Australia's leading fashion industry identities gathered in Sydney today as InStyle Magazine's Editor-in-Chief Laura Brown was awarded the esteemed 2019 Australian Fashion Laureate.

The industry's top innovators, creatives, brands and pioneers were recognised across nine awards during the event at Café Sydney, hosted by IMG and supported by the NSW Government's tourism and major events agency Destination NSW.

Minister for Tourism Stuart Ayres said it was great to see Australia's fashion industry icons gathered in Sydney once again.

“The Australian Fashion Laureate was established in 2008 by IMG and the NSW Government to celebrate the leadership and innovation of the country's fashion industry against the backdrop of the country's fashion capital, Sydney,” Minister Ayres said.

“It's fantastic to see local champions emerge through Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia in Sydney, go on to create a global impact and in turn be recognised through the Laureate.”

Executive Director of IMG Fashion Natalie Xenita said the awards provided an opportunity to reflect, celebrate and chart the future of the industry.

“The introduction of the Sustainable Innovation award category allows our industry to both acknowledge and promote the efforts and accomplishments of individuals and brands who are dedicated to lessening fashion's impact on our environment, and the most noteworthy innovations shaping our industry and its future,” Ms Xenita said.

Destination NSW Chief Executive Officer Sandra Chipchase said Sydney was irrefutably Australia's fashion capital and a global destination to launch, shop and enjoy the latest resort wear.

“Latest ABS figures show that in the year ending August 2019, $9.42 billion was generated in fashion retail sales for the State – a figure that grows slowly but surely,” Ms Chipchase said.

“Sydney is accustomed to the international spotlight and these awards, together with Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia each year, put the Harbour City on the map among the fashion elite and stylish travellers.”

The Australian Fashion Laureate winners across 2019 award categories:

AUSTRALIAN FASHION LAUREATE

LAURA BROWN

BEST AUSTRALIAN WOMENSWEAR

LEE MATHEWS

BEST AUSTRALIAN MENSWEAR

DOUBLE RAINBOUU (MIKEY NOLAN AND TOBY JONES)

BEST AUSTRALIAN EMERGING TALENT, presented by Etihad Airways

MATTEAU (ILOMA HAMER AND PETA HEINSEN)

BEST AUSTRALIAN RETAILER

BASSIKE (DEBORAH SAMS AND MARY LOU RYAN)

BEST AUSTRALIAN ACCESSORIES

SARAH AND SEBASTIAN (SARAH GITTOES AND ROBERT SEBASTIAN GRYNKOFK)

MODEL OF THE YEAR

CHARLEE FRASER

OUTSTANDING CREATIVE

JILLIAN DAVISON

SUSTAINABLE INNOVATION, presented by GlamCorner

ELK (MARNIE GODING AND ADAM KONIARA)

 Media: Candice Keller | 0439 442 800 | candice.keller@dnsw.com.au