Brunswick Heads’ slower rhythm and coastal landscape shaped SS27. Designer Virginia Martin shares how the textures, tones and relaxed sensibility of this Australian seaside town informed the collection.
Q. What first drew you to Brunswick Heads?
VM. It’s a very quiet place where everything feels unhurried. I’ve been a handful of times, sometimes surfing and holidaying, sometimes with friends, and other times alone, usually staying in these small 70s houses with a lot of character. When you’re there, you notice how much life is organised around waiting: for the tide to shift, for the heat of the day to ease, for the right moment to cross the breakwall. You can’t rush things, you simply wait. There’s something special about that relationship with the environment, and the way it sets the pace of everyday life has always stayed with me.
Q. How did that environment translate into the collection?
VM. That way of thinking became the starting point of the collection. I wanted the clothes to carry that same feeling of ease, with pieces that move naturally and feel effortless on the body.
Dresses are the hero of the collection, shifting between fitted and flared styles with bias cuts, soft gathering, twist waists, and subtle ties. The collection includes both mini and maxi, with a range of silhouettes for everyday wear to more considered occasions.
That feeling carried through into the separates. Oversized, lightweight shirts are paired with wide-leg, cropped, or parachute-style pants, alongside pull-on skirts with elasticated waists and ruched or gathered details. We also revisited and brought back a handful of archive styles, chosen from pieces that have resonated with our customers over the years.
Q. The colour palette feels deeply tied to place. How did you approach it?
VM. The palette this season is more grounded and noticeably darker than previous collections, but that shift is intentional. Even in summer, the landscape of Brunswick Heads isn’t purely bright. There are deep river tones, the dense paperbark trees, and these heavy canopy greens that sit against very bright light. That contrast between brightness and shadow became really important. So instead of leaning into a washed,
sun-bleached summer palette, we allowed more weight into the colours.
Q. How were studio prints and textures explored?
VM. They come directly from observation. The stripes and checks draw from familiar Australian summer references like vintage towelling, caravan awnings, and faded beach umbrellas you see scattered across the town. And then there’s the blurred polka dot ‘droplet’ print, designed to reflect how the light bounced off the water where the Brunswick River meets the sea.
Q. You mentioned “archive silhouettes returning.” Why revisit them?
VM. We brought back some of our archive silhouettes because they’ve become favourites with our customers over time. Rather than reinventing them, we refined them through updated colour palettes, subtle proportion changes and, at times, by merging elements from different styles. We wanted to revisit familiar shapes with a new perspective, allowing them to evolve while retaining the qualities that made them favourites in the first place.
Q. How did the landscape influence material choices?
VM. SS27 materials were chosen with the climate and slower pace of Brunswick Heads in mind, focusing on fabrics that respond to heat, humidity and everyday wear. Natural cottons, Tencel, rayon and viscose were selected for their breathability, softness and fluid drape, while lightweight knits and softened leathers add texture and depth.
Q. How did the themes of the collection translate into the footwear designs this season?
VM. Footwear was approached with the same focus on comfort, texture and understated character. The collection includes modernised clogs, slip-on mules, fisherman-inspired sandals and platform block heels. Details such as contrast stitching, exposed seams, fringe, and flexible soles add texture without excess. The palette then connects back to the collection with rich earthy tones of wine, burgundy and taupe.
Q. If you were to capture S27 in a few words, how would you describe its mood and intention?
VM. A return to thoughtful simplicity. A reflection of a place where time feels held rather than rushed.
Imagery sourced from Virginia’s personal travel archive and inspirational image references.