Collette Dinnigan AO

Collette Dinnigan is an Australian based fashion designer who was born in South Africa in 1965, moving to New Zealand to study fashion and textiles before taking up work in Australia in the costume department of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). She has had a stellar career, becoming one of Australia’s most successful fashion designers, with her work featured in film and on television, and worn by celebrities and leaders of world fashion alike. Amongst many outstanding achievements, her philanthropic support of women’s health and her contributions to the Australian economy through fashion exports, are of note.

Collette Dinnigan first launched her own range of French-inspired lingerie in 1990 and her designs quickly began to garner international recognition, being purchased by department stores Barneys, Neiman Marcus, Harvey Nichols and Joyce. She opened her own retail stores in Paddington, NSW in 1992 and South Yarra, VIC in 1995. At around this time Colette Dinnigan gained further national and international recognition, winning a series of awards, including the Fashion Innovation Award (Australian Fashion Awards), the Elders Wool Award, Designer of the Year and Innovator of the Year (Australian Fashion Awards).

A third retail store was opened in Chelsea, London and the Victoria & Albert Museum honoured Collette, showcasing her label in their prestigious series of live Fashion in Motion Exhibitions. In 2005 Australia Post issued a postage stamp featuring Collette Dinnigan as part of its Australian Legends series. In 2015 Collette published her first book, ’Obsessive Creative’, and ’Unlaced’, an exhibition of her work opened at the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney.

The induction of Collette Dinnigan into the Design Institute of Australia’s Hall of Fame is a celebration of her achievements and recognition of her significant contributions to Australian design and the national and international fashion industry.