Some designer clothing attracts a collector’s premium. But which?

September 8, 2026 — 8:00pm

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Fashion museums around the world include a feast of designers from Chanel through to Jean Paul Gaultier. While there are a few Australian designers in the mix, it’s still fairly early days when it comes to collecting the more recent talent from Down Under.

The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) was recently donated a substantial collection by Australian designer Martin Grant, now based in Paris, along with others, such as Akira Isogawa and Toni Maticevski. Several more are being closely watched.

Shapiro Auctioneers is regularly finding Australian designers appearing at auction, including Collette Dinnigan, who first presented her collection in Paris in 1995. It’s surprising then, given her presence on the fashion scene well into the ’90s, that her clothing, such as a laced embossed camisole, can be purchased on the secondary auction market for only $40.

Buy what you love rather than banking on a financial return.Ida Combley, co-ordinator of design at Shapiro Auctioneers

Others, such as Zimmermann, who also cut through to a European audience and still does, fares considerably better at Shapiros.........

© Brisbane Times