The Genderless Edit: Four Australian Clothing and Accessory Brands You Need to Know

From sultry fragrance brand Orb Oils to streetwear label Candice, discover the local heroes creating products for everyone.

October 16, 2024
This is an image of Travis Loo
Travis holds an Orb Oils fragrance and wears Local Supply sunglasses, Graedance jewellery, and a Candice shirt.
Image via Alex Drewniak/Flat Pack Studios

We've long moved past binary gender categories in the realms of clothing and accessories. These days, if a piece looks good and fits well, people wear it—no matter which gender it was originally intended for. In alignment with this broader cultural shift, many brands offering exclusively unisex ranges have been popping up all over the globe.

With that in mind, we’ve curated four Australian brands making genderless accessories and clothing, taking care to cover all the major bases. From fragrance and jewellery to streetwear and eyewear, read on to discover the local brands spearheading genderless fashion in Australia.

Orb Oils

Hopefully, we can all agree on one thing: everyone wants to smell good. Whether you prefer to opt for something bold or something a little more subtle, Melbourne-based fragrance brand Orb Oils has a scent for you. This isn’t your average line of fragrances—the scents come in the form of silky smooth oils that provide eight-hour wear rather than a spray.

Founded by Emma Smith, the brand is proud to make affordable fragrances that everyone can wear. Speaking on the brand's origin, Emma tells Complex AU, “The idea for Orb came from an appreciation of the significance fragrance has as it relates to people’s identities. Perfume has a history of being a premium product to the point of being elitist, and we wanted to make fragrance accessible and able to be worn daily by everyone.”

Orb makes five signature unisex scents: Harper, Bobby, Ash, River, and Lenny. The oils are enclosed in intricate, recyclable glass bottles with reusable droppers, which come in packaging made from sustainably sourced materials. They also offer fragrance-free AM and PM body oils that can be mixed with a few drops of your favourite Orb scent.

Sold, but not sure which scent is right for you? No stress—you can try their Reveal Pack, which includes a vial of each! You can shop the Orb Oils range on their website.

Candice

Streetwear label Candice, established in Melbourne in 2019, is named after a character created by the brand's founder, Nick Campbell. Since its inception, Candice has been guided by the belief that there should be no constraints on what defines menswear and womenswear.

Nick says of the brand, “We always wanted to build a label with a high focus on art and creativity, something fun and less conventional.” It’s a mission they’ve accomplished. Candice’s range features a wide array of elevated pieces, such as their Outlook Oxford Shirt, and offers a refreshing take on classic streetwear staples like graphic tees, hoodies, and caps.

Taking inspiration from a variety of sources, from art to nature to space travel, Candice tries to make each collection “unpredictable and more elevated than the last.” Whether you're looking to top up your hoodie collection or find the perfect dress shirt for spring, Candice has you covered. You can shop their clothing here.

Graedance

As their name suggests, Graedance takes a non-binary approach to jewellery-making. Drawing on the implied ambiguity of ‘grey’ and the fluidity and movement of ‘dance,’ the label creates pieces unencumbered by gender constraints.

Graedance is award-nominated designer Rong Jake Chen’s brainchild, and sprouted from his desire to challenge traditional ideas about jewellery and highlight the individuality of the wearer. In his own words, “Graedance is about more than creating beautiful pieces; it’s about creating pieces that grow with you, allowing your individuality to shine without the limitations of labels.”

Each Graedance piece—from ear cuffs and earrings to astrology-themed necklaces and rings—captures the essence of movement, gracefully dancing with the wearer. All pieces are handcrafted, and many are made from recycled sterling silver. You can shop Graedance’s range on their website.

Local Supply

Born in Bondi in 2013, Local Supply has spent over a decade making stylish, simple eyewear for all. Founded by entrepreneur Sean Satha, Local Supply is committed to ensuring its products are made with inclusivity, sustainability, and affordability at the forefront.

The idea for the brand came to Sean after losing an expensive pair of sunglasses. “Honestly, after I lost a very expensive pair on a night out, I got a bit carried away researching eyewear materials and production techniques. I felt there was a gap in the market for casual, affordable frames that were still high-quality and well-designed,” says Sean.

He successfully filled this gap with Local Supply, offering fashionable frames at less than half the price of competitors by cutting unnecessary waste and production costs. The brand heavily emphasises sustainability, minimising its ecological footprint by using biodegradable, plant-based materials for its frames. You can shop their sunglasses online and at select retailers.