In an Australian Fashion Week special, ragtrader.com.au asks key buyers about trade, trends and what's on their agenda. David Jones women’s buyer Vanessa Wong wraps up the week, sharing how brands should be pitching to her.
Have you added any new Australian brands recently?
We are constantly expanding our apparel fashion brand offering at David Jones with a curated mix of brands that each bring a distinct aesthetic and point of view. Our focus continues to be on introducing brands that resonate with our customers through thoughtful design and versatile wardrobe solutions.
We have recently welcomed Harris Tapper for their approach to modern outfitting and A.Emery for their elevated everyday pieces. Adding a fashion forward energy to the assortment Benni and Bubish our new brand additions.
We are also thrilled to have back customer favourites in St Agni and Maggie Marilyn as much loved brands in the Australian market.
Which brands and categories are performing strongest?
This season, denim and activewear has performed strongly for us, with customers gravitating towards the breadth of assortment on offer. Seeking a balance of comfort and functionality from brands like Mother, Rollas and Levi’s.
With the weather cooling down, knitwear and jackets are beginning to peak, with strong results across brands such as Jac+Jack, Maggie Marilyn and Aje.
Is there a particular runway you are most keen to see at AFW this year?
I am always excited to see what Aje presents on the runway, their statement pieces and show stopping dresses in beautifully created venues are consistently a highlight of Australian Fashion Week. Each collection captures a balance of modern femininity creating an inspiring runway experience.
We are incredibly proud to support the talented brands within our portfolio. We are looking forward to seeing both Courtney Zheng and Nagnata showcase their collections each bringing their own aesthetic to the runway.
How do you like to be pitched to by brands?
When pitching to us we really like to see a clear understanding of the department store customer, our brand mix and long term vision. We love seeing brands that fill a gap in our customer offering and have a strong and clear aesthetic that stays true to their target market and brand identity.
With tariffs and supply chain shifts over the last year, how are you approaching sourcing now?
We are navigating the current global trade environment in a considered and strategic way. With an already strong portfolio of Australian fashion brands, we continue to prioritise and nurture these local relationships, as they provide a key point of difference to our customers and remain central to our assortment.
At the same time we continue to work closely with our International brands to support and work through any challenges with their supply chain shifts. To ensure we still have a global perspective and added trend relevance to our offer.