Regional designers can reach broader audiences through the internet

But the Tamworth-based designer said the creation of an online retail store will take her brand to the next level.

"I've been able to do everything from Tamworth and not have to move from a regional area," Ms Tighe-Johnson said.

"Now, I'm at a time where I can retail online. My vision was never to leave the area, as I can access the world from Tamworth."

In the last few years the rise of the internet has changed the way people both live and work, particularly with the explosion of e-commerce, which has completely re-envisioned how we consume fashion.

Through the merging of social media and creativity, there has been a huge shift in the world of Australian fashion, as smaller designers from regional and rural areas are able to cultivate more of an online presence and gain access to a wider audience.

Founder and creative director of Apres Studio, Meg Wilcher, said she's been able to find a larger audience for her brand through the use of social media.

"I now have a bigger market in the United States than in Australia," she said.

"This is largely due to the reach from Instagram and TikTok. I wouldn't ever invest in a permanent bricks and mortar retail space when I can utilise e-commerce to more effectively reach a broader audience."

Ms Wilcher founded Apres Studio in 2018 after she graduated from university.

The brand takes a more sustainable approach to fashion, such as the use of deadstock (no longer sellable) materials and the creation of timeless pieces.

Ms Wilcher said growing up in a regional area drove her to push boundaries and find alternate methods to get her brand out there.

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In the last 20 years, the rise of online shopping has generated new ways for Australian designers to reach a wider international audience.

Digital editor of Marie Claire Australia and Elle.com, Alex Bruce-Smith, said the development of the e-commerce space and social media had "democratised" the fashion landscape between big and small fashion brands.

"If you're a young designer, you don't have access to a marketing campaign or an ad campaign. It is expensive to get your brand into the hands of content creators who may or may not feature it. Everything is hard," she said.

"If it only takes that one Instagram reel or Tik Tok to go viral, and then for them to be inundated with orders, then that is incredible.

"Also, it is something that brands today would kill for if they had access to 20 years ago."

Miss Bruce-Smith said social media and e-commerce have also enabled small businesses to talk directly to their audiences, increasing the sense of connectivity and loyalty which keeps them coming back.