Designer Sallyanne Astill faced unprecedented challenges as she developed a third collection for her womenswear label Astille.
The Queensland-based designer said she has been forced to re-evaluate multiple areas of her business.
“I’ve been utilising this time to re-evaluate my production chain in terms of needs rather than wants for the label to minimise financial stress moving forward."
Facing challenges that don’t affect fast fashion as severely as it does small businesses, Astill has been extra cautious in her decision making at this time.
Using her business knowledge developed from her master’s in business administration, she has slowed production of Astille, decreasing the number of fabrics she orders to shift manufacturing to an almost made to order structure.
This prompted her to make the difficult decision to release just one collection this year.
In light of the global challenges the virus has unleashed, Astill now endeavours to have a solely Australian made and organised manufacturing structure in the future, admitting herself that “you pay more to gain more”.
While making these difficult business decisions, she has still managed to engage in the creative process of designing her Casablanca collection.
Astill hasn’t always been working as a fashion creative.
She spent 25 years in the software industry before studying branded fashion at Torrens University.
Astill entered an outfit from her class into the natural fibres category of the Brisbane Ekka that earned several compliments from fashion director Laura Churchill and other local store owners.
In 2019, Astill was invited to show her collection “Rodin’s Garden” at Mercedes Benz Fashion Festival and won her the attention of the press and influencers, notably, fashion editor and stylist Annabel Falco of Qweekend.
Set to launch this September, the Casablanca collection features flowing dresses, loosely structured boiler suits, and silk blouses effortlessly merge with wearers' existing pieces.