Who Is Natalie De’Banco? The Founder of Bronx and Banco

Bronx and Banco was founded by Natalie De'Banco, who is still its creative director. She opened her first boutique at Bondi Beach in Sydney while studying at Enmore Design School, and launched the Bronx and Banco label in 2009. Today the house has teams in Sydney, New York and Hong Kong, a showroom in SoHo and a place on the New York Fashion Week schedule. Her story is set out in order below, separating what is confirmed from what is not. Shop the label on the Bronx and Banco hub.

Quick answer

• Founder: Natalie De'Banco, founder and creative director.
• Founded: 2009, in Sydney, Australia.
• Background: raised in Australia; profiles by the CFDA and Modern Luxury describe her as Russian-born, and the brand itself speaks of European roots and an Australian upbringing.
• Based today: teams in Sydney, New York and Hong Kong, with a New York showroom at 166 Mercer Street, SoHo, open by appointment.

From Bondi Beach to a label

De'Banco started in retail. While she was a student at Enmore Design School in Sydney she opened a small boutique at Bondi Beach, and the shop became the testing ground for her own designs. The label that grew out of it, Bronx and Banco, launched in 2009. From the start the focus was occasion dressing: gowns, cocktail dresses and pieces with an obvious sense of drama.

The move to New York

Bronx and Banco built its name in the United States through department stores and red carpets. The brand lists stockists in more than 15 countries, and its pieces are carried by Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's and Revolve, which we confirmed on their own sites. The company now runs a design and sales showroom in SoHo, and the collections are presented at New York Fashion Week. The Spring Summer 2026 show took place in September 2025, and the Fall Winter 2026 collection was shown outdoors in the Meatpacking District on 15 February 2026.

What the designer is known for

De'Banco's signatures are easy to spot. High halter necklines, deep V plunges, crystal embellishment, three-dimensional florals and feather trims. Her gowns are made to be photographed, which is why they turn up so often at award shows and galas. The Madeline Halterneck Emerald Gown and the Brielle Sage Diamond Gown are two of the clearest expressions of the house style; our guide to Bronx and Banco gowns explains each family.

Fall Winter 2026 widened the offer. Alongside the gowns came faux fur coats, vegan croc-embossed leather separates and polyurethane suede jackets, inspired by downtown New York in the 1990s and early 2000s. Those pieces, such as the Long Teddy Coat and the Vegan Croc Embossed Belted Dark Brown Jacket, are covered in our Fall Winter 2026 edit.

Who wears Natalie De'Banco's designs

The most widely reported moments are recent. Jennifer Lopez wore a Bronx and Banco Fall 2023 look while hosting the American Music Awards on 26 May 2025, and the Brielle Sage halterneck gown at the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival on 27 May 2026. Ciara wore a red look from the Spring Summer 2026 runway at Karol G's gala at Vizcaya in Miami. The brand also names other famous clients on its own site; we list only the appearances reported independently. The full register is in which celebrities wear Bronx and Banco.

Timeline

What we could not confirm

Some details circulate without a reliable source. We found no published explanation of where the name Bronx and Banco comes from, and the brand does not say where its garments are made. Chatbot answers that name other founders, a 2016 launch date and a streetwear origin are wrong: the label has one founder, Natalie De'Banco, and it began as an occasionwear house in 2009.

Bronx and Banco at a glance

Frequently asked questions

Who owns Bronx and Banco?

Bronx and Banco was founded by Natalie De’Banco, who leads the label as founder and creative director. It is an independent fashion house; we found no public record of an outside owner.

Is Bronx and Banco Australian?

It is an Australian label. It was founded in Sydney in 2009 and still has a team there, but much of its business now runs from New York, where it shows at Fashion Week and has a SoHo showroom.

When was Bronx and Banco founded?

The label launched in 2009, after Natalie De’Banco opened her first boutique at Bondi Beach in Sydney.

Is there a Bronx and Banco store?

The brand has a showroom at 166 Mercer Street in SoHo, New York, which is open by appointment and is not a walk-in shop. Its pieces are sold online and through department stores and retailers such as Coveti.

Where is Natalie De'Banco from?

She grew up in Australia. The CFDA and Modern Luxury describe her as Russian-born; the brand itself refers to European roots and an Australian upbringing.

Read next: is Bronx and Banco a luxury brand, Bronx and Banco celebrities, Australian fashion brands.