Our Practices
From the inception of A-ESQUE, our Founder and Creative Director Amanda Rettig’s intention was to be immersed in the process of making and harness this proximity to shape an agile system of in-house design, development and production.
A-ESQUE commenced with practices centred on controlled production, making locally and making responsibly, which deeply resonated with Amanda; it was not a matter of identifying with a certain movement from the outset, but upholding the values of craftsmanship, quality rather than quantity and highly considered production and consumption practices.
As awareness of the environmental and social impacts of the fashion industry have grown, we have recognised how the practices and values we have embraced over the years, in fact align with movements, such as slow fashion, in the sustainable and ethical fashion space.
We believe localising the aspects of design, development and production in our supply chain from inception, allows for greater control and fluidity in enriching our design and production practices for people and the planet.
Sustainability
We do not categorise ourselves as a sustainable brand because, fundamentally, the fashion industry thrives on constant innovation and consumption, which directly contradicts the principles of sustainability. This is the unvarnished reality.
Instead, our primary focus is on evolving into the most conscientious version of ourselves. While we acknowledge that we are not flawless, we are unwavering in our commitment to making improved decisions each day, with the aim of reducing our social and environmental footprint across our entire operation. We view this as our moral duty, recognising that every action carries significance.
At A-ESQUE, we adopt a comprehensive approach to embodying responsibility as a brand. This entails embracing practices like adopting plant-based diets and pursuing radical transparency within our supply chain. What truly matters is the cumulative impact of all the choices we make, regardless of their scale, on a daily basis. Our approach centres on evidence and results, driving us to effect meaningful change.
Ethos
Our ethos centres on openly observing where we are in our process toward greater sustainability, valuing the practices we have established at the heart of A-ESQUE, and continuing to grow our commitment toward social and environmental responsibility through our actions and mindset.
As a team, we celebrate a connection between our products, people and place. We actively nurture our relationships with our client community, our highly collaborative team, and with all who facilitate the vision of A-ESQUE each day, spanning from Melbourne to the rest of the world.
We envision advancing further in our transparency, our sustainable practices and the traceability of our supply chain as we continue to evolve. With systemic change essential for the future of fashion, we wholeheartedly want to be a part of this transformation.
Considered Design
- We design through a thoughtful iterative process that draws from our Archive Collection to inform new pieces, refining timeless aesthetics and wearability to align with the evolving desires of our clients.
- We do not adhere to a fixed seasonal offering of pieces as we choose to create consciously with flexibility in response to the shifting environment we live in.
- Our design approach strives to balance aesthetic desirability with a strong application of functionality, durability and versatility, which are key characteristics of slow fashion design.
- Our leather and hardware supply factor into design decisions in a conscious effort to increase resourcefulness and minimise waste.
Lean and Local Production
Our Atelier team of artisans handcraft all of our pieces exclusively in our Melbourne Atelier, employing:- Years of acquired leather knowledge,
- Traditional, slow production techniques and
- Contemporary skills across cutting, skiving, hand constructing and sewing.
We practice lean production, controlling our inventory by maintaining a low level of stock to avoid oversupply; we do not wish to make more than what is needed. We manage this by utilising methods of:
- Made to Order production
- Pre-Order making
- Small batch production drops