MEET OUR 2024 NATIONAL DESIGNER AWARD FINALISTS
23 May 2024 | Words by PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival
For its 28th year, the National Designer Award presented by David Jones celebrated the creativity and excellence of Australian fashion designers in their first five years of business.
Past winners include some of the biggest names in Australian fashion such as Christopher Esber, Dion Lee, Romance Was Born, Alémais, P.E. Nation, Toni Maticevski and Strateas Carlucci. As Australia’s most established and prestigious fashion award program, the National Designer Award highlights the future of Australian fashion, providing finalists with opportunities for mentorship, networking and critical industry exposure.
Finalists and one winner were chosen by a panel of esteemed industry judges and the winner was the designer who best demonstrated vision and cohesion in creativity and design; adherence to high quality manufacturing standards; high attention to detail; strong business acumen; and a genuine commitment to to addressing environmental and social impact.
In recognition of the industry's pressing need for positive change, one deserving finalist was awarded with the Honourable Mention for Sustainability in acknowledgement of their dedication to sustainability, clear in both their product and overall business ethos. In addition, a People’s Choice Award also allowed fashion enthusiasts and consumers to get involved by submitting an online vote for their favourite finalist.
Special thanks to our esteemed judges PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival CEO, Caroline Ralphsmith; David Jones General Manager of Womenswear, Bridget Veals; David Jones General Manager of Menswear, Chris Wilson; Style Editor of Sydney Morning Herald & The Age, Damien Woolnough; Ngali Founder & Designer, Deni Fransisco; Alemais Founder & Designer, Lesleigh Jermanus; and Sustainable Fashion Expert, Lucianne Tonti.
See below for an insight into our 2024 winners and finalists.
HAULIER: WINNER OF NATIONAL DESIGNER AWARD
Jeremy Hershan, founder of HAULIER
HAULIER goods are designed to live a full life and will be all the better for their experiences. Established in Sydney in 2020 and crafted in Europe to the highest standards from materials of superior quality, HAULIER makes timeless goods that endure. Its founder, Jeremy Hershan, draws on a career designing for the world’s top luxury and legacy brands. He takes cues from the glory days of travel, his dual Australian and European heritage and the lasting fashions of the past to create contemporary heirlooms using traditional manufacturing techniques.
IORDANES SPYRIDON GOGOS: WINNER OF HONOURABLE MENTION OF SUSTAINABILITY
Jordan Gogos, founder of Iordanes Spyridon Gogos
Iordanes Spyridon Gogos is a circular brand - continually striving to produce sustainable outcomes in their design processes. The brand currently has a ‘zero’ waste process of reusing wastage through compression techniques, investing in specialised machinery that furthers their commitment to sustainable processes.
CLEA: WINNER OF PEOPLE’S CHOICE
Natasha Gordon, founder of CLEA
Founded in 2021, by designer Natasha Gordon, Clea is a premium womenswear label, distinguished by an appreciation for exceptional quality, cut and finish. Designed to be cherished, classic silhouettes and wardrobe staples are reimagined with a modern approach. Embracing an aesthetic which proposes a fresh balance of opposing elements – masculine and feminine, textural and clean, strength and softness, intricate and minimal. With meticulous attention to detail and carefully considered creation, each garment is designed with enduring elements and longevity at its core.
ALIX HIGGINS
Alix Higgins, founder of Alix Higgins
Alix Higgins is a fashion designer from Sydney. After studying in Paris and working with Marine Serre, Alix returned to his hometown to start his label in 2021. The brand focuses on imbuing everyday pieces with magic, poetry, a love letter to the internet, and to a future commerciality. The brand is produced in Sydney, Australia, and stocked in independent boutiques worldwide. Alix Higgins was awarded ‘Emerging Designer of the Year’ 2023 by the Australian Fashion Laureate, and is also a proud member of the Australian Fashion Council's Fashion Trademark, a group of brands producing in Australia with shared values.
IKUNTJI ARTISTS
We are Ikuntji Artists, a not-for-profit, Aboriginal art centre. We are based in the remote Aboriginal community of Ikuntji (Haasts Bluff) in the Northern Territory with a total population of 150 people.
The art centre was established in 1992 as the first Indigenous art centre in the Western Desert by women and for women. Printmaking has been a part of our history, starting with screen-printing t-shirts. The return to our roots in the past six years has been crucial to the strength of the development. Our art centre is about the intergenerational transfer of knowledge from our elders to our emerging artists. It is an inclusive space, in which experimentation and innovation within our own knowledge systems are fostered. Art-making is a meaningful way to create income and employment as it is based on culture, knowledge and skills. Our art centre creates employment and career opportunities for all of its 45 members.
Ikuntji designs have become a trademark of innovation and sustainability. Our textiles inspire makers around the world to be innovative and create bespoke wearable art.
THDR
Timothy Aquino, founder of THDR
THEODORE is an Australian menswear brand that utilises artificial intelligence and emerging technology to redefine the fashion landscape. Our mission is to revolutionise consumer interactions with fashion by utilising a personalised made-to-measure model that transcends standardised sizing and increases sustainability.
At the heart of our revolution is the Pocket Tailor App, integrating AI to ensure the perfect fit, complemented by 'WaveWear' NFC tags that bridge the physical and digital realms. THEODORE has disrupted & redefined luxury designer menswear in Australia inviting you to explore a new era where technology meets timeless style in every tailored piece.