Melbourne, the cultural epicentre of Australia. And with fashion, it manages to offer up a tableau that's quite unlike anything else coming out of the nation. With creativity at its heart, the city is a breeding ground for designers and in case you needed further proof, we're offering it up below. These are the Melbourne fashion houses we hold close to our heart, the ones that furnish our wardrobes and our bodies. From tailored suiting and ultra minimalist clothing to made-to-order garments that read more art piece than anything else, this city does it all. Proof that when it comes to Australian fashion, we're spoilt for choice.
So, without further ado, we've rounded-up our favourite Melbourne based fashion, accessories and jewellery designers, labels and shops. Know, support and love our homegrown talent, now and forever.
1. A.EMERY
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A.Emery are more than their leather sandals, though those are of course buttery-soft and made with care. They're a conscious footwear brand, treading the line between luxury and simplicity with ease.
2. WITH HARPER LU
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With Harper Lu was founded by mother-daughter duo Cathie Burke and Lucia Hanna in Melbourne, back in 2020. Since then, the brand has gone on to forge a cult following, thanks to their rotation of universally flattering silhouettes and distinct, vibrant prints. Even better, sustainability is at the core of With Harper Lu's operation, with all pieces designed locally.
3. CAVES COLLECT
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Natural and handcrafted in Australia, CAVES COLLECT is an independently run brand with a core focus on knits and leather goods, all homespun from natural fabrics.
4. MAROSKE PEECH
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Maroske Peech needs no introduction. A considered, electric addition to the Naarm pack, their itty-bitty wardrobe of leotards, camisoles and lace leggings are pillars of their cutting edge and classic ethos at the same time.
5. BÚL
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Womenswear that hails inspiration from travel, brand founder Virginia Martin's experience at Proenza Schouler, Cynthia Rowley, Heatherette And Trovata has been reintroduced within her own label.
6. BY NYE
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Jewellery handcrafted in Melbourne, By Nye consults a closed circuit of jewellery makers and craftspeople who create their delicate, silver-smithing ear cuffs, necklaces and much more.
7. ALL IS A GENTLE SPRING
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Isabelle Hellyer of all is a gentle spring made it her mission to create corsets that appeared closer to couture than costume. Employing historical and forgotten techniques and finishes like steel boning and dense cartridge pleats, the overall effect are creations that are dangerous and sensual.
8. HENNE
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Henne: universal style and staples for all. Nordic touchpoints with a nod to Australian louche self-expression, the fashion label is Swedish for 'her' and ready to wear, anywhere.
9. LUCY FOLK
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The nomadic, highly coveted and ever-expanding eponymous brand Lucy Folk outfits creative misfits. With a modern-day approach to festival, the brand's fringed, tasselled collections are full of joy and musing whimsy.
10. EMILY WATSON
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The perfect accents in Emily Watson's world are the ruched customs in neoprene fabric, worn by Dua Lipa and Kali Uchis. Her latest collection was Jenny Humphrey-inspired, and left us fanning on the runway at AFW 2024.
11. FRIENDS WITH FRANK
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FriendswithFrank scores is unfaultable when it comes to craftsmanship and building a capsule wardrobe. Their pointelle tees have cultivated a cult-like status within the nation, and it's easy to see why.
12. COREPRÊT
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Coreprêt is an Australian designer label founded in 2017. The Melbourne based brand skillfully brings historical context to silhouette work to create an assertive femininity towards power dressing.
13. ERIK YVON
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Spunky, loud, and unabashedly real, Eric Yvon's take on unisexwear is best read through a punchy print. Their ranges take anything from evenwear to street style caps and blends it with a camp, knowing wink and a jauntiness. They know colour like we know air.
14. LINDEN COOK
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This jewellery label specialies in chunky, gold units, made to order in bespoke collections. Their necklaces and signet rings are particular favourites, customisable with your own wax impression kit. Leave your own dent the right way.
15. NELSON MADE
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Considered materials do Nelson Make. Evergreen materials with a pop of spring colour, the footwear brand is perfect for the coming of spring, which is on our doorsteps now.
16. NEUW DENIM
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Neuw Denim, our country's answer to the world of denim apparel. With a relaxed, natural focus, the jeans are as good as they come. The latest edit, featuring the surrealism of Salvador Dali injects camp into the source material.
17. TOILE STUDIOS
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If you put racewear, nylon and geometric cutouts in a blender, TOILÉ STUDIOS is what you'd likely get. We love their multifunctional design practice, moulded and modified with all the tonal shades of the colour wheel.
