SYDNEY — Emerging Brisbane fashion label Joaen has won Australia’s 2026 National Designer Award.
Announced on Monday evening Melbourne time during the PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival, the five-year-old brand’s designer Grace Kelly has won a cash bursary of 20,000 Australian dollars, or $14,122 at current exchange, and a 150,000 Australian dollar, $105,917, business development prize package with the David Jones department store chain, the National Designer Award’s presenting partner of the past decade.
“When you’re a small brand, every little win, every dollar counts towards the big picture and this is just helping that trajectory and that building that we’re moving towards” said Kelly, an alumnus of the Queensland University of Technology and Central Saint Martins, who specializes in seasonless collections, with a focus on tailoring and knitwear.
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Adelaide designer Rachel Van Brussel received the Honourable Mention for Sustainability, a cash prize of 10,000 Australian dollars, or $7,061, and a mentorship program led by David Jones and Melbourne designer Justin Tong took out the People’s Choice Award, which is decided by public vote.
Established in 1997 at the festival, the National Designer Award is one of Australia’s most prestigious fashion awards and has helped accelerate the careers of designers such as Toni Maticevski, Dion Lee, Christopher Esber, Strateas.Carlucci, Song for the Mute, Romance Was Born and Alémais.
The 2026 judging panel was comprised of PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival chief executive officer Caroline Ralphsmith; David Jones executive general manager of womenswear, footwear, accessories and beauty Bridget Veals; David Jones executive general manager of menswear, childrenswear and home Chris Wilson; sustainable fashion journalist Clare Press; Circular Sourcing founder and chief executive officer Courtney Holm; creative director and writer Megha Kapoor; Song for the Mute cofounders Melvin Tanya and Lyna Ty, and Oroton creative director Sophie Holt.
“Grace Kelly’s immaculate quality and timeless sensibility really stood out, her dedication to merging generational styles to create garments made to last beyond trends is testament to her deep understanding of what women love to wear” Ralphsmith said. “Rachel Van Brussel’s heroing of deadstock materials and commitment to longevity is well deserving of the Honourable Mention for Sustainability and the community support for Justin Tong’s work is simply outstanding. Congratulations to our winners. We look forward to watching the trajectory of their brands for many years to come.”
