Your bumper guide to Canberra-based fashion brands
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Think Canberra doesn’t have a flare of fashion? You’d be wrong.
When it comes to fashion and design, Canberra’s creatives are often overlooked compared to the other capital cities. But while we might not have the scope of Sydney or the reputation of Melbourne, there are plenty of amazing designers calling Canberra home – and some might even surprise you.
Creating clothing and accessories that belong on runways alongside the other giants of Australian fashion, consider this your bumper guide to Canberra-based fashion brands. Supporting locals has never looked so stylish…
FASHION
Gold Finch The Label
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Goldfinch is an ethical, boho-inspired Australian fashion brand influenced by the glamourous styles of the 70s and 80s (and the women who wore them).
All of Goldfinch’s original designs are proudly designed in Pambula by Megan, who wanted to create clothes that she could wear and that allowed her to feel stylish and unique, without buying into the ‘fast fashion’ hype. Now living in Canberra, at her boutique you can find wild, rock-chic glamour inspired clothing of the sixties, seventies, and eighties.
goldfinch.store | @goldfinch_thelabel
Penyu Concept
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Founded in 2022, this slow fashion label celebrates Indonesia’s centuries of diverse culture. Crafted in Indonesian batik, each design is a wearable artwork and is designed to embody the beauty of Indonesia and its people.
Made in small batches by independent tailors and small family-owned factories in Bali, each of these Canberra designed items is limited edition – making it even more special.
penyuconcept.com | @penyuconcept
Holly Lulu
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Holly Biswas knew by age eight that she was going to be a fashion designer. And after a whirlwind few years working in the Big Apple and travelling around the world, Holly is now building a fan base for her line of inclusive-sized 4-20 lingerie under the label Holly Lulu Intimates.
But these aren’t your stereotypical lingerie garments. With the ability to be worn as styling pieces, each design can worn underneath a shear top as a pop of colour or with a tailored suit for that 90s look. With plans to launch Australian-sized 22-26 options soon, read more here.
hollylulu.com | @hollyluluintimates
Muse Apparel
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A good outfit is all about your base – and Muse Apparel is a new local brand offering premium everyday wardrobe staples, made to wear with confidence.
Currently stocking items like The Sculpt Tee and, The Sculpt Bodysuit, the pieces are designed with lightweight, buttery soft fabric that hugs your curves in all the right places. And if that’s not enough, they also have some very cute and cosy loungewear.
museapparel.net.au | @muse.apparel.au
Ally Brenner Designs
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Bringing the world of high-end and custom-made fashion here to Canberra, Alley Brenner Designs is a luxury handmade womenswear brand that is making waves overseas.
Designing and handmaking clothing that can take you everywhere from the boardroom with handed beaded suit jackets, to the ballet with elegant evening gowns, all of the designs can be described in three words: luxurious, elegant, and embellished. Read all about it here.
allybrennerdesigns.co.uk | @allybrennerdesigns
Brunswick & Tilley
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Established by Nia Stavropoulos in 2018 to create a couture luxury winter brand, Brunswick & Tilley is bringing wonderfully warm clothing to winter wardrobes.
Using only Merino and alpaca wool, cashmere, and silk, what makes Brunswick & Tilley so deliciously luxurious is not only the classic designs but its dedication to supporting the Australian fashion industry. Having worked in the fashion industry for over twenty years, Nia works closely with farmers and highly specialised workshops in Australia, New Zealand, and Italy to produce highly sustainable, traceable, and beautifully timeless clothing.
Opening her Red Hill salon by appointment only, Nia personally fits each client to ensure that they feel confident in their purchase. Read more here.
For more information email brunswickandtilley@bigpond.com, or call 0447 060 062.
Maak
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This slow and ethical fashion designer creates locally produced pieces that can’t be found anywhere else.
All limited edition, Maak began as a side business that worked with artists and musicians all over Australia. And with names like Aya Yves, Tigerlily and Hands Like Houses on her client list, this innovative local brand is only going up.
@maak_clothing | maakthelabel.com.au
Sakena The Label
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When Maryam Oria began Sakena The Label from her home in Canberra, she knew that she wanted to do everything she could to support women back in her country of birth: Afghanistan.
Creating slow fashion designs, upcycled from, and inspired by deadstock material meticulously hand-selected from different parts of Afghanistan, Maryam wants to pay tribute to Afghan artisans and uplift women from underprivileged backgrounds by helping them improve their financial and social standing. Read her story here.
sakenathelabel.com | @sakenathelabel
RQ The Label
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Glamour, sustainability, and the feminine form: this is what RQ The Label wants to bring to the fashion industry. RQ The Label was founded by local Rachel Quach in 2020.
With no experience studying or working in fashion—apart from retail jobs throughout high school, college, and university—she decided to start designing clothes as a fun creative outlet. Creating classic corsets with a slightly modern edge, it’s an homage to the vintage and high-end fashion Rachel has always loved.
Read more here.
EDITION
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Alice Sutton from EDITION is something of a local legend. Exploring sustainable design and zero-waste patternmaking for women, she has done multiple collaborations with First Nations artists and is known for her showstopping creations.
Embracing sustainable practices in each beautiful, multi-functional garment, everything is made to order in her Canberra studio.
@edition.label | editionalicesutton.com
Bianca Pavlic the Label
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Hand-made in her home studio at Wamboin NSW, Bianca Pavlic came into the Canberra fashion scene with a bang.
Made to each client’s measurements, Bianca focuses on the feminine form and enjoys using unique fabrics that connect with her customers. Ideal for festival season, the bright, beautiful and glittery pieces tread the line between clothing and art.
