Far from Paris, NYC, and London, the antipodean continent has developed a style sensibility all its own. But with more and more fashion editors taking the long-haul trip to Sydney for Australian Fashion Week, the independent, original spirit of its designers is getting a much bigger audience. Three top Aussie brands to know:

sass & bide
A cult favorite in Australia before catching the attention of the wider world, sass & bide began in 1999 as a stall on London’s Portobello Road. Two years later, designers Heidi Middleton and Sarah-Jane Clarke expanded the line beyond its signature skinny jeans and developed its unmistakable aesthetic. This season’s pieces are defined by heavy embellishments matched only by strong silhouettes and bold prints, a clever yet earthy combination that gives the collection an art-student-gone-tribal feel.

Kirrily Johnston
Also playing with geometric prints is Kirrily Johnston, a designer whose creations are ideal for the earthy, modern nomad. The Melbourne-born and Sydney-based designer launched her eponymous line in 2004, and her blend of elegance and innovation, luxury and quality immediately earned rave reviews. Her most recent runway show, dubbed “Apocalypto,” took its inspiration from an idea of humans finding balance with nature in a post-apocalyptic world, and the result is a collection of organic draping, knee-sweeping linen cardigans, and graphic leggings.

camilla and marc
On the other side of the spectrum from tribal embellishments and undone layering is camilla and marc. This elegant but wearable line is known for flattering dresses and perfect tailoring, a combo that makes it a favorite on Hollywood red carpets. Created by brother-and-sister duo Camilla Freeman-Topper and Marc Freeman, the line launched in 2003 and opened Australia Fashion Week in 2007. Though the brand expanded into swimwear in recent years, its covetable designs prove there’s much more to Australian design than sexy bikinis.

--Tonya