IMG has announced the finalists for the Australian Fashion Laureate, honouring individuals who have made a significant contribution to the growth, development and global promotion of the Australian fashion industry. Winners will be announced on 20 November at The State Theatre, Sydney, at a celebration hosted by international supermodel, Georgia Fowler.

The Australian Fashion Laureate was established in 2008 by IMG and the NSW Government to shine an international spotlight on the exceptional talent and creativity within the Australian fashion industry. In 2018, the Laureate celebrates 10 years of awards ceremonies, with past recipients including Carla Zampatti, Dion Lee, Jenny Kee, Toni Maticevski and Zimmermann.

Each Australian Fashion Laureate Award celebrates outstanding accomplishments in categories including Lifetime Achievement, Womenswear, Menswear, Retail, Emerging Designer, Accessories – and for the first time, two new categories for 2018: Model of the Year and Outstanding Editorial.

“Through the introduction of new categories for 2018, we acknowledge Australia’s growing leadership in high fashion modeling and creative editorial,” stated Ivan Bart, President of IMG Models and IMG Fashion Properties, including global fashion events. “As the industry’s highest accolade, we’re delighted to broaden the spectrum of recognition and further celebrate the brilliant talent originating from Australia.”

Australian Fashion Laureate recipients are nominated and chosen by a voting panel of more than 30 industry leaders, including designers, media, buyers, creatives, brand executives and communications professionals, called the Australian Fashion Industry Alumni.

IMG is pleased to share the finalists across 2018 award categories below:

AUSTRALIAN FASHION LAUREATE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
CAMILLA FRANKS  Camilla
CHRISTINE CENTENERA
EDWINA MCCANN
KYM ELLERY Ellery
LUKE SALES & ANNA PLUNKETT  Romance Was Born

BEST AUSTRALIAN WOMENSWEAR
CAMILLA AND MARC
CHRISTOPHER ESBER
ELLERY
LEE MATHEWS
ROMANCE WAS BORN

BEST AUSTRALIAN MENSWEAR
BASSIKE
DOUBLE RAINBOUU
EX INFINITAS
P JOHNSON
SONG FOR THE MUTE

BEST AUSTRALIAN EMERGING DESIGNER, presented by Etihad Airways 
ALBUS LUMEN
ANNA QUAN
KACEY DEVLIN
CHRIS RAN LIN
DOUBLE RAINBOUU

BEST AUSTRALIAN RETAILER, presented by DHL
DAVID JONES
HARROLDS
INCU
PARLOUR X
ZIMMERMANN

BEST AUSTRALIAN ACCESSORIES DESIGNER
DINOSAUR DESIGNS
LUCY FOLK
RYAN STORER
SARAH & SEBASTIAN
THE DAILY EDITED

BEST AUSTRALIAN MODEL
ADUT AKECH BIOR
CHARLEE FRASER
DUCKIE THOT
JULIA NOBIS
VICTORIA LEE

OUTSTANDING EDITORIAL
GEORGES ANTONI
HARPER’S BAZAAR AUSTRALIA
MARIE CLAIRE AUSTRALIA
NICOLE BENTLEY
VOGUE AUSTRALIA

The Australian Fashion Laureate is an IMG initiative, supported by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW, with additional support from Etihad Airways, DHL, Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour, San Pellegrino and Jan Logan.