Women of the Fashion World

Female founder:

Amber Sceats

Story of the brand:

Amber Sceats started her self-titled jewellery brand in 2012, taking her family’s watch business as the springboard. Starting in Sydney, Amber Sceats has branched out to the world. She has successfully put the brand’s name on the radar for the uniqueness and creativity in her design.

Her dazzling design in the hand of the finest Italian and French craftsman promises high quality and irresistible accessories.

Why we love it:

Amber Sceats’ design reflects her very own charisma and personal inspiration. Her love for accessories started at a young age and she has always used them as a way of expressing herself. Now she’s encouraging women to show their charm through her design. Her love for art, travel and architecture was engraved into every piece of jewellery produced.

We see the breath of nature in the organic texture and trace of architecture in the structure of her design. There is such a fresh love for creation from Sceats and her brand.

Every piece is delicate, sophisticated and intricate. Her appreciation for art and the reflection of it on her design give the products a contemporary and timeless sensation. Amber Sceats’s line of jewellery is not just simply accessories but really is a statement of self-expression.

Female founder:

Carla Zampatti

Story of the brand:

Carla Zampatti launched her wholesale business in 1965 in Sydney and began to display her design in her Surry Hills boutique seven years later. Coming from Italy, Zampatti had a global mindset and a keen eye for what the Australian fashion industry was missing at the time.

Over the decades, her brand grew and gained recognition in Australia and around the world. She was awarded the Australian Fashion Laureate in 2008. Carla Zampatti was an iconic fashion designer who had a clear vision for women’s empowerment through what we wear.

Why we love it:

Carla Zampatti’s vision was reflected in the fashion house’s design – women’s need and comfort in the forefront. Through their design, the brand has allowed women to feel confident and influential by power dressing.

Throughout 57 years long of operation, Carla Zampatti is able to keep its core values consistent and manifest them into every piece produced.

It is classic and elegant with the iconic clean lines and solid colours design. Though staying true to Zampatti’s vision, the brand has never stopped exploring and expanding its palette of styles.

Carla Zampatti is successful in harmonizing both timeless and trendy elements, making them relevant to women of all generations.

Female founders:

Alexandra Smart and Genevieve Smart

Story of the brand:

Ginger & Smart was founded in 2002 by two sisters Alexandra and Genevieve Smart from Sydney. The two women contributed their unique talent to their business – Alexandra with her business and publishing background and Genevieve with her designing talent.

The Smart sisters seek to produce a fashion house with quality, essentialness and uniqueness as the core value. Their vision for the brand is to empower and help women to express their individuality confidently.

They also show a genuine concern for the sustainable future of the fashion industry by the choice of materials and design.

Why we love it:

Ginger & Smart’s design has a great focus on the bold expression in silhouettes and patterns. They definitely do not shy away from maximalist fashion from the beginning, yet every item can seamlessly glide into every women’s wardrobe.

The brand is a harmonious mixture of romantic and daring, fragile and chic essence. Their collections work extendedly to multiple needs and aesthetics, from workwear to special events.

Ginger & Smart also have been famously known for the broad colour and print palettes, neutral to bright and graphic to floral.

Their garments are richly inspired by futuristic features and natural traces. The brand has brought positive energy and distinctive aesthetic to women’s wardrobe staples.

Female founder:

Sophie Holt

Story of the brand:

Founded over 80 years ago in Sydney, Oroton has made a name for itself as a brand of effortless elegance and luxury. In 2018 Sophie Holt became the brand’s creative director reinvigorating the brand with a modern take on its rich heritage.

Since leading Oroton, Holt has expanded its production to offer collections of apparel that exemplify sophisticated simplicity.

Why we love it:

Oroton offers us diversity in choice from its supple leather to fresh ready-to-wear fabrics. The Oroton identity has combined style and utility, to deliver timeless pieces that are simultaneously modern but relaxed.

Its metallic embellishments across its classic accessories have become synonymous with quality craftsmanship and impeccable design.

The Liv Small Day Bag is created from fresh white leather and its practical top handle and shoulder strap makes it’s the perfect bag to transition from day to night. Embrace Orton’s elevated design with its Madeline studs, this modern take on classic gold jewellery, will add a touch of elegance to any ensemble.

The Gathered Silk-Taffeta Maxi Dress from Oroton’s Resort 22’ collection cements its status as a brand that does it all.  This voluminous silhouette in a saccharine hue celebrates the freedom of a new season and forecasts a post-pandemic optimism.

Shop some of our favourite Oroton pieces below.

Female founder:

Rebecca Vallance

Story of the brand:

Rebecca is the talented and feminine force behind her eponymous label, launched at Paris Fashion Week in 2011. Originally hailing from the West-Victorian town of Ballarat, Vallance’s love affair with fashion can be traced back to primary school, where her Dad recalls that her obsession with runways and glossy magazines was “always a part of her.”

After studying business at Victoria Universality and soon after nabbing Toni Maticevski as a PR client of hers, Vallance set her sights on the more creative side of fashion, design.

Whilst not officially trained fashion design, Vallance’s passion for shapes and her own vision propelled her to launch her own label in London with now husband, alongside a team of patternmakers and seamstresses.

Fast forward to 2021, where Vallance brought her label back to Australian soil at the Afterpay Australia Fashion week, where she showcased her ‘Holiday’ Collection, which celebrated 10 years of Rebecca Vallance.

Why we love it:

Nobody nails feminine and fun tailoring quite like Rebecca Valance. The queen of celebrating the female form with luxurious fabrications and a colour palette to excite, each collection perfectly fuses office appropriate and elegance in a symphony of colour and accoutrements.

Most recently Vallance has introduced a resort collection which brings to market swimwear and coverups that scream Mykonos and St Tropez luxury. Available in a cohort of vacation-inducing colours and flattering styles, your next beach holiday is sorted thanks to Vallance!

Female founders:

Sami Lorking-Tanner and Evangeline Titilas

Story of the brand:

The brand for ‘it girls’, off-duty-models and fashion amateurs, With Jean makes comfortable and beautiful statement pieces for everyone.

Founded by best friends Sami Lorking-Tanner and Evangeline Titilas back in 2017, the brand quickly grew in popularity – all thanks to the internet. Debuting with a vintage inspired collection that felt equal parts Parisian and Australian summery, With Jean was the talk of the town on just about everyone’s Instagram feeds.

As of last year, the brand extended their range to include fun swimwear, complete with retro floral and newspaper prints.

The pair have continued (and we’re sure will continue) with their success by designing and “creating collections to suit our ever-evolving fashion world, we stay true to creating the pieces [that they] love and need.”

Why we love it:

Some of our favourite pieces from the last couple of years of Australian design are With Jean favourites.

Namely the original Andi Dress with its comfortable stretchy material that drapes like a dream, and the cute and colourful Cindy Corset that truly goes great with anything from a maxi skirt to a pair of trusty jeans.

Here at Monde, we’re keeping our eye on With Jean’s movements – ready to be inspired by what they create next.