strong design team is clearly keeping busy, because current collections boast a plethora of patterns ranging from under-the-sea themes, to botanical jungle prints, psychedelic butterflies and 1970s-inspired paisleys.
Layered with luxurious silk-chiffon, fringed trims and sparkling embellishments, these pieces are a true work of art. No wonder Beyoncé, JLo, ELLE UK cover star Lizzo, Rosie Huntington-Whitely and Miranda Kerr are all fans.
Oroton
Founded in Sydney in 1938, Oroton is the oldest luxury fashion company in Australia. The brand had its roots in textile exports, but soon graduated to fashion design – creating metal mesh bags in the 1950s that later sparked chainmail and paillette versions from the likes of Gianni Versace ad Paco Rabanne.
The brand's current creative director Sophie Holt revived Oroton in 2018, introducing new sustainable goals and switching up its aesthetic. She's remained true to the brand's roots by focusing on handbags (Meghan Markle's a fan) but also showcases impeccable ready-to-wear at Australia Fashion Week every season.
Forever New
Consider Forever New the Aussie version of Topshop (RIP) in the UK. This high street label travelled across the pond two years ago via ASOS and, to put it lightly, we've lapped it up over here.
The brand's USP? Ultra-feminine dresses (think milkmaid bodices, puffed sleeves and ditzy florals) and glam party pieces (retro jumpsuits and plenty of sequins), as well as excellent bridal and wedding guest looks. The best bit is the brand's inclusive approach to sizing – choose from regular, petite and tall options, as well as curve pieces up to a UK 26.
Jordan Dalah
Central Saint Martins grad Jordan Dalah left London post-BA to set up his namesake brand in his hometown Sydney, Australia and hasn't looked back since. UK editors are still obsessed with his designs, naturally – there's nothing quite like the label's puffball dresses, detachable bustles, leather corsetry and Medieval-inspired Juliet sleeves. We've spied the likes of Solange Knowles, Rita Ora and Saoirse Ronan in his spectacular pieces.
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