10 Oceania Fashion Brands to Add to Your Shopping List

Toilets flush in a different direction on the opposite side of the world, but the fashion is just as good. Oceania—a region comprising fourteen countries, including (but not limited to) Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Guam, and Micronesia—is home to some of the most exciting design happening right now. From World of WearableArt, a creative arts festival hosted in New Zealand and dedicated to pushing the boundaries of design, to the many independent fashion labels popping up across the area, it’s clear why America’s Next Top Model producers kept shipping their contestants off to that portion of the globe. For fresh fashion inspiration, check out 10 Oceania brands that should be on your radar going into 2023.

Gorman

Defeat this year’s winter blues by becoming the pop of color you want to see in the world. And no one is more qualified to help you do this than Australian brand Gorman. Bursting with color and whimsical prints, the brand specializes in in-house textile design and artist collaborations. A mid-range brand, the company’s collection is suddenly much more affordable after a trip to one of their outlet stores (available online and in brick and mortar shops across Australia and New Zealand).

Deadly Ponies

New Zealand brand Deadly Ponies launched in a garage in 2005 and has since blossomed into a luxury leather label with a global customer base. Best known for their distinctive but elegant purse designs (now including vegan options, thanks to a cactus leather supplier operating out of Mexico) the brand also focuses on sustainability initiatives, like their recycle program which encourages consumers to swap old Deadly Ponies bags for a $50 credit; the recycled bags are used to create new bags featured in the brand’s collection.

Meadowlark Jewellry

Some of the most gorgeous jewelry you’ve ever seen is available at Meadowlark Jewellery, a New Zealand-based independent company run by designer Claire Hammon and her husband Greg Fromont. Known for being a favorite of pop star Lorde (another New Zealand gem), Meadowlark’s many rings, necklaces, bracelets, and other assorted bijouterie don’t come cheap, but these are pieces that will last a lifetime. Especially recommended for would-be engagement ring shoppers, Meadowlark’s handcrafted items are fanciful and guaranteed to incite compliments.

Luv Lou

Designed in Sydney, Australia, Luv Lou claims a singular mission: To provide classic, feminine, and refined sunglasses options to consumers. More than 85% of Australians live around 30 miles to the beach, and it's this coastal mindset that informs the brand’s collection. Founded by sisters and dedicated to their grandmother, Luv Lou hones in on timeless, multi-generational shapes, like the cat eye, and modernizes them. With some options featuring polarized lenses, the brand’s aesthetic is perfectly suited for anyone walking into 2023 with a sunny outlook.

Summi Summi

As occupants of the southern hemisphere, the countries that make up Oceania enjoy summer during the months when northerners are suffering through the cold. For those who like to dress for the temperature they want (as opposed to the climate in which they live), the Australian brand Summi Summi is based in Yamba, a beach town that sits atop turquoise-tinged waters, and their clothing collection screams vacation. Constructed from natural fabrics, with an emphasis on cotton, terry towel, and linen textiles, Summi Summi’s pastel and neon-dominant line is guaranteed to temporarily alter your brain chemistry.

Verbose

Still on the come up is Australian label Verbose, an inclusive clothing brand specializing in sizes between 6 and 26. The label is committed to showcasing their clothing using a variety of body types, and has vowed to photograph all available clothing items on six different models of varying sizes to best represent what the clothing might look like when worn by different bodies. With a collection built on bright fabrics and exciting silhouettes, Verbose is a brand to watch in 2023.

Spell

If Free People was designed in Australia, the result would be the fashion label Spell. A boho brand with florals and patchwork to spare, Spell was created over 10 years ago, but the vibe sits firmly at the intersection of the 1970s and now. Whether you’re looking for knit pants or prairie blouses, these garments are the ultimate day-wear for the mercurial nomad in you. And if any of the pieces look familiar, it’s probably because you stumbled upon them while scrolling Revolve.

Harris Tapper

On the higher end of the mid-range market falls Harris Tapper, a New Zealand-based women’s ready-to-wear brand. Founded by friends and former fashion colleagues, the label is the place to go if you’re looking for premium luxury pieces at lower prices. With a collection populated by oversized button downs, matching short sets, and statement suits, Harris Tapper’s vibe is aspirationally approachable, and well worth a perusal.

Kirrikin

Australian brand Kirrikin produces luxury clothing and accessories that explore identity through art. Named Kirrikin for the Aboriginal word for "Sunday's best clothes," the brand’s pieces feature designs created by contemporary Indigenous Australian artists. Registered as an Indigenous business, a portion of the proceeds for every Kirrikin piece sold go to benefit the artist who contributed to the garment. Full of vibrant colors and patterns, and tempting splurges in the form of cashmere and silk scarves, Kirrikin is ethical luxury fashion with the price tag to match.

Stolen Girlfriends Club

If the name didn’t properly communicate the vibe associated with New Zealand-designed brand Stolen Girlfriends Club, the clothing certainly will. Rich in punk rock staples like leather jackets, mesh dresses, and aviators, the casually (and sometimes aggressively) cool energy exuded by SGC clothing cannot be denied. If you’re looking to outfit yourself for a kick down the door entry into the new year, Stolen Girlfriends Club is accepting new members.