Q: How do our local designers compare to those on a world stage?
Kirsten Shadbolt
Owner and designer at Paper Skye
We have a completely different market here in Australia compared to other countries, so it is hard to compare as it is a very different style that’s being produced. But in saying that, the support and encouragement offered to emerging designers in Australia is amazing. This allows emerging designers to raise the calibre in Australia in comparison to other countries. Due to the economy at the moment, I believe that established designers are thinking more about creating commercial products that will sell. This allows emerging designers to forget about the commercial side of what they are creating and gives them a chance to develop a name for themselves in creating collections that will be noticed for their first few seasons.
There is also support for designer fashion from the Department of Culture and the Arts, which funds opportunities for West Australian designers to gain exposure from opportunities in the eastern states.
With the increase of online shopping and fashion bloggers, this is creating opportunities for Australian designer fashion to open its business up to the rest of the world. This has to make our industry stronger as the information is so accessible.
I believe the future of designer fashion in Australia is looking very promising
as more support and opportunities become available.
Wendy Trinet
Fashion designer for Sass Clothing
Australian designers are becoming increasingly recognised and renowned in the fashion industry overseas.
Australia provides a great platform for emerging designers as it has fantastic universities and fashion design programs to help nurture and develop up-and-coming designers. The Australian Government has also increased its support to the Australian textile and clothing industry with ongoing and assistance programs being initiated.
Nowadays, designers have access to advanced computer design programs, factories have advanced technology for production and design patterns and orders can be sent anywhere around the world within seconds.
Another significant change for the Australian fashion industry is the shift from local production to overseas production.
Due to the reduction in tariff levels and the increase in costs of domestic production and manufacturing, many of the more labour-intensive production steps have moved offshore over the past decade. Interestingly enough, we are now seeing a shift back towards domestic production as savings overseas are outweighed by a number of factors including the quality offered by Australian producers.
With globalisation and the internet, the future for Australian fashion designers looks very bright. The internet has also enabled talented up-and-coming designers to test the waters without investing heavily in a tangible store or relying on retailers to stock their product.
Uli Hasel
Curator at Fashion Exposed and developer of its ‘Debut’ launch pad concept for young Australian labels
The unique and comparatively small Australian market allows new and emerging fashion and accessory labels to easily and naturally grow into sustainable businesses.
Pop-up shops, online style blogs, online shopping, regular artisans’ markets, seasonal fashion festivals in all major cities and a steadily growing design culture uniquely shape the Australian design landscape. These things help create the fertile ground for indie fashion and accessory labels and allow them to enjoy much sought after support by the Australian fashion-conscious consumer.
A recent trip to Europe confirmed the unique situation for Australian designers in the local scene. Particularly easy access to online consumers and their willingness to buy online keep overheads low for new and emerging designers.
Nevertheless, it is those venturing into traditional ‘bricks and mortar’ retail that find the greatest success.
One thing remains constant – to succeed they must continually adapt with an industry that changes at a lightning speed rate. Today that means showcasing and delivering new designs, as much online as with the old show and tell approach.
Financially, this appears to be a hard road, particularly since a good chunk of production can no longer be sourced locally but must be moved offshore, yet new designers are consistently emerging in all genres such as street, high-end and general apparel. The stream of newly released materials, new technologies and innovation in design is surprising and exciting and is forever inspiring new generations of designers.