There’s enough to worry about when it comes to sustainable fashion, that environmentally friendly fabrics often get looked over. Synthetic fibres like polyester, viscose and nylon (all essentially plastics), are major contributors of fast fashion waste and landfill and the growing amount of plastic microfibre found in the sea.

Comms professional turned fashion designer Adriana Frescura didn’t like that, and she decided to do something about it.

She was specifically unhappy with the environmentally friendly options available for ladies looking for modern modest womenswear. Clothing with sleeves for example, or hems that went down further than the knee.

Her label Frske (rhymes with esky) was the answer to all these things.

“For the past few years I’d been pushing my sleeveless dresses and tops to the back of my wardrobe, and looking for clothing – dresses, tops and especially t-shirts –with half sleeves,” Adriana says.

“I struggled to find half sleeve t-shirts made from 100% cotton. The dresses and tops I did find with longer hemlines were often made from synthetic fibres – polyester, viscose, nylon; fabrics that don’t breathe and are major contributors of fast fashion waste and landfill.”

Frske Clothing Orange Dress
Instead, her label Frske is about natural, biodegradable fibres. The range features gorgeous Japanese linens, soft-to-touch Australian organic cotton and cotton/linen blends.

Adriana says she chose the fabrics for their versatility, hassle-free care and longevity.

“Frske is trans-seasonal: the fabrics are breathable and comfortable to wear; they are easy to wash in cold water, they dry easily, and the linens and organic cottons can be worn without ironing.”

In addition to using only natural, biodegradable fibres, all Frske designs are made in small production runs and fabric offcuts are salvaged to reduce waste.

“Fabric remnants are reserved for our free repair kits, and also used to create surprise gifts for customers (for example, lavender bags filled with organic lavender from Tasmania, which is a natural moth repellent),” Adriana says.

“Our packaging is also plastic free: the mail satchel is compostable; internal elements are made from recycled paper and unbranded to encourage re-use.”

The Frske garments are all made in Melbourne by an Ethical Clothing Australia accredited manufacturer, with the fabrics coming from local suppliers.

Adriana describes Frske as ‘modern modest’; with the label’s aesthetic drawing inspiration from Japanese minimalism and French casual chic.

She says the Frske customer has both style and spirit.

“Defined more by her sense of individuality than any notion of age, the Frske customer has an eye for design and detail, but needs to be comfortable in every sense with the clothes she chooses to wear.”

“She wants longer hemlines, clothes that breathe and ethical values that reflect her own.”

Find out more and shop Frske here.