Inside Gail Sorronda’s 20th Anniversary Fashion Show, Chromophobia
Dresses & Drama
By Kiri Johnston | 2nd September 2025The queen of dark romance, Brisbane designer Gail Sorronda celebrates her 20-year anniversary with Chromophobia, and we look back on two decades of artistry that have challenged convention.
As one of Australia’s most iconic designers, how has being based in Brisbane shaped your journey — and what does it mean to represent Australian fashion?
I think it’s crystalised that we not only belong to a national community but a global one. Consumers are more informed with access to whatever they want online. As a designer based in Brisbane, it’s taught me that it doesn’t have the same limitations it had in the past.
Reflecting on Chromophobia and 20 years of Gail Sorronda, what’s the defining thread through your work?
Dark romanticism.
Why was Australasian Dance Collective the right partner now, and how did the collaboration push your work?
It’s just about going where the energy flows, and it was an opportunity that presented itself. It was kind of cool that he choreographer was inspired by Dreams for the collaborative work, and my previous work was titled “In Dreams”. Love how the universe plays tag like that. It pushes your work to another boundary that has yet to be explored. I always enjoy the diversification of context and medium, but under the same energy field.
Movement and duality are central to your collections — how did bringing that into a live performance expand those ideas?
I think whenever you do a fashion show or, in this case, a dance collaboration, the sensory experience is always an expansion on feeling – feeling and provoking a response is the currency.
Looking ahead, what do you hope your legacy will be?
I hope my legacy reflects my contributions. Each collection is like a receipt documenting time, proof that it happened, even when I turn to dust, haha. I would also hope it inspires my daughter to know she can be brave in carving her own path, too.
Photography: Georgia Wells