@biancapavlic.thelabel | biancapavlicthelabel.com
Naomi Peris Bridal
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Creating amazing gowns that are customised to suit your style and personality, Naomi Peris Bridal provides designs online as well as custom designs for Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra brides to be.
Handmade using French laces, intricate beading, and fine tailoring, Naomi Peris Bridal calls Canberra home.
@naomiperisbridal | naomiperis.com
Zilpah Tart
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Designed for women who want something a little out of the box but is still feminine and comfortable, Zilpah Tart is a fashion label by Yumi Morrisey.
Made locally in Canberra, Zilpah Tart features fabric prints designed exclusively by Yumi that add a unique and exciting element to her designs.
@zilpahtart | zilpahtart.com.au
Wombat & Poss
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Perfect for parents to be, Wombat & Poss handmake clothing and accessories for babies and children, out of natural, sustainable fabrics and fibers that help them move and play.
You can purchase Wombat & Poss from Trove Canberra or from the Etsy store.
@wombatandposs |trovecanberra.com
Rockstars and Royalty
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From costumes to couture gowns and wedding dresses, Vicky from Rockstars and Royalty has been designing for over 20 years.
Known for her elaborate designs, each item is made uniquely for the customer, or she can revamp, re-style, embellish, and alter, to make something old look new!
@rockstarsandroyalty | rockstarsroyalty.com
Dissonance
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This Canberra based fashion label takes inspo from music, turning sound into sight. Dissonance is designed, pattern made and made by Annette Clarke, designing innovative garments for confident women.
Taking a theatrical approach to design, Dissonance takes custom orders or you can purchase items from Trove Canberra.
@dissonance_fashion | trovecanberra.com
ACCESSORIES
Phoebe Porter
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Phoebe Porter’s designs are, essentially, a wearable work of art. Intrinsically modern and effortlessly stunning, as well as creating and selling her jewellery, she also has regular exhibitions of her new creative projects.
Inspired by balance, shapes, and the Bauhaus and Constructivist movements, Phoebe Porter’s pieces are essential in all jewellery collections.
phoebeporter.com.au | @phoebe.porter
Venetia Major
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In a beautiful vintage-style building within the charming township of Hall, Venetia Major Bespoke Jewellery is bringing high-quality and stunning designs to Canberra from makers across Australia and from the owner herself.
Offering custom-made designs (perfect for a unique engagement or wedding ring) Venetia’s taste naturally leans to classic and Art Deco style jewellery, but she’s committed to helping her clients express their own aesthetic.
Read more here.
@venetiamajor | venetiamajor.com.au
Hello Sparkle
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Dangles, studs and hoops, and so much more. With endless sparkle and fun designs, Hello Sparkle offers fun and funky earrings handmade by Chloe using acrylic, resin, ink and glitter.
Completely self-taught, her earrings are a passion project that exploded into a colourful and creative full-time job that brings some sparkle to Canberra.
@hello.sparkle| shophellosparkle.com
Mila and Me Handmade
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With timeless and elegant designs, Jessica handcrafts pearl jewellery from her studio in Canberra.
Named after her daughter, Mila and Me uses natural pearls that are sourced locally to minimise environmental impact and that are designed to be passed down.
@milaandme_handmade | milaandmehandmade.com
Vetro e Metallo
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Located in Braidwood (making her an honorary Canberran), Wendy Lees has a passion (and talent) for handcrafting jewellery using salvage metals and Murano glass.
With the ethos of upcycling copper, brass, silver, and glass to create collections with soul, Vetro e Metallo is known for its low carbon footprint and strict adherence to sustainability and Australian hand-making.
@vetroemetallo | vetroemetallo.com.au
Eucalypse Jewellery
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Combining the natural beauty of flowers with delicate pieces designed for special occasions and everyday wear, the founder of Eucalypse Jewellery grew up in Canberra – so it’s no wonder she was inspired by Australian native plants.
With the intention to create wearable pieces of nature that evoke memories and meaning to those with a special connection to Australian flora, if this jewellery looks familiar, it’s because it’s been featured in Amazon Prime series ‘The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart’.
eucalypse.com | @eucalypsejewellery
LLLDesigns
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Self-proclaimed creators of “non-boring handmade jewellery”, a quick flick through the LLL Designs Instagram page will leave you wanting more.
From themed earrings for holidays to pop-culture references, anyone who loves to make a statement with their accessories will adore this brand.
Amy Creative
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Amy Creative offers one-off, unique pieces handcrafted from polymer clay that are bold, bright and fun.
You can find Amy’s jewellery online or at POP Canberra on Lonsdale Street – and she’s also been featured in Peppermint magazine!
amycreative.com | @amycreative.
Nicola Knackstredt
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From doing a short course in Sydney to running an extremely successful online jewellery business, Nicola Knackstredt is a force to be reckoned with.
Her beautifully unique jewellery is inspired by her childhood love of fashion which you can see portrayed in the fabric-like shapes and fluid designs in her pieces.
nicolaknackstredtjewellery.com | @nicolaknackstredtjewellery
Katie Shanahan
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Passionate about making pieces clients can have a relationship with, Katie Shanahan’s jewellery is created to ultimately become a part of the wearers story.
Creating statement pieces with a bit of flair, Katie’s jewellery is ethically sourced, fantastic quality and absolutely beautiful.
katieshanahan.com.au | @katieshanahanjewellery
Ferro Forma
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Ferro Forma blends aspects of traditional and modern seamlessly, creating jewellery designs are both minimalistic, unique and timeless.
Extremely passionate about their work, makers Alison Jackson and Dan Lorrimer (who are based in Braidwood) are determined to handcraft pieces that they know will be loved, cherished, and overly worn and used.
ferroforma.com.au | @ferroforma.studio
Feature image: Holly Lulu Intimates. Supplied.
