Melbourne fashion designer Perri Cutten dies aged 73

Melbourne fashion designer Perri Cutten has died at the age of 73.

Cutten founded her eponymous brand in 1981 and quickly became one of Australia’s most well-known designers, renowned for her signature suiting and tailored outerwear.

A death notice posted on April 5 said Cutten had died peacefully surrounded by family on April 4.

In a post on Instagram, Perri Cutten fashion house described their founder as an “iconic figure in Australian fashion” whose name became “synonymous with timeless elegance and sophistication”.

“As the founder of the Perri Cutten brand, she built a legacy that has endured for decades, dressing generations of Australian women with style, grace and confidence,” the post said.

“Her contribution to the fashion industry was not only visionary but also deeply personal—she understood the modern Australian woman and designed with purpose, integrity, and grace.

“May she be remembered for her pioneering spirit, her impeccable eye, and the enduring mark she left on Australian fashion.”

In its first decade, the brand won a raft of awards, including four from the Fashion Industries of Australia and a coveted Woolmark award for excellence.