‘Australian men don’t understand fashion’, says Christian Kimber, designer out to change that
The British-born winner of Australia’s 2019 National Designer Award has long had an eye for style, but only after relocating to Melbourne did he decide to launch his first collection
How did you end up launching your brand in Australia? “I wanted to pursue fashion from a young age but, like most boys, I never had the confidence to say it was my passion. I studied business and economics, and learned everything from design to pattern making at night school.
“I worked as a buyer, and later in production at a luxury footwear company in Savile Row, in London. My wife – who is Australian – had to go back due to immigration laws. We ended up staying and it seemed like the perfect time to launch my first collection [in 2011].”
Why did you choose to start off with footwear? “It was my background and, honestly, Australian men wear terrible footwear. I wanted to fill a gap for well-designed, high-quality products that were affordable. That ethos has stayed with us as we’ve expanded to other categories, like pocket squares and clothing.”
Do you find the Australian market competitive? “There’s plenty of womenswear brands, but the market for men is still small. It’s a good thing because I stand out more, but the bad side is that Australian men don’t understand fashion. When you look at any other country, the men have a certain culture and dress code – in Australia, there’s no strong fashion culture, so my vision is to redefine Australian menswear.”
What’s your design philosophy? “To create clothing people will love and wear to death. My designs fill the grey area between formal and casual, which fits in with the Australian lifestyle. It’s like Friday clothing, but it’s not streetwear, and is free of logos.”