Australia Day in Style

Australia Day might be a celebration of national identity, but trust us, there are more ways to say it than just by eating lamb! Never mind draping an Australian flag around your shoulders, either. What you need to flaunt your national pride is to get familiar with locally-designed and produced fashion. Australia is home to lots of labels that are ethical, environmentally-friendly, socially-responsible and promote local industry. And they are making beautiful clothes right here in your backyard! What more could an Aussie girl want? Here is our little pick of what’s on offer in your capital city…

Brisbane’s Nelson Molloy may have closed their shopfront, but they still sell their floaty, feminine pieces online. Ginger and Smart’s edgy fashion which combines flamboyant fabrics and chic cuts are designed and made in Sydney. Polbymade in Canberra sell their gorgeous handmade skirts and kimonos online, and even hold sewing workshops in their Lyneham office so you can learn the tricks of the trade too! The latest collection by Bento, based in Melbourne, combines denim and neutral tones to create basics made with quality in mind. Days of August in Adelaide use recycled and vintage materials to create one-off jewellery pieces that are reminiscent of fairytales, while The Maker in Hobart sell gorgeous locally-made fashion and craft pieces. We love their handbags created from salvaged Japanese postal bags. Over in Perth, Eco Logika create striking evening wear and statement pieces using silks hand-coloured with Australian bush dyes and organic merino wool. Can’t get much more Aussie than that!

You can visit Ethical Clothing Australia for more information about locally-made clothing and brand listings.