EMU Australia FW26: Cultural Heritage at Every Step
Fashion17 September 2026
AuthorAlexandra Hill
PhotosEMU
The sheepskin boot brand draws upon Australia’s rich heritage and sweeping natural landscapes to stride into future-focused footwear.
E
arthy, mineral tones define EMU Australia’s FW2026 collection, as the footwear brand born from the south-west coast of Victoria celebrates Australia’s authenticity and diverse cultural heritage.
Titled BE MORE, the soft, rounded shapes paired with structural boldness mark a new creative direction for the brand towards design that blurs the line between fashion and functionality, reflecting the contrasting landscapes across modern Australia.
Where fast-fashion walks the digital runway, BE MORE is treading a different path. EMU’s FW26 shoes are crafted with water-resistant Australian sheepskin, merino wool, leather, and waterproof suede, designed with Australia’s wilderness, bustling cities, and soft landscapes in mind.
Reimagining the ’00s suede bootie style with locally sourced materials, the collection rejects a fast-fashion mindset to not only celebrate Australian craftsmanship, but uplift independent design worldwide
EMU also elevates traditional shoemaking by casting First Nations model Portia Talib, whose work reflects a new generation of creative voices while rooting the campaign in Australia’s diverse cultural heritage.
Bigger architectural profiles and sculptural proportions of the shoes are grounded in comfort and warmth, complemented by a series of winter accessories adding soft, tactile shapes across Talib’s sleek silhouette striding through muted mineral greys washing into deep canopy greens and earthy yellows.
A bolder step forward for the brand, BE MORE aligns with the significance of the emu bird: it cannot walk backwards, only forwards.
Soft yet bold, familiar yet unexpected: EMU Australia is striding towards a future of fashion that embraces the past, with traditional craftsmanship and locally-sourced materials celebrating sustainability and cultural heritage at every step of the way.
