Australia news and archive

Vivienne Westwood and Rei Kawakubo to be the focus of a new exhibition in Australia

The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) in Melbourne, Australia, is bringing together British fashion legend Vivienne Westwood and Japanese designer Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons in a new fashion exhibition which will celebrate both designer’s “groundbreaking” work. The exhibition, titled ‘Westwood | Kawakubo,’ will premiere on December 6,...

Member

Business

Australian organisations team up to develop country’s first National Manufacturing Strategy

The Australian Fashion Council (AFC) and clothing manufacturing company R.M. Williams have established a new partnership to develop what would be Australia’s first-ever National Manufacturing Strategy. The duo intend to mobilise efforts to “rebuild and future-proof” the local fashion and textile industry in the pursuit of building up a globally...

FeaturedMember

Business

Frasers Group to launch Sports Direct in ANZ region with Accent Group

Frasers Group has secured a 25-year strategic retail agreement with Accent Group that will see its sportswear retailer, Sports Direct, launch across Australia and New Zealand. The company said it is planning to open 100 stores in the region, with further opportunities among other retail and business segments to be potentially explored in the...

Culture|In Pictures

Martin Grant retrospective exhibition opens in Australia

Paris-based Australian-born fashion designer Martin Grant is being celebrated with his first major career retrospective exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), Melbourne, Australia. The ‘Martin Grant’ exhibition runs until January 26, 2026, and features close to 100 works drawn from the NGV collection, alongside more than 40 loans...

Fashion|In Pictures

India Hicks launches swimwear collection with Sea Level Australia

British designer and former model India Hicks has unveiled a swimwear collaboration with Sea Level Australia designed to empower “women of all ages”. The 20-piece India Hicks x Sea Level swimwear collection takes inspiration from the iconic allure of the classic Bond girl and features a monochrome palette of black and white, accented with subtle...

Fashion

Joor to platform Australian designers during NYFW

Joor has partnered with WeWearAustralian and Australia Post to platform and promote Australian designers during New York Fashion Week. The wholesale platform is playing host to a digital trade show event spanning three months, featuring 40 brands associated with the organisations. As part of the partnership, selected brands included in the Joor...

Member

Business

Australian fashion giant Mosaic Brands bankrupt, Noni B and Millers disappear

Australian fashion chains Noni B and Millers are closing their doors after the receivers of parent company Mosaic Brands failed to find a buyer, according to Australian press, including Business News Australia. About 933 employees will lose their jobs as a result of the closures. Noni B grew to become one of the largest womenswear retailers in...

Member

Business

Australian footwear brand Ugg Since 1974 changes name after legal battle with Ugg

Australian footwear brand Ugg Since 1974 is changing its name overseas after a nearly decade-long legal battle with Deckers Brands, the US parent company of footwear brand Ugg, which holds exclusive sales rights for Ugg footwear in more than 130 countries. The Ugg Since 1974 name will no longer be used outside of Australia and New Zealand. In...

Fashion

Australian Fashion Week secures government support

Following the exit of former partner IMG, Australian Fashion Week (AFW) has confirmed a new collaboration with the New South Wales Government to ensure that its next edition will go ahead as planned. Scheduled to take place from 12 to 16 May 2025, the forthcoming season of AFW will be backed by the NSW Government’s tourism and major events...

Member

Business

Oxfam calls on Australian brands to pay living wages to garment workers

An analysis by Oxfam Australia has claimed that a number of notable Australian brands are underpaying their garment workers despite raking in over one billion dollars in revenue last year. According to the nonprofit organisation, Kmart Group, Big W, Cotton On, Rip Curl, Kathmandu owner KMD, Myder and Bonds’ parent company Hanes “still don’t pay...

Member

Business

Authentic secures Aus and NZ licensee deal for Champion

Authentic Brands Group, the new owner of Champion, has appointed Brand Collective as the new licensing partner of the sportswear label in Australia and New Zealand. Australia-based Brand Collective currently serves as the operating partner to brands such as Canada Goose, Clarks, Hush Puppies and Authentic-owned Reebok, while further owning the...

FeaturedMember

Fashion

Australian Fashion Council to offer “new vision” for Australian Fashion Week

Australian Fashion Council (AFC), the not-for-profit organisation representing the Australian fashion and textile industry, has confirmed the show will go on for Australian Fashion Week (AFW) in 2025 following last week’s announcement by IMG that it is withdrawing as owner and organiser of Australian fashion events. In a statement, the AFC said...