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Natalie De’Banco has built Bronx Banco on a simple philosophy: blending in was never an option. What began as a passion project while she was studying fashion design in Sydney—selling vintage finds on eBay before opening a boutique and eventually launching her own label—has grown into a globally recognized luxury brand worn by everyone from Beyoncé and Jennifer Lopez to Sabrina Carpenter and Ciara. Seventeen years later, the designer is ushering Bronx Banco into its next era, expanding far beyond the statement occasionwear that first put the label on the map into ready-to-wear, denim, tailoring, handbags, accessories, and bridal. The Daily Front Row’s Elizabeth Kurpis caught up with the founder and creative director to discuss the evolution of the brand, the women who inspire her, and why staying true to her creative vision has always been the key to building a lasting fashion business.
Bronx Banco has become synonymous with bold femininity and statement dressing. How has your vision for the brand evolved since you first launched it?
It’s funny because I don’t think my vision has changed all that much. My aesthetics have evolved significantly, and so have I. As I’ve grown, my brand has grown with me, and the existing vision has become clearer and more intentional over the years. Because of my obsession with fashion, I started selling vintage items on eBay while I was studying design in Sydney. That eventually turned into a small boutique in Bondi, then grew into designing and producing my own pieces, and somehow…seventeen years later after a lot of hard work and persistence…here we are. When I first brought Bronx Banco to New York Fashion Week, people thought it was too sexy, too embellished, too many feathers… just too much. I remember thinking, “perfect.” I had always believed the fastest way to disappear is to blend in. Today we’re expanding into contemporary ready-to-wear, denim, tailoring, handbags, accessories, and deeper into bridal, but the woman I’m designing for today has never really changed. She loves fashion. She’s confident. She isn’t afraid to be noticed.
Your collections celebrate confidence and individuality. Who is the Bronx Banco woman today?
She has definitely grown up with me. I started Bronx Banco while I was still studying design, and I think so many of our customers were in the same stage of life that I was at the time. We were all looking for the perfect outfit for birthdays, holidays and parties, basically any excuse to dress up. Now we have all grown up together. She’s building a career, traveling, getting married, and her wardrobe has evolved at the same pace her life has. She still loves fashion, she just wears it differently. I always joke that I was probably the original Bronx Banco girl. I’ve always loved getting dressed up. I would often design something to wear to a wedding or an event, and I would secretly be so proud when people asked, “Where did you get that?” and I’d tell them, “I made it!” There was something really empowering about that. I’ve always believed that when you love what you’re wearing, you carry yourself differently. You stand a little taller, you smile more, and you feel like you can take on anything. That’s really who I design for. Whether she’s wearing our tailoring, denim, knitwear, handbags or something for a special occasion, it’s never just about the outfit. It’s about feeling like the best version of yourself.
You’ve built a globally recognized brand while remaining true to your creative point of view. How do you balance commercial success with artistic expression?
It’s really about finding the balance. To build a successful brand, you need both. You need to be creative, but you also need to think commercially. For me, it’s probably fifty-fifty. Of course I always want to push the creative side. That’s the fun part, and if the business is healthy, it gives you the freedom to keep creating, keep growing and keep taking risks, which makes the business successful. There are so many brands creating beautiful clothes, but what really builds a connection with people is having a distinct point of view and a design identity that allows them to differentiate your brand from another. That’s what makes people remember you and keep coming back.
Travel, art, and culture have always influenced your work. Where are you finding inspiration right now?My design process always starts with music. Before I sketch a single look, I create a playlist that captures the mood and feeling I want the collection to convey. That playlist becomes the soundtrack to the entire collection and, eventually, the runway show. I can literally see the models walking as I’m listening, and that’s when I start sketching. The final song on the playlist usually becomes the finale of the show. At our Fall/Winter 2026 New York Fashion Week runway show, it was “Psycho Killer.” Hearing that track echo through the Meatpacking District while the models walked felt exactly how I’d imagined it months earlier. Those moments are really emotional because they’ve lived in my head for so long before anyone else sees them. Beyond music, inspiration is everywhere. I grew up by the ocean in Australia, and I still find that being near the water is where I do my clearest thinking. Whether I’m in the Hamptons or back home in Australia, something about the rhythm of the coast helps me slow down and create. I’m also constantly collecting inspiration from architecture, interiors, vintage fashion, travel, and the incredible women I see every day. A collection rarely starts with one big idea, it’s usually hundreds of little moments that slowly come together into one story.
