Australia Has Its Own Fashion Story to Tell
Australian fashion has been influenced by the European runways and American streetwear culture for too long. However, there has been something more powerful that’s been going on right here at home. There’s a new generation of designers, Realism and common folk creating an Australian fashion culture that’s clearly unabashed, truthful and rooted in the soil, people and stories that make this country so special.
What Is Fashion Realism and Why Does It Matter
Fashion realism is the idea of being fashioned like the way you live in reality. It’s a belief that clothes should be there for a specific set of rules that has been passed down from the fashion capitals abroad. Rather, it celebrates identity, community and environment, all of which it recognizes as authentic and significant to the wearer.
This translates to appealing to the bush, the beach, the suburbs and the city in Australia. It’s about accepting and embracing multicultural identities, Aboriginal culture and Australian daily life. According to fashion realism, your story is worth wearing, regardless of where you are from, or what you look like.
The Rise of Homegrown Australian Streetwear Brands
In Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth, a new generation of streetwear has been born that are truly talking to the youth culture of Australia. These are not brands attempting to emulate what’s going on in Australia. They are making something that is all their own – from the landscape, the Australian slang, the humour and the challenges of growing up in Australia.
These homegrown labels are getting noticed via social media, pop-ups and word of mouth. They don’t take runs on the chin and they build great communities and maintain their production. In many ways, purchasing local food is a way for many young Australians to express their cultural identity more than it is a fashion statement.
How Australian landscapes influence the realism of fashion
No other place in the world is as unique as this is in Australia. Australia’s landscape can be red desert plains, thick forests of eucalyptus trees, golden coastline or tropical rainforest, there is not a more unique landscape in the world. It also has a direct impact on the dress codes and values that are held by Australians.
The hues, materials and succulent silhouettes of earth tones, natural fibres, sun-bleached colours and relaxed silhouettes are not only design decisions, Realism Back Logo Hoodie Pine Green a response to the environment. Australian fashion realism celebrates the land by creating garments that are at home on the land. Outside influences dictate a fashion language that breathes, belongs and freely moves with fabrics.
Sustainability and Realness Go Hand in Hand
The notion of sustainability is also closely associated with fashion realism in Australia. Australians are coming to terms with the environmental impact of fast fashion and many are actively making more considered purchases to ‘buy better’. They are seeking ethical, long-lasting and environmentally friendly clothes that come from their beloved land.
Brands locally made that support sustainable approach, such as organic materials, reducing waste and ensuring fair wages, are gaining good traction with Australian consumers. This generation is not the marketing generation. It is very much a value which is integral to their cultural self and a respect for the country in which they live.
Fashion Realism for Every Australian, Not Just the Elite
There’s nothing more powerful to fashion realism in Australia as its inclusivity factor. It’s not for those with large budgets or a look to model standard or for those who have access to exclusive boutiques. It’s for anyone – whether it’s the tradie getting up at dawn to get to work, the student heading to the library to study, the mum collecting her children from school or the artist who’s painting in his garage on a Sunday afternoon.
According to fashion realism, everyone has a story to tell about fashion. It celebrates the mundane as the magical. Likes worn denim, sun-faded hats and boots that have patched up somewhere significant! With a focus on perfection in today’s world, Australian fashion realism is a refreshing and powerful alternative.
Wear Your Culture, Wear Your Story
Put simply, Australian fashion is about to enter a new era where culture, identity and honesty are the key drivers for all creative decisions. Whether it’s inspired by the Realism Hoodie Indigenous style, local weaving or street art or a comfortable everyday feel, the most desirable Australian fashion right now is the kind that resonates with the wearer.
We at our store, embrace this movement. We select works from Australian designers and brands that are truly taking the initiative in building a fashion culture from scratch. Look through and discover something that doesn’t necessarily look good, but feels like YOU and YOUR origin.
