Australia and New Zealand have rich fashion histories belied by the two nationsʼ geographicalisolation. In the last decade the region has produced fashion superstars and indie fashionfavorites like Dion Lee, Karen Walker, Sass & Bide, Ksubi, Ellery, and Zimmerman, not tomention surfwear giants like Quiksilver. While Rosemount Australian Fashion Week is producingmore and more designers to watch, the region also boasts some of the worldʼs edgiest fashionmags in the form of Russh, and Oyster. As island nations, the beach and ocean loom large incultural mythologies, influencing styles that combine European edge and West Coast ease, witha strong dose of the regionʼs tough, individualist irreverence. In the first of a series of newregional reports, Stylesight highlights ten of the freshest young designers.

Name: Shakuhachi

Site: shakuhachi.net

Founded: Late 1990s

Designer: Jessie White

From: Sydney

Key Retailers: Over 150 doors worldwide including Shopbop, TuchuzyBurwood, ASOS, Barneys Japan, Urban Outfitters

Categories: Women's and Juniors' apparel and footwear

Key items: Sheer maxis, expertly-cut mini dresses, deconstructed tees

Inspiration: Coastal gypsetters who follow up-to-the-minute trends fromthe catwalks

Notable for: RAFW runway show / Flagship store in Paddington

Site: Perks and Mini

Name: www.perksandmini.com

Founded: 2000

Designers: Married couple Misha Hollenbach andShauna Toohey, who named P.A.M. after theirrespective graffiti tags

From: Sydney

Key Retailers: Karmaloop, Boundless NY,Sometime, and Fat

Categories: Juniorsʼ and Young Menʼs streetwear

Key items: T-shirts, ball caps, button-front shirts,sweatshirts

Inspiration: Australian street and graffiti culture

Notable for: Collaborations with Stussy andYamantaka Eye (of the band the Boredoms) /Pambook , the companyʼs book store

Related Report: Active Capsule - Global Bike >References –Asia & Australia

Site: One Teaspoon

Name: www.oneteaspoon.com.au

Founded: 2001

Designer: Jamie Blakey

From: Sydney

Key Retailers: Over 150 retailers worldwide,including Barneys, Retail Therapy, Parliament,ASOS, Revolve Clothing

Categories: Women's and Juniorsʼ apparel, denim,swimwear

Key items: Distressed cutoff denim shorts, ultra-wideflared jeans, draped flowing dresses, knit tops

Inspiration: Urbane surfer girls

Notable for: Blakeyʼs homespun internationalsuccess story / Press including Vogue Hong Kongand Remix

Related Reports: April 11 – Denim Details > MudWash | Bread & Butter F/W 11 – Juniors Apparel >Forever Fur

Name: Vanishing Elephant

Site: www.vanishingelephant.com

Founded: 2008

Designers: Felix Chan, Huw Bennett, and ArranRussell From

From: Sydney

Key Retailers: Over 100 retailers worldwide,including 11:11 OʼClock, Fat, Bloomingdales, Atrium,W Hotels South Beach, Odin, Blackbird

Categories: Menʼs and Young Menʼs apparel andfootwear

Key items: Rugged, colorful four-pocket chinos,woven button fronts, tribal take on “Go to Hell” pants

Inspiration: Classic American sportswear andworkwear with ethnic touches

Notable for: Awarded Designer of the Year at the2010 GQ Men of the Year Awards in Sydney / Pressin Menʼs Style, Menʼs Health, Instyle, and RemixMagazine

Related Reports: Premium F/W 11 – Men's & YoungMen's > Toggle Tale | Premium F/W 11 – Denim >Utility

Name: ManiaMania

Site: www.themaniamania.com

Founded: 2009

Designers: Stylist Tamila Purvis and art director MelanieKamsler who met while working at Russh Magazine

From: Sydney

Key Retailers: Maryam Nassir Zadeh, Tenoversix, Shopbop,Zimmermann, The Corner Shop

