For Pre-Fall 25, Beare Park creative director Gabriella Pereira leaned into dualities — softness and strength, classicism and seduction, comfort and edge — with a collection she describes as “a perfect marriage of sensuality and power dressing.” Created between Sydney and Paris, and informed by her own changing body at 23 weeks pregnant, the new offering feels both deeply personal and subtly rebellious. Silhouettes are sharper, necklines slinkier, and sheer panelling appears for the first time. But the codes remain grounded in the brand’s DNA: enduring design, natural fibres, and a refined kind of effortlessness that feels distinctly Australian. As Pereira puts it, “I always design for myself — it’s the only way I know how.” Here, she talks tailoring, tension, and why this show — set to a 1940s gospel track — means more than most.
Photograph courtesy of Beare Park.
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What does your AFW 25 collection say about where your brand is right now — and where it’s headed next?
The PF25 collection is very true to the Beare Park foundations of offering classic and enduring silhouettes in luxurious fabrications. However I feel this collection introduces a sharper edge. The perfect marriage of sensuality and power dressing will be a constant source of inspiration for me. The collection features some unexpected sheer layered moments, slinky deep necklines and the for the first time – sheer lace panelling, which reveal hints of skin with intent. However the appreciation for classic masculine tailoring and a considered colour palette is still there.
Can you describe the moment or mood that first sparked the concept for this season?
I was working from Paris for a couple of weeks when I started the collection. I am always inspired by how people dress in Paris. There is a cool ease that I observe there that fuels my love of dressing. I rarely see an outfit that I love that looks “new”. Pieces look worn in and classic, colours and shapes are considered – but always effortless at the same time. This collection is a continuation of creating pieces that I want to wear in that sense. But my focus has been on creating pieces that you want to own forever and can wear with ease – made edgier through textured pleating, sheer layering and slinkier necklines than we have offered before.
Photograph courtesy of Beare Park.
Photograph courtesy of Beare Park.
How do you see this collection in conversation with what’s happening in Australian fashion more broadly?
This collection will be see now buy now, meaning we have designed and styled it with the Australian customer in mind, more than any show before. Our Australian customer has responded particularly well to pieces that are comfortable, oversized yet cut in luxurious silks – for example our Carmen Short. I think this is the perfect piece for Australian dressing, it is ultimately an elastic waist track short that provides comfort and ease; yet is formed from the most luxurious silk dupion. I feel like elements of this collection have the same appeal due to the marriage of comfort and luxury through fabric and cut.
Were there any particular materials, silhouettes, or motifs you found yourself returning to? Why do you think they resonated this time?
I love working with silk georgette, particularly when it is cut into exaggerated sash ties. The manner in which it can be layered creates a depth to particular looks. I also love adding long exaggerated sah ties to the Beare Park silk pieces as this can make a piece so versatile – we have one dress with two elongated ties that trail the floor on either side of the wearer. You can tie them at the back to cinch in the silhouette of the dress, or elegantly drape them around your neck.
How does the Australian landscape — physical or cultural — shape your work?
I feel the Australian climate and landscape definitely informs the way I dress and also design. Natural fibres work so well during harsh Aussie Summers and cooler months too – not to mention the incredible resource we have in Australian Merino Wool. Beare Park champions natural fibres for this reason. I think also the way that Australians love the coast and ocean means that our style of dressing has an effortless ease. This is my favourite thing about Australian style. I love the way we pair an oversized tailored suit with a pair of chic sandals and look so polished with an understated ease – I feel this is a quintessentially Australian way of dressing.
Photograph courtesy of Beare Park.
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Who are you designing for this season? Has that imagined wearer changed or stayed consistent over time?
I always design for myself – it’s the only way i know how. I am not a traditionally trained designer and i find the most authentic way to make for the Beare Park customer, is to offer them pieces that I would cherish in my wardrobe. I am currently 23 weeks pregnant so I feel like this collection may be a reflection of what I dream of wearing right now… hence the introduction of sharper edges, shorter hemlines and more sultry silhouettes.
Are there any collaborators, references, or personal rituals that played a meaningful role in the development of this show?
Aside from my incredible team, I’m proud to be partnering with Chopard. I’ve long admired their unparalleled craftsmanship and our shared commitment to empowering consumers through considered design. Their support has been instrumental in bringing to life a concept centred around heirloom pieces that truly embody longevity.
Fashion is often about dualities — structure and softness, tradition and disruption. What tensions are you exploring in this body of work?
In creating classic womenswear, I feel like each Beare Park collection is a strong representation of the dichotomy between the ruthless power and soft sensuality of womanhood. That is what is so incredible about being a woman to me – especially one who is coming to terms with the concept of becoming a mother. There’s a quiet tension I’m always drawn to, resilience wrapped in elegance. It’s the same contrast found in the Chopard pieces featured in the show: the Ice Cube collection’s architectural minimalism paired with effortless luxury, and L’Heure du Diamant timepieces, where bold timekeeping meets the intimacy of diamond craftsmanship. My upcoming show reflects how I approach design, anchoring strength in softness and curating wardrobes for the multi-layered identity of women today.
Photograph courtesy of Beare Park.
How do you balance trend-awareness with a sense of enduring identity in your collections?
I feel like I escape being aware of trends due to being swamped in social media due to my job – digital marketing is so important and we spend a lot of time consuming content and devising our own strategy. However this awareness isn’t a bad thing as it informs me of trends to stay away from. I am very committed to our pieces being completely trendless and enduring in their classic nature.
What’s one detail from this show — a gesture, a stitch, a soundtrack choice — that you hope doesn’t go unnoticed?
I am so excited for the soundtrack, we have composed an original piece for the show inspired by one of my long time favourite songs – it’s actually a gospel song from the 1940s. I’m a big Archie Roach fan and I was first introduced to his cover of this song some years ago. It’s sombre and poignant and I feel it captures the emotion of the collection.
What other shows are you looking forward to seeing this week?
I’m excited for so many! Carla Zampatti is a stand out of course, and we have a look being shown in the show. A number of Australian designers were asked to offer a look as a tribute to Carla which will create a really special moment.
And finally, what does showing at Australian Fashion Week mean to you, especially in a global fashion landscape?
It’s simply so incredible to have one week of the year where the entire industry bands together to celebrate emerging, disrupting and established designers. This combined force is wonderful for our home grown brands to be acknowledged and celebrated by international media and global brands like Chopard itself, and also is an incredible customer engagement opportunity domestically and abroad.
Photograph courtesy of Beare Park.
