MESHKI Co-Founders, Natalie Khoei and Shadi Kord named joint EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2025 Australian winners

MESHKI Co-Founders, Natalie Khoei and Shadi Kord have been named joint EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2025 Australian winners. 

MESHKI, an Australian fashion powerhouse founded in 2013, quickly became dominant in the social media driven e-commerce space. Meeting at university while studying architecture, Natalie and Shadi both invested $200 into the initial idea behind MESHKI, blending current styles with timeless design principles. The pair have since turned that investment into a global fashion brand, shipping to more than 190 countries worldwide.

Selected from a group of 20 National finalists recognised for their purpose-driven leadership and entrepreneurial spirit, Natalie and Shadi were announced as the winners at a national awards ceremony in Melbourne on Thursday night (24 October), attended by Australia’s leading entrepreneurs, alumni and judges. 

Russell Phillips, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Australian Program Leader, said: “Natalie and Shadi’s story is the stuff of entrepreneurial lore. Meeting at university, initially seeing this as a side business and then going all in to turn their dream into a globally recognisable fashion brand - is remarkable.”

“However, while this seems like an entrepreneurial fairytale, the work, dedication and knowledge of their target market is unparalleled, and this is why MESHKI is primed for further growth and success.”  

Meaning black in Farsi, the name MESHKI alludes to the cofounders' shared Iranian heritage, with the pair embedding their culture, work ethic and drive for empowering women through fashion into the brand.

Linda Brown, chair of the independent judges, President of Torrens University and former EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2021 Australian Winner, commended Khoei and Kord, saying: “An amazing business starting with two friends with a passion for fashion and $400 who harnessed the power of social media, amassing over three million global followers, creating a very successful business with over $100+ million revenue and still growing. A true testament of entrepreneurial spirit.”

MESHKI originally began sourcing and selling wholesale pieces, but in 2016 launched its first in-house collection. The brand’s product range now consists of clothing, swimwear, activewear and accessories. The business has a strong focus on sustainability, and by using data-driven inventory management and ethical production practices – it’s able to deliver against one of its core values of making the world a better place.

Of the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year program Mr Philips said: “Supporting and celebrating entrepreneurs is core to EY values and the purpose of building a better working world. We know entrepreneurship is integral to Australia’s future success – it helps improve productivity, drives innovation and creates new opportunities.  

“Our aim is to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs, those currently sitting in universities with innovative ideas and the drive to shape the future, who will take inspiration from Natalie and Shadi’s journey.”  

As the National winner, Natalie and Shadi will travel to Monaco in June to compete against National winners from more than 60 countries for the chance to be celebrated as the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2025.   

MESHKI was also named the Emerging Category winner, alongside six other impressive Australian entrepreneurs, who took home National category trophies at the awards ceremony. These winners were: 

Technology Winner: Tony Charara, Mable

Industry Winner:  Linden Lawson, Austrack Campers

Service Winner: David Hyman and Sebastian Watkins, Lendi Group

Social Impact Winner: Dan Allen and Ed Ross, TradeMutt and TIACS