Leslie Massey
Australia's apparel market generated US$21.17 billion in revenue in 2023, with women's apparel accounting for more than half of that figure. The country is home to several prominent clothing brands that have gained recognition in the fashion industry. One of the top Australian clothing brands is Bonds, known for its comfort, quality, and durability, and owned by Hanesbrands Inc. Another well-known brand is Zimmerman, a leading fashion house founded by sisters Nicky and Simone Zimmerman, specialising in luxury ready-to-wear, resort wear, and accessories. Billabong, founded in 1973, is a popular Australian brand producing casual clothing, accessories, and sports equipment for surfers, snowboarders, and skateboarders.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Company | Billabong |
| Year founded | 1973 |
| Founder | Gordon Merchant |
| Specialization | Casual clothing, accessories, and sports equipment for surfers, snowboarders, and skateboarders |
| Revenue | Not available |
| Parent company | Boardriders (since 2018), which was acquired by Authentic Brands Group in 2023 |
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What You'll Learn
Top Australian fashion houses
Australia's apparel market generated US$21.17 billion in revenue in 2023 and is expected to reach around US$22 billion by 2027. The largest Australian-owned apparel company is reported to be the Cotton On Group, which generated US$2.2 billion in 2023. The group owns brands such as Cotton On, Cotton On Kids, and Rubi by Cotton On. However, there are several other top Australian fashion houses that are popular and successful worldwide.
Zimmermann
Sisters Nicky and Simone Zimmermann founded the company in 1991, and it is now a leading Australian fashion house known for its bohemian elegance. The brand produces luxury ready-to-wear, resort wear, shoes, accessories, and kidswear. Zimmermann is known for its striking prints and unique approach to meshing resort, swim, and ready-to-wear.
Bonds
Bonds is a top Australian clothing brand known for its comfort, quality, and durability. The company produces affordable and comfortable clothing for men, women, children, and babies. It is now owned by Hanesbrands Inc., a US company that also owns several other popular brands.
Billabong
Billabong is a renowned Australian clothing brand that produces casual clothing, accessories, and sports equipment for surfers, snowboarders, and skateboarders. The brand was established in 1973 by Gordon Merchant, a legendary surfboard designer, and has since gained a huge global fanbase.
St. Agni
Based in Byron, St. Agni is an Australian fashion brand committed to encouraging slower consumption habits. The brand creates timeless, monochrome clothing and simple accessories made with sustainable fibres like linen. St. Agni also focuses on social responsibility and ethical practices in its manufacturing processes.
Lorna Jane
Lorna Jane is a leading Australian brand for women's fitness and activewear. The company was founded in 1989 by Lorna Jane Clarkson and her husband, Bill Clarkson. Lorna Jane quickly gained popularity for its stylish, functional apparel and emphasis on women's empowerment.
Other Notable Mentions:
- Bardot: Australian-owned and family-run, known for its sultry creations and expertise in dresses, suiting, and outerwear.
- Shona Joy: Started as a market stall on Bondi Beach in 2000 and has since become a globally successful label known for its timeless designs.
- Camilla: A resortwear brand known for its hand-drawn and painted prints, luxurious fabrics, and celebrity following.
- Boteh: A successful resortwear brand launched in 2020 by founder Amelia Mather, known for its in-house designed prints.
- Witchery: An Australian brand that combines refined capsule pieces with of-the-moment trends.
- Meshki: A brand worn by celebrities like Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner, known for its range of luxe-looking dresses, vacation wear, and basics.
- Petal & Pup: Offers easygoing, quality staples at low prices, including linen pants, dresses, and flattering tank tops.
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Australian-owned and family-run businesses
Australia's apparel market generated US$21.17 billion in revenue in 2023, with women's apparel accounting for over half of that figure. While some of the biggest names in Australian apparel are no longer Australian-owned, there are still plenty of Australian-owned and family-run businesses making their mark in the industry.
One notable example is Bardot, an Australian-owned and family-run business that was launched in 1996. With founder and creative director Carol Skoufis at the helm, Bardot is known for its sultry creations that expertly blend trendiness with a nod to its '90s origins. From expertly cut slip dresses to intricately designed denim, Bardot's pieces are true to the brand's DNA while also offering sharp suiting and outerwear that rival big designer brands.
Another successful Australian-owned and family-run business is St Agni, a Byron-based brand committed to encouraging slower consumption habits. By crafting timeless, monochrome staples made to last from sustainable fibres like linen, St Agni ensures its pieces transcend trends. The brand is also conscious of its social responsibilities and actively works to fund and educate factories to become certified as ethical suppliers.
Shona Joy is another Australian-owned success story. Starting as a market stall on Bondi Beach in 2000, Shona Joy has since become a globally successful label, with stockists in the UK including renowned names like Harrods and Selfridges.
In the world of resort wear, Camilla stands out as an Australian-owned brand that celebrates unique prints. Each design is hand-drawn and painted in-house by artists, resulting in luxurious silk-chiffon creations adorned with fringed trims and sparkling embellishments.
These Australian-owned and family-run businesses showcase the country's vibrant and diverse apparel industry, offering everything from trendy fashion to sustainable classics, all while making their mark in the highly competitive global fashion landscape.
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Australian apparel market revenue
Australia's apparel market generated US$21.17 billion in revenue in 2023 and is expected to reach around US$22 billion by 2027, with a projected growth of 2.21% between 2024 and 2029, resulting in a market volume of US$24.23 billion in 2029. The industry contributes 1.5% to the Australian GDP, generates US$7.2 billion in exports annually, and employs more than 489,000 people, 77% of whom are women.