18. NOBODY DENIM
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A denim brand that's existed since I have, in 1999, Nobody Denim does denim like no other. Branded jeans and assorted skirts comprise a portion of their offerings.
19. SISTER STUDIOS
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Ruffles and lace, midis and minis. Sister Studios is Melbourne's take on the girlhood attiring that's revived much of our last year. Dressing for the femme in you? Sister Studios will take you under their wing.
20. KARLA LAIDLAW
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Karla Laidlaw makes clothing with a pulse. A streetwear brand that has existed since 2019, the hoodies, coats and assortment of jackets walk a knife's edge of style and structural flair.
21. PAR MOI
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Par Moi exists in limited quantities with the planet in mind. Handcrafted by Ashiya, the label blends elegance and simplicity for signature pieces. Custom colour orders are also available.
22. DOC GIRL
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The bubblegum pink world of Doc Girl pushes for femme empowerment through a rebellious lens. With inspirations drawn anywhere from the sneaker-head streetwear of the 90s to Snoopy, there's a playfulness to design approach and garment in Docgirl.
23. SEXIAZ LINGERIE
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Family-run string bikinis business. It sounds like a limerick, but in Melbourne, it's a raring success and we can note all the reasons why. The tri-colour string bikinis are a signature around the streets of Melbourne in the summer time, which come in colourways of teal, chocolate brown and so much more.
24. KATHARINA LOU
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Katharina Lou's made to order dresses are a gingham delight in bubble silhouettes and corset silhouettes. With an additional infusion of swim shorts in the same pattern, we're looking to load up our own cart in time for the summer.
25. Joslin Studio
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A unit of knitwear and dresses from JOSLIN are ageless pieces of muslin, smock tops and organic cotton. The label's enduring design policy are not just age-defying, but perfect transeasonally.
26. MODE MISCHIEF
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Mode Mischief are always cooking up a storm. Their vintage slogan tees and babydoll dresses are beloved by the likes of Hailey Bieber, and are best paired with a slinky pair of kitten heels. Even a mule.
27. ELKA COLLECTIVE
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Established in 2014, Elka Collective develops exquisite garments that resonate with the versatile and relaxed nature of the women who wear them. Harmonising classic tailoring with an effortlessly wearable sensibility, the Elka Collective woman is practiced with her silhouettes, and pared back.
28. HOMIE
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HoMie is a Melbourne-based streetwear label and social enterprise with a universal goal of supporting disadvantaged youth. 100% of HoMie’s profits go towards achieving its mission: to support young people affected by homelessness or hardship. Their hoodies, tracks, and sweatpants collection are cushy and effortlessly chic.
29. E NOLAN
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There's always a place for made-to-order tailored garments, and E Nolan is the top purveyor of the craft state-wide. With an impeccable eye for suitwear and shirt dresses, E Nolan is deliciously classic - without compromising quality.
30. JULES BRAMLEY
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Jules Bramley delivers an earthy, rhapsodic collection of clothes that are more wearable artwork than they are garments. Their bags are textural, the dresses elevated within an inch of your life, and the throughline of grit and decomposure wonderfully taut.
31. WACKIE JU
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Many will recall Wackie Ju a la her heartrending presentation at AFW 2024. But the brand has persisted for much longer prior to then. Wackie Ju, helmed by Jackie Wu, is a moving tableau of performance and garment work that defies the rigid norms of the Australian fashion landscape. Her body of work is a portrait of her story of trans womanhood, Chinese tradition, and corporeal movement through stasis.
32. Viktoria & Woods
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Established in 2004 by Founder, Margie Woods; VIKTORIA & WOODS launched with a simple approach to create effortless wardrobe staples with modernity in mind. At the heart of the label is the brand's signature merino wool that launched the brand; since expanding into complete ready-to-wear collections, the VIKTORIA & WOODS offering includes premium denim, tailoring, outerwear, lounge and occasion wear.
33. Cushla Whiting
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Cushla Whiting encapsulates the artful settings of their diamond pieces; with Creative Director, Cushla Whiting’s background in architecture, the brand captivates the consumer with intricate details, bold stones, clean lines, and a timeless elegance that are formed from Cushla’s finely-trained eye for geometry, form, and the study of light.
For more on incredible local talent, see our extensive round-up of national Australian fashion labels to support. This also extends to our favourite New Zealand friends. Or, check out our roundup of Indigenous Australian fashion designers we love and our feature on why we need Australian fashion.
Images: @sister_studios @emmmmilywatson @allisagentlespring, @julesbramley
Featured products are selected editorially. Our opinions are our own. Occasionally, we may receive a standard affiliate partner fee if you make a purchase using the links we feature.
