Aussies can shop for global fashion fads on any high street or with a few clicks. But when it comes to basics, many rely on Cotton On, which is set to earn $1.4 billion in 2016 from its low-cost clothing that virtually ignores trends. How’s this home-grown brand taking the retail world by storm?

With luxury brands inaccessible and fast fashion retailers continuing to focus on cost-effectiveness, people are looking elsewhere for high quality basics. Crowdfunded labels with stylish, premium and relatively inexpensive pieces are giving the high street a run for its money.

Every girl worth her salt knows that a good wardrobe is built around the basics. That plain tee that makes statement skirts pop or those jeans that ensure you look great even when you're not trying. But with high street names like Gap seeing losses, where are Gen Yers buying their basics?

‘Til death us do part’ is usually reserved for weddings. But as sustainability becomes a bigger concern, it could be applied to our prized possessions, from cashmere jumpers to iPhones. But how achievable is this in a world where acquiring and upgrading are the status quo?