In an Australian Fashion Week special, ragtrader.com.au asks key buyers about trade, trends and what's on their agenda. The New Trend’s co-founder and brand director, Vanessa Spencer, is up next, sharing the new Aussie designers joining her highly curated platform.
Which Australian brands have you added to The New Trend over the last year?
Over the past year, we’ve introduced Solaqua, Rylan, One of Others and Nelson Made, with L’IDÉE launching shortly.
Each of these brands filled a gap within our assortment. Solaqua introduced a strong resort offering with easy, wearable silhouettes. Rylan and Nelson Made added a refined accessories layer, with considered leather goods and footwear that integrate easily into everyday dressing. One of Others brought a more directional RTW perspective, with a focus on separates and statement pieces. L’IDÉE will further strengthen our occasion category, bringing a stronger point of view to event dressing.
For us, it always comes back to balance. We’re focused on building an edit that feels considered across category, seasonality and how our customer wears it. The product needs to hold its own, and the brand needs a clear point of view.
What are the best-selling Australian labels over the last year?
Christopher Esber, ESSE and SIR have consistently been some of our strongest Australian brands. Each of them really knows their woman, and in many ways, they are their woman. The product, the messaging and the way the collections are built all speak directly to her, which is why it resonates.
Christopher Esber leads with a very clear design perspective, focusing on the female form, strong tailoring and considered details. It feels directional but still wearable, which is why it continues to translate.
ESSE has been a strong partner for us. The product is disciplined and consistent, building into a wardrobe over time. We’ve also worked closely on exclusives and capsule moments, which has driven strong engagement.
SIR. performs because it’s easy. The product is relaxed, considered and fits naturally into our customers’ everyday wardrobe.
Across all three, the common thread is clarity. They know who they are and deliver on that consistently.
Which AFW designers are you most looking forward to this year?
We’re fortunate to have a number of designers we work closely with showing this year.
Courtney Zheng’s first solo runway will be a highlight. We’ve supported the brand from early on, so it's exciting to see her take this next step. ESSE is another highlight; their shows are always very considered and reflective of the world they’re building. L’IDÉE will also be an interesting moment, particularly with Pip Edwards as creative director for the show.
What does Australian fashion offer that feels distinct from what you're sourcing out of Europe or the US right now?
Australian fashion feels more considered. There’s a level of restraint and clarity in how collections are designed, with a focus on pieces that genuinely integrate into a wardrobe.
Compared to Europe or the US, it’s less about reacting to a moment and more about building something that lasts. The product feels wearable, but still directional, which is a balance our customer responds to.
There’s also a strong sense of identity across many Australian brands. They know who they are and who they’re designing for, and they stay consistent in that.
What's your top advice to designers showcasing at AFW?
Know your customer and stay close to that.
Fashion Week can push brands to go beyond their core. There’s room to elevate for the runway, but it should still feel like a true extension of the brand, not a departure.
The collections that cut through are the ones that feel confident and resolved. You can see when a brand is clear versus when it’s trying to do too much. At the end of the day, it comes back to the product. It has to live beyond the runway and make sense in a real wardrobe.