Where Adelaide Fashion Meets Culture
What happens when fashion steps off the runway and into the places, people and creative spaces that make Adelaide what it is? That’s the idea behind The Threads Between Us, a new ADL Fashion Week 2026 campaign celebrating five Adelaide creatives whose worlds extend far beyond fashion. From designers and broadcasters to chefs and couture legends, each brings their own style, personality and perspective to the city’s creative landscape. With ADL Fashion Week 2026 returning from 7–11 October, and partnering with the South Australian Fashion Industry Association (SAFIA), there’s never been a better time to discover the people and ideas shaping Adelaide’s fashion scene.
At the heart of the campaign are Vanessa Pearce of The Wolf Gang, Rachel Van Brussel of VAN BRUSSEL, SAFM breakfast co-host Bel Sloane, Africola’s Duncan Welgemoed, and Alexis George’s George and Pat Georgiou.
Their stories are as individual as their styles, but there’s a common thread: Adelaide gives creative people the space to do things their own way.
Dressing celebrities like Kylie Jenner and Hilary Duff, Vanessa Pearce, The Wolf Gang Founder and Creative Director, embraces Adelaide as part of her collection’s identity. “Adelaide gives me room to breathe, to be creative in my own time, to find the brand’s voice without rushing it,” says Vanessa. For Vanessa, Adelaide is part of The Wolf Gang’s identity, providing the freedom to develop collections without the pressure to follow the crowd.
Rachel Van Brussel takes a similarly independent approach, creating locally and sustainably, from designer dead stock and designing without being dictated by trends. VAN BRUSSEL, winner of the 2026 National Designer Sustainability Award, creates every piece on Australian shores. Founder and Designer, Rachel Van Brussel says her collection never has to answer to trends. “Every piece is cut from designer deadstock… I see it as something beautiful waiting for the right form,” she says. “My garments are made by people I know by name.”
Bel Sloane, the subject of our featured image, brings fashion into everyday life, finding confidence in the small rituals of getting dressed. The SAFM radio breakfast co-host, says moments alone spark confidence to be the everyday woman with a unique style. “I actually love my quiet mornings – that little bit of time is mine,” says Bel. “Then I start putting myself together. Lip liner, denim, the things that make me feel ready, but still like myself.”
Meanwhile Duncan Welgemoed, the man behind iconic Adelaide restaurant Africola, proves that great style doesn’t stop at the runway. “Six o’clock is showtime… it’s loud, hot, with everyone performing a little,” says Duncan. “We get excited by things that mean something to us – for me, the East End is the heart of that.” At Africola, food, music, people and fashion collide in one of Adelaide’s most recognisable creative spaces.
Then there’s couture royalty, George and Pat Georgiou, whose Alexis George gowns have been worn by some of the world’s biggest names such as Nicole Kidman and Kylie Minogue. Since 1980, their story is one of craftsmanship passed through generations, with decades of fashion history stitched into their workroom. “Our children grew up around gowns being made,” says Pat. “In the workroom, there are paper patterns made by hand… pieces of every era.” “The creative parts, the mundane parts, the family parts – we shared all of it,” adds George.
Photographed across locations synonymous with Adelaide, The Threads Between Us captures something bigger than clothes. It’s a snapshot of a city where fashion, food, nightlife, culture and creativity continually cross paths.
Subscribe to the ADL Fashion Week newsletter to receive exclusive first access to purchase tickets through a 24-hour presale, running from 10am Monday, 7th September until 10am Tuesday, 8th September 2026, ahead of public ticket sales opening via ADLFashionWeek.com. The full festival program, including the ADL Fashion Week 2026 runway line- up, will be unveiled on Monday, 7th September.
See more: Luicce Atelier: Where Brazilian Craftsmanship Meets Adelaide’s Creative Spirit