Your designs have been worn by some of the world’s most recognizable women. Is there a celebrity or moment that still feels surreal to you?
Definitely Beyoncé. When her team reached out about creating custom looks for the Renaissance Tour, it was one of those moments where I just stopped and thought, “Is this actually happening?” Watching something that started as a sketch become part of one of the biggest world tours, was pretty incredible. People see the finished look on stage, but they don’t see the hundreds of hours that go into creating it. One of the pieces took more than 150 hours to embellish, with every crystal applied by hand. We’ve been lucky enough to dress so many incredible women over the years: Jennifer Lopez, Miley Cyrus, Millie Bobby Brown , Ciara, Sabrina Carpenter and many more, and every single one is exciting because there are so many amazing designers they could choose to wear in those moments. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it. Every time I see someone wearing Bronx Banco on stage or on a red carpet, I still have one of those little “wow” moments.
Fashion is constantly evolving. What trends are you embracing and which do you think are ready to disappear? I’m loving the return of personality, maximalist prints, double denim, oversized jewelry, scarves, and the early-2000s energy of Tom Ford–era Gucci, Cavalli, and Etro. After years of quiet luxury, glamour in this way feels rebellious again. As for what should disappear? I’m always drawn to individuality and personal style, so we should try to leave “playing it safe” behind.
As both founder and creative director, what does a typical day look like for you?
There really isn’t a typical day, and I think that’s what I love most about it. The only thing that’s always the same is my two puppies jumping into bed every morning to wake me up. Everything that follows is always completely different. Some days are all about fittings and designing. Other days I’m in meetings, talking to our factories or working on business strategies. If it’s Fashion Week, it’s complete chaos, (my favorite kind of chaos). I usually try to finish around six or seven, take the dogs for a walk, and have dinner with my fiancé. That’s when I try to switch off…or at least pretend I’m not thinking about fashion.
What has been the biggest lesson you’ve learned as an entrepreneur building a luxury fashion brand?
I learn something every single season. Just when you think you’ve seen it all and you’re prepared for anything, something new happens. That’s fashion. For me, learning is growing, and building a luxury fashion brand definitely isn’t easy. It takes resilience, a really clear vision and the ability to keep going, even when things don’t go to plan. Probably the biggest lesson I’ve learned is that you can’t do it alone. You can have the best ideas in the world, but without the right people around you, it’s very hard to build something great.
Luxury consumers are looking for pieces that feel both timeless and unforgettable. How do you approach designing collections that strike that balance?
For me, it always starts with quality. Luxury isn’t just about the price, it’s about the craftsmanship. That’s why we spend so much time sourcing the fabrics and perfecting the fit. Stylistically, trends will always come and go, but if something is beautifully made and makes you feel amazing, you’ll always reach for it. I still have Bronx Banco pieces in my wardrobe that I designed 10 or 15 years ago and I still wear them. When people stop to ask me “Where did you get that?” It reminds me that great designs don’t have an expiration date. Of course fashion evolves, but I’ve always wanted to create pieces that people keep in their wardrobe for years, and are excited each time they put it on. To me, that’s what real luxury is.
Is there a collection or piece that holds special meaning for you personally?
Every collection is a snapshot of where I was at that moment in my life, so I don’t know if I could ever pick a favorite! But for the sake of the question, I think our Fall/Winter 2026 collection. It was bigger than just a collection; it represented an important turning point for the brand. It introduced a more expansive version of Bronx Banco and was an exciting reflection of how the business has grown beyond occasionwear and into a full lifestyle offering.
Looking ahead, what’s next for Bronx Banco? Are there new categories, collaborations, or projects you’re excited to share?
Honestly, I feel like we’re just getting started. Right now we’re building a whole new world around Bronx Banco. It’s so much more than evening now, it’s lifestyle, ready-to-wear, denim, outerwear, bridal and much more than clothing even,; it’s seasonal accessories, handbags, belts, footwear and more. There is also a major project underway that will bring the Bronx Banco world to life in an entirely new way. I can’t share too much just yet, but there’s a lot to look forward to!
All Images: Courtesy
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