Christian Kimber wins Australia's 2019 National Designer Award

By

Jennifer Braun

Published
Mar 1, 2019

Autralia’s 2019 National Designer Award was awarded to Melbourne-based men’s wear designer Christian Kimber on Friday. 

 
Kimber was selected by a panel of industry heavyweights such as Vogue Australia Editor-in-Chief Edwina McCann, and Harper’s Bazaar Australia Editor-in-Chief Eugenie Kelly, to name a few. 
 
The 30-year-old was chosen among five other finalists who faced the judges at the Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival. The other finalists included Arnsdorf, Blairarchibald, Chris Ran Lin, Christian Kimber, Double Rainbouu and Mndatory.

The highly-acclaimed award supports and celebrates the future of Australian fashion by acknowledging designers in their first five years of business that excel in design, manufacturing standards, business practices and innovation.
 
The award includes a business development prize pack set to propel the winner’s career valued at over $100,000. Kimber will also be featured alongside the best of Australian and international designers at the Gala Runway presented by David Jones on Monday, March 4.  
 
“The Festival supports the Australian fashion industry in many ways but none more so than the National Designer Award which has been instrumental in defining the careers of some of Australia’s top designers. We’re pleased to see a strong contingent of both Victorian as well as menswear designers represented, demonstrating the strength of local talent,” said Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival CEO, Graeme Lewsey. 
 
Kimber is british-born and graduated from the Queen Mary University of London and the London College of Fashion. He launched his own footwear company in Melbourne in 2011, which blends luxury and streetwear, but it was only in 2018 that he introduced men’s wear. 
 
He currently sells his collection online and at his boutique in Melbourne’s Fitzroy. His latest collection designed for Lane Crawford will launch this month.