These eco friendly Australian fashion brands sometimes make us wish we lived down under…

By Chiara Spagnoli Gabardi

It’s no wonder that Australia is one of the world centres for eco-fashion. Stunning beaches, crystal clear waters and unique flora and fauna act as an incredible source of inspiration for fashion designers in the region.

From luscious lingerie to eco-couture, there are dozens of clothing labels here that demonstrate how protecting nature is a priority for those living Down Under.

In fact, there are so many labels, there is now a wonderful Eco Fashion Week Australia that focuses on only sustainable fashion brands there.

No wonder we had a hard time picking just a handful!

Here below, you’ll find a few of our favourite eco friendly Australian luxury fashion brands. We chose these for the uniqueness of their design, their overall feeling of luxury, and of course, their dedication to sustainable materials and ethical production.

Aussie designer KitX by Willow marries her love of creation with her passion for nature by creating collections that she herself makes. She uses only natural materials like hemp, wool, organic cotton and silk. She also uses upcycled and recycled fabrics as well.

This pioneer in the world of eco friendly Australian fashion is proud of her ethos, and wears it on her sleeve. As KitX herself says, she aims to: ‘make women look and feel beautiful, without harming our planet, so everyone can win.

Gorgeously designed dresses at great prices, considered the level of luxury of these pieces

At no time is it more important for clothing to fit comfortably than bedtime. Soft silks, cloud-light organic cottons and snug jerseys all help us sleep like babies. And look like babes! This is exactly the philosophy behind Madonna Bain.

The Madonna Bain Intimates are constructed solely from the plushest eco-textiles the world has to offer. Plus, this eco friendly Australian label is practically pretty enough to wear from bed to the beach!

Everyday lingerie you – and he – will love.

In the middle of rainforest, completely off grid, Leah Kelly utilises natural materials to craft her handmade couture designs. Taught by her grandmother, Leah Kelly uses the skills passed down to her to hand sew and embroider her exquisite organic garments. Over the years her designs have evolved to include semi-precious stones, shells, wood and seeds to make her designs which honor nature to truly stand out.

Blurring the lines between fashion and art, Leah works with each customer to craft one of a kind heirloom pieces that are designed to be passed down through the generations.

Bespoke heirloom garments

If Madonna Bain is Australia’s sweetly sustainable sleepwear lingerie brand, then Hopeless Lingerie is its sizzling hot sister! This Eco Friendly Aussie brand uses bamboo, silk, lace and in fact, any material the client so desires. So, if you want, say, a bra made from nylon, how does that make Hopeless one of our eco friendly Australian fashion brands?

Well, it’s because they make each piece by hand, on order. That means zero leftover stock. No waste.

Darkly sexy lingerie. With collections like ‘All of them Witches’ and ‘Bloody Valentine’, you can bet that Hopeless makes each design with maximum naughtiness in mind!

Rachael Cassar’s design-led, eco-friendly collections have been shown on prestigious catwalks around the globe and have gained acclaim by A-list celebrities such as Rhianna and Kristen Stewart.

The eco friendly Australian brand uses around 90% recycled or upcycled materials, which contribute to creating completely unique and breathtaking clothing.

Rachael Cassar’s clothing defined by its femininity, strength, and luxury, with a little seduction thrown in too.

: This is one of the best eco friendly Australian fashion brands for high end design with a touch of punk.

This is one of the few high-end eco-friendly Australian fashion brands that meets the strict guidelines set out by Ethical Clothing Australia.

Ginger & Smart are dedicated to providing well heeled women classics for all occasions. The brand has a penchant for digital printing, adding a bit of eco-friendly colour to their textiles. Each piece is expertly constructed from sustainable materials like deadstock fabrics with quality and finesse, reflecting the personality and refinement of the typical Ginger & Smart client.

Exquisitely designed formalwear

This Aussie brand has based their latest collection on the beauty of exotic flowers and plants.  Green Embassy uses natural materials, such as silk or organic cotton, for all of its dresses. The main reason? This sustainable Australian label’s goal has always been to protect the fragility of the world’s ecosystems.

The brand expresses this via abstract eco-prints. These include hibiscus, bougainvillea, ferns, and orchids on peace silk. They’re all dyed with pomegranates, forest berries, beetroot, red cabbage and turmeric.

Can’t get much eco-friendlier than that!

Frocks for grand events and weddings

When we support fast fashion, we become disconnected from the clothing we wear. By supporting eco brands, we can reconnect with the artistry behind the garment, something Tayla Parnham believes. In a bid to end throwaway fashion brands, her collection incorporates zero waste through the recycling of clothing. She puts a special focus on workwear garments which have been heavily worn, and are most likely to head to landfill.

Fabric of Nature recycles and reworks the clothing so that they retain their history, while being visually enhanced. Tayla chooses materials that are a mixture of organic silk, wool and cotton. She selects these fabrics due to the fact they eventually break down and don’t leave behind a plastic footprint.

 Upcycled garments with a rich history

Seamlessly blending creativity and innovation is the eco-conscious Emily Craig. Her chic designs showcase her commitment to sustainability, which is at the forefront of every choice she makes when designing her creations. Emily’s designs are a platform for creative storytelling, inspired by her childhood memories of the coast. Every single stitch, every piece of fabric carries these stories, transforming them into designs inspired by shells, seaweed and organic silhouettes.

Chic designs seeped with rich memories

Love and care are sewn into every piece of Melaleuca Rise’s clothing. Trained in both visual arts and contemporary fashion and textiles, Perth-based designer Leuca Jane Ziemons fused both together to create slow and ethical fashion that will be as loved by the wearer as it will be by the planet.

To prevent garments from ending up in landfill, every Melaleuca Rise item comes with a Care to Repair service. This ensures that the brand will repair any garment, if it needs it.

Truly created to be unique for each wearer, each piece is hand tailored to suit each individual customer.

Uniquely fitted items that are every bit as unique as the wearer