The apparel and fashion industry is a significant contributor to the Australian economy, employing more Australians than the mining or utility sectors. The industry is expected to recover from the setbacks it faced during the COVID-19 pandemic and grow by adapting to changing consumer preferences and sustainable fashion trends. There is an increased emphasis on making apparel manufacturing more sustainable, and consumers are reassessing their clothing repair, disposal, and resale practices. The Australian fashion market is diverse and dynamic, offering a wide range of products, brands, and styles to cater to different consumer segments and preferences.
The revenue of the fashion market dropped by 10.4% in 2020 to AUD$8.8 billion, while the number of users declined by 6.6%, reaching 13.9 million. However, the share of online sales in the fashion market increased from 25.5% in 2019 to 31.6% in 2020, as more consumers turned to eCommerce platforms for convenience, safety, and additional features.
Some of the notable Australian apparel companies include Zimmerman, which generated USD 506 million in revenue in the year ending June 30, 2024, and Hanesbrands, which had an annual revenue of USD 5.64 billion in 2023. The Cotton On Group, which owns several popular clothing brands, generated USD 2.2 billion in 2023.
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Popular clothing brands worldwide
There are several popular clothing brands worldwide, ranging from luxury fashion brands to affordable, everyday clothing lines. Here are some of the most well-known and valuable fashion brands globally:
Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton, commonly known as LV, is a French luxury fashion house founded in 1854 by Louis Vuitton. It is the biggest clothing company in the world in terms of market capitalization, valued at $282.97 billion as of 2025. The brand is renowned for its leather goods, handbags, luggage, and accessories, and has a brand value of $32.23 billion, making it the most valuable clothing brand in terms of brand value.
Nike
Nike, founded in 1964, is a leading sportswear and athletic gear brand. Known for its iconic "swoosh" logo, Nike has a market capitalization of $84.70 billion and a brand value of $29.87 billion, making it the biggest apparel brand by brand value and the 7th largest clothing company by market capitalization. The brand generates 68% of its revenue from footwear sales, 28% from apparel, and 4% from equipment.
Hermès
Hermès, established in 1837, is a French luxury goods brand known for its leather goods, saddlery, ready-to-wear clothing, accessories, perfumes, and watches. With a market capitalization of $280.36 billion, Hermès is the second-largest clothing and apparel company globally. The brand's iconic Birkin bag is one of the most coveted and expensive handbags in the world.
Chanel
Chanel, founded by Coco Chanel, is a French luxury fashion house that embodies timeless elegance. Its little black dress remains a staple in fashion, and the brand has a market value of $26.06 billion, making it one of the most valuable fashion brands globally.
Inditex (Zara)
Inditex, the parent company of Zara, is the third-largest clothing company in the world, with a market capitalization of $171.14 billion. Zara is known for its fast fashion, designing, producing, and delivering new garments to stores in just 15 days. It contributes 72.52% of Inditex's revenue, with other brands under Inditex's portfolio including Bershka, Pull & Bear, Stradivarius, Massimo Dutti, and Oysho.
In addition to these global brands, there are also popular clothing brands that are prominent within specific countries or regions, such as the largest Australian-owned apparel companies:
Bonds
Bonds is an Australian clothing brand known for its comfort, quality, and durability. The company offers affordable and comfortable clothing for men, women, children, and babies, including underwear and socks.
Cotton On
Cotton On is another Australian-based brand that produces affordable, everyday fashion for a global market. Founded by Nigel Austin, the brand has expanded to include Cotton On Kids, Rubi by Cotton On, Cotton On Body, and other lines.
Rip Curl
Rip Curl is an Australian brand that specializes in surfing sportswear, equipment, casual clothing, and accessories.
Billabong
Billabong is an Australian clothing company that designs casual clothing, accessories, and sports equipment for surfers, snowboarders, and skateboarders. It was established in 1973 by Gordon Merchant, a renowned surfboard designer and shaper.
These Australian-owned brands have developed a strong presence in their home country and, in some cases, expanded their reach to international markets, contributing to the diverse range of popular clothing brands worldwide.
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Australian surf and skate culture
Australia is renowned as one of the world's premier surfing destinations and has a vibrant surf and skate culture. Surfing underpins an important part of the Australian coastal identity and has done so for over a century. It is more than just a sport; it is a lifestyle in which millions participate and many more have an interest. Surf culture has influenced Australian popular culture, including films, music recordings, and newsreels.
The country has launched major corporate brands such as Billabong, Rip Curl, and Quiksilver, which produce surfing sportswear, casual clothing, and accessories. Australian surfboard makers have driven innovation in surfboard design and production since the mid-1960s, with shapers like Darren Handley, who shapes boards for world champions, and Mark Richards, a four-time world champion and shaping legend.
In the 1950s, surfing became so popular that the Australian government attempted to curb it during working hours, but these laws were soon removed as they resulted in more people taking up the sport. The summer of 1963-64 saw a brief flowering of Australian surf music, with the band Bombora hitting No. 1 and opening the way for six months of 'surf 'n' stomp'.
Skateboarding is also a popular activity in Australia, with brands like Billabong producing sports equipment for skaters. The country's skate culture has its own unique style and community, with skate parks and street spots attracting enthusiasts.
Overall, Australia's surf and skate culture is deeply ingrained in the nation's history and continues to thrive and influence various aspects of Australian life.
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