If you’ve walked down the main shopping strip in Fitzroy, Melbourne in the past couple of years, it’s likely you’ve spied the minimalist luxury fashion that goes by the name of Arndsorf.
The Melbourne and New York brand is the creation of designer Jade Sarita Arnott.
She initially launched the label in 2006 but put the project on hold in 2012 because she felt uneasy about the contribution she was making to the fashion industry.
It wasn’t until after a stint living in New York (and running the label in New York), that she returned to Australia with a renewed outlook on what the label could be, and more importantly, what it wouldn’t be.
In 2016, Arnsdorf was reborn, this time with a mission. Arnott didn’t want to contribute to the mass consumption of fast, throw-away fashion. She always believed in quality, not only in the production value but in style as well. It was these values that shaped what the brand is today.
Arnott’s commitment to sustainability starts with onshore, ethical production of the garments, and goes right through to communicating the production process to its customers.
To ensure transparency in the brand’s production, the real cost of each garment is broken down for shoppers to view. This breakdown includes the costs that go into labour, design, materials, retailing, operations and logistics for each and every garment produced by Arnsdorf.
I find this incredibly important and innovative, for the brand to respect the process of making fashion and its customers enough to make that process transparent.
As a customer, it’s not only great to be able to understand why it costs what it does, it’s also educational. It gives shoppers the information to compare the figures to fast and mass-produced fashion products and question how corners have to be cut to produce fashion at such a low cost.
For the collections (which are not seasonal by the way), Arnsdorf uses mostly natural fibres, ensuring everything down to the buttons on the garments are recyclable or able to break down easily in landfill.
On the design front, the brand has an artistic edge, opting for asymmetrical patterns and statement features. In terms of prints, the brand keeps it minimal, choosing classic colours and fabrics for longevity.
To summarise: Arnsdorf offers classic pieces for the wardrobe as well as work staples, in natural fibres that’ll never go out of season. It’s an up-market option that’s worth the investment.
Check out the Arnsdorf transparency breakdown on its garments here.