Categories: Womenʼs jewelry

Key items: Chunky crystal rings, bronze and silver necklaces,sculptural cuffs

Inspiration: Bohemian 90s love child meets vagabond artist

Notable for: Celebrity fans include Devendra Banhart, AlisonMosshart and Erin Wasson / Most recent lookbook shot byBarnaby Roper stars top model Abbey Lee Kershaw

Name: Neuw

Site: www.Neuw.com.au

Founded: 2010

Designers: Par Lundqvist, Stephen Little andRichard Bell

From: Melbourne

Key Retailers: Over 100 retailers worldwide,including Atrium, Ron Robinson- Fred Segal, andParliament

Categories: Menʼs, Young Menʼs, Womenʼs, andJuniorsʼ denim and apparel

Key items: Colorful denim with creative constructionsand finishes

Inspiration: Reworked vintage denim, chinos, aviatorgear

Notable for: Celebrity fan Usher / Instantaneousinternational buzz / Press in Menʼs Instyle and DenimTherapy

Related Reports: Premium F/W 11 – Men's & YoungMen's > Toggle Tale | Premium F/W 11 – Denim >Utility

Name: We Are Handsome

Site: wearehandsome.com

Founded: 2010

Designers: Indhra Chagoury and Jeremy J. Somers

From: Sydney

Key Retailers: Opening Ceremony, Nasty Gal, 11:11OʼClock, Mint Shop, Tuchuzy, and Violent Green

Categories: Swimwear and active

Key items: Artistic photo-printed swimwear, minidresses and leggings featuring quirky animal andlandscape imagery

Inspiration: Too-cool socialite pool partiers

Notable for: Celebrity fans Rihanna and Diane Kruger/ Swimwear featured on Matt Sweeney and Bonnie“Prince” Billyʼs 10-inch vinyl Must Be Blind (2011) /Recent blog initiative featuring emerging photographersshooting the brandʼs suits

Related Reports: Brand Watch: Swimwear S/S 11 >We Are Handsome | Speed to Market > The BasicBodysuit

Name: Ruby

Site: www.rubynz.com

Founded: 2008

Designer: Deanna Didovich

From: Auckland, NZ

Key Retailers: Four bricks and mortar boutiques in New Zealand, aswell as ten other doors in Australia and New Zealand, and Damsel inDistress in New York City

Categories: Women's and Juniorsʼ apparel, swimwear, footwear

Key items: Trim, tailored separates with grunge touches, cleverdresses and skirts in muted color palettes

Inspiration: Cutsey-chic indie rock girls

Notable for: Fashion week collaboration with Rosemount Ruby OSparkling Wine / Worldwide appeal and press like Refinery 29, Youthand Freedom, Bullet Magazine, Viva Magazine, and the Sunday StarTimes

Name: The Critical Slide Society

Site: thecriticalslidesociety.com

Founded: Artsy surfers wonʼt tell!

Designers: Jim Mitchell and Sam Coombes

From: Sydney

Key Retailers: Over 90 doors worldwide, includingUnited Arrows, Beams T, Swell, Thalia Surf, KatinSurf Shop, Urban Outfitters, and Deus Ex Machina

Categories: Young Menʼs surfwear and out-of-waterbasics

Key items: Boarshorts, knits in classic surf stripes,tees, light outerwear, retro skateboards

Inspiration: Artistic surf bros, the ocean, and Japan

Notable for: Hipster surf press in the likes of StabMagazine, Blue Magazine Japan, and MonsterChildren / The label is founded by former designersfor Australian 90s giant Mambo

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Name: MINKPINK

Site: www.minkpink.com

Founded: 2005

Designer: Rachel Evans

From: Sydney

Key Retailers: Over 1000 doors across Australia and New Zealand andinternational stores including Revolve Clothing and ASOS

Categories: Juniorsʼ apparel, eyewear, swimwear, jewelry, bags, belts

Key items: Statement jackets, distinctive dresses, casual knits

Inspiration: Abbey Lee Kershaw, Isabel Lucas, Jessica Hart, andeveryday girls with an eye for designer fashion, but a normal sizedpocketbook

Notable for: Tinseltown fans such as the Kardashians, Whitney Portand Katie Perry