Christa, tell us about Status Anxiety’s new collection, Point of No Return.
For the first time, we’ve introduced some mindfully crafted apparel sets as well as a collection of summer must-haves, including new sunglass shapes, hats, a beach bag and a signature premium cotton terry beach towel.
We’ll also see a robust injection of core leather pieces, including a travel capsule and a branded webbed strap to interchange across our leather bag collection.
The real standout of this collection is our limited-release collaboration piece designed by First Nations artist Daisy Hill together with Status Anxiety. This piece draws on elements of one of Daisy’s original artworks, which took more than 30 hours to paint and represents a journey of survival, self-discovery, growth and revival.
We worked with Daisy to bring the original elements of her artwork to the piece, which includes a shoulder bag and a silk scarf. Days of painstaking work went into digitising the artwork for use across the bag elements (lining, silk scarf, packaging etc.) to ensure the texture and colours matched closely to the original artwork. The goal was to create a piece that reflected the rich, earthy, optimism of the original “walkabout” artwork itself. Something that could be worn by anyone proud of their own journey.
All profits from this collaboration will be donated to Children’s Ground, a First Nations organisation working to create a new future for children, one of justice, opportunity and excellence.
What are your three tips when it comes to buying leather?
Do your research. There’s leather, and then … there’s leather. Our leathers are ethically sourced and as sustainable as possible in the way they’re processed. We use only premium leathers, which are a by-product of the food industry and sourced only from countries with strict ethical production standards. As it should be.
Buy well made. The construction of good leather pieces takes a lot of skill and craftsmanship. You want to feel a connection to the work that goes into every piece. When you understand that, you tend to care for and appreciate your pieces so much more.
Choose Wisely. The grain and colour of every leather piece is unique and unrepeatable; each has unique characteristics (just like you). So it’s worth eyeing off a few to make sure you’re happy with the look.
Tell us, how does Status Anxiety practise slow fashion?
As a brand we’re about quality over quantity and creating timeless pieces that last. We create pieces that are designed to age well. We don’t over design or over produce. We meticulously review our entire collection each season, to make sure we’re only producing pieces that we know will sell.
While we’re always seeking to evolve, in our current fashion sphere which is saturated with ever-changing trends, it is important to cultivate our core values, to craft authentic, quality pieces to be cherished beyond a single season.
We also recognise that in running a business we have a greater responsibility to reduce our environmental impact and do what we can to look after the people at every stage of our supply chain. We work hard to stay ahead of the pack and to be transparent about our practices. We’re not perfect, but we’re conscious, we’re trying hard and we care.
What makes you feel wild and alive?
For me, it’s surfing. Leaving all technology behind and surrendering to the ocean.
What leather looks can we expect to see in the future?
We’re currently working on our AW23 collection and, although I say this each season, I think it may be our best yet. We have a big focus on smaller bags and tech-friendly pieces. We’re experimenting with new colours and manipulating the sewing of the leather to create some interesting textures.
With the health of the planet at the forefront of our minds when developing, we’re constantly looking for ways to use the offcuts of leather; we have a small piece coming out that is made using small offcuts of leather from our bags.
What’s next for Status Anxiety?
We’ll never stop evolving and elevating. We’re looking to expand our bricks and mortar in Australia and beyond! We want
to continually develop and expand our other categories including eyewear and apparel in a conscious and considered manner for both people and planet, while still maintaining leather roots.
For more, visit statusanxiety.com.au and
@status_anxiety on Instagram.
