From the moment Pamela Easton and Lydia Pearson opened their small fashion boutique in Brisbane in 1987, their edgy designs captured the imagination of local audiences and clients from around the world. By 2016, when the design legends closed shop, the iconic brand had become synonymous with style, flare and daring. 

In 2017, an extraordinary archive of more than 3300 garments and 5000 objects were acquired by the Museum of Brisbane. The Easton Pearson Archive gift to the Museum of Brisbane was made possible with the generous support of Dr Paul Eliadis, a Brisbane-based philanthropist and patron of contemporary art and design. 

In consultation with Pamela Easton and Lydia Pearson, a stunning collection of garments has been selected from the Archive for this exhibition that is now touring Australia. Each garment in the exhibition showcases the daring designs, technical innovations, bespoke fabric, bold prints and embellishment choices of the fashion house over its remarkable 28-year history. 

Much of Pamela and Lydia’s success lies in their ability to create designs that celebrated innovation while retaining a unique Australianness. It was this particular quality that captivated international buyers.

The exhibition includes a video that gives a special insight into the creative processes of Pamela and Lydia, and a number of sketch books, fabric samples and other archival materials that reveal the stories behind these iconic Australian designers and their Brisbane-based fashion label empire.