Us Aussies are known for being super laidback and having a ‘work hard, play harder’ approach to life. There’s no denying that’s true! But what many people don’t realise is that we’re also a seriously entrepreneurial bunch. Maybe it’s all the sunshine we get or there’s something in the salty water, but many of the world’s biggest brands started right here in Australia. Whether it’s in fitness, fashion, tech or beauty, you can find Australian entrepreneurs absolutely killing it on a global scale. So, in the leadup to Australia Day (January 26), we thought we’d round up the homegrown brands making waves globally right now.
Kikki K
When Kristina Karlsson first started Kikki K, she dreamed of having stores in all of her favourite cities: London, Melbourne, Sydney and NYC. Almost 20 years later, she’s achieved all that and more, with more than 100 stores worldwide and countless stockists. We guess a love of cute, Swedish-inspired stationary is a universal thing!
Check out Kikki K.
The Upside
There are many Aussie activewear brands making waves overseas, but at the top of the list is The Upside. Known for their sleek, modern and luxe designs, the athleisure brand has well and truly claimed its place in the global market. As well as three flagship stores in Australia, they have huge international stockists including Matches, Net-a-Porter, Harrods, Lane Crawford and Selfridges.
Check out The Upside.
Realisation Par
With their fresh, ready-to-wear designs, Aussie brand Realisation Par has attracted the attention of international celebs of Em Ratajowski, Bella Hadid and pretty much every VS Model. With no IRL stockists, they’ve built a global e-commerce brand using the power of Instagram.
Check out Realisation Par.
Mon Purse
Monogramming has well and truly taken over the world and at the forefront of that movement was Aussie brand Mon Purse. Since opening their first flagship store in Sydney’s Paddington in 2014, the customised accessory has shot to international superstardom.
Check out Mon Purse.
Spell and The Gypsy Collective
Known for their lush, bohemian designs, Spell and The Gypsy Collective has become a favourite for everyday style and festivals all over the world. What started as a little store in NSW’s Byron Bay has evolved into a global brand with stockists in the USA, UK, Asia and Europe.
Check out Spell and The Gypsy Collective.
F45
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It would be remiss of us not to mention F45, the Aussie franchise taking over the world. In five years, they’re already sold over 1150 studios across 36 countries and are now set on further expansion across the US, Canada, Europe and Asia. So, you can get a super fast, effective workout nearly anywhere in the world!
Check out F45
Go-To Skincare
Once a beauty brand nabs a spot at US Sephora stores, it’s safe to say it’s pretty much made it on an international scale. With it’s gorgeous, peachy packaging, simple-yet-effective products and tongue-in-cheek voice, it’s not hard to see why Zoe Forster Blake’s Go-To Skincare was that one in a million.
Check out Go-To Skincare.