Journal
Hello We Miss You (but we can still hook up)
Well, it's been a couple of weeks of settling in to this new life and I think most of us are starting to get the hang of it.
Sure it's weird but as it turns out, we are strong and optimistic.
As you probably know, we have temporarily closed both of our physical stores a couple of weeks ago ahead of the nation wide shut down, to protect our staff and community.
You've been ordering (thank you!) and we've been working on a system to keep Arnsdorf running in this new environment. We feel energised by our brand missionwhich could never have meant more!
Introducing...
Virtual Appointments!
Our situations may have changed but we haven't given up on feeling and looking the best that we can. We owe it to ourselves.
We are excited to announce the introduction of Virtual Appointments!
Make a time to chat to one our experienced stylists about anything Arnsdorf related.
It's a 15 minute hook up via FaceTime:)
Maybe you have a question about the fabric or fit of a particular style?
Maybe you would like some styling tips on an Arnsdorf piece you already have in your wardrobe?
We'd love to see you!
New! The Pia Tank
The Pia Tank is a new style cut from our much loved Japanese organic cotton rib.
If you have one of our styes in this fabric, you will know how comfortable and easy they are to wash and wear.
Make this your new WFH top worn as is, or layered as a vest over one of our Merino styles.
We make each piece in our Ethical Clothing Australia certified factory located in Melbourne. Each garment is sewn by one of our incredible machinists that have over 20 years industry experience.
Tell us your WFH secrets;)
The Arnsdorf Team reveal their personal tips on how to work from home in style and comfort while staying healthy, sane and engaged.
Jade Sarita Arnott
@jadesaritaarnott
Founder, Creative Director/Designer of Arnsdorf
What are you doing to stay active?
I’ve been trying out new yoga and pilates workouