IMG has revealed the winners for the 2021 Australian Fashion Laureate.
The highly-coveted awards celebrate the talent, innovations and creativity of the Australian fashion industry, and this year, introduced two new categories: Indigenous Designer of the Year and the Carla Zampatti Award for Excellence in Leadership.
The winners were honoured at a celebratory luncheon at Mimi’s Restaurant in Coogee.
IMG VP-MD of fashion events and properties, Asia-Pacific Natalie Xenita praised the winners.
"The Australian Fashion Laureate provides an important platform to celebrate the success of Australia’s designers and fashion talent, while demonstrating that our industry’s creativity and connectivity can continue to flourish despite extraordinary challenges," she said.
"In striving for change and innovation, today’s honourees have played a significant role in futureproofing our industry and reinforcing the cultural impact of fashion both within and beyond Australia," she said.
The Australian Fashion Laureate recipients are chosen by Australian fashion industry alumni - a panel of industry leaders, including media, buyers, communications professionals, creatives and designers.
NSW Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney, Stuart Ayres added that the government is proud to support Australian fashion.
"The Australian Fashion Laureate is a fantastic platform for our emerging and established fashion designers, and what better way to showcase the convergence of culture and nature in NSW than by honouring their talent against the spectacular backdrop of Sydney’s world-famous Coogee Beach.
"The NSW Government is proud to partner with IMG in congratulating the recipients of this year’s awards and celebrating the leadership and innovation in fashion that they represent.
"The Australian Fashion Laureate underscores Sydney as Australia’s fashion capital and the importance of fashion retail to the NSW visitor economy.
"We look forward to supporting the economic growth and success of NSW designers and the broader fashion industry into the future," he said.
The 2021 Australian Fashion Laureate winners are:
Australian Fashion Laureate Lifetime Achievement Award
Linda Jackson AO
Linda Jackson - Photo by Lauren Bamford
Carla Zampatti Award for Excellence in Leadership, presented by Porsche
Grace Lillian Lee
Grace Lillian Lee - Photo by Lauren Bamford
Designer of the Year
Anna Plunkett and Luke Sales, Romance Was Born
Anna Plunkett and Luke Sales, Romance Was Born - Photo by Lauren Bamford
Emerging Designer of the Year presented by Shopify
Richard Jarman, COMMAS
Richard Jarman, COMMAS - Photo by Lauren Bamford
Indigenous Designer of the Year
Julie Shaw, MAARA Collective
Julie Shaw, MAARA Collective - Photo by Lauren Bamford
Sustainable Innovation of the Year, presented by GlamCorner
Deborah Sams and Mary Lou Ryan, bassike
Mary Lou Ryan and Deborah Sams, bassike - Photo by Lauren Bamford
People’s Choice, presented by Afterpay
Elizabeth Abegg and Isabella Pennefather, Spell
Nick Molnar, Afterpay and Isabella Pennefather, Spell - Photo by Lauren Bamford
The Australian Fashion Laureate is made possible with support from Destination NSW, Afterpay, GlamCorner, K&L Gates, Porsche, San Pellegrino and Shopify.