Two To Watch From Fashion Week Australia
21-09-2025
This month saw Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia (MBFWA) parade Resort 2019 collections from over 40 local brands in an exciting event that showcased an impressive and innovative calibre of design talent.
Imbuing a breath of fresh air along with its spontaneous and diverse variety of latest emerging influencers, it’s time to discover two fresh names to keep an eye out for in the ever-evolving world of fashion…
ROMANCE WAS BORN
Despite being well known on their local turf, creative directors Luke Sales and Anna Plunkett have plans to parade their brand Romance Was Born on an international level, aiming to show at Paris couture in July, as well as having their first book launch.
The duo is expected to attain global attention thanks to their ‘Opal Goddess’ line, which witnessed a collaboration with Jenny Kee, an iconic Australian artist and designer that saw a sartorial infusion of theatrical gowns and party tops emerge into profound flapper ensembles that were further adorned with chandelier tiaras and circus-inspired make-up. An original Australian aesthetic was captured, with infectious, whimsy and charming accents to accompany.
DOUBLE RAINBOUU
Injecting an exciting and fresh edge on the Hawaiian shirt – a cult classic, Double Rainbouu is designed specifically for ‘beach babes and pool punks’. Australian residents and creative directors Mikey Nolan and Toby Jones extract inspiration from the seaside culture and are acknowledged as a creative remedy to traditional resort brands.
The duo proudly creates all their textiles and prints in-house – designs that echo a life spent along the beach. An initial aesthetic of bowling shirts and board-shorts bedecked with acidic tropical motifs has today evolved into a punk-meets-shoegaze wardrobe, targeted at boys and girls in equal measures. Employing an effortless urban vs. beachwear style that champions a message of anti-fashion with a relaxed coastal cool, Double Rainbouu is a label to covet.
Words by Kate Farley
Images courtesy of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia (Resort 2019)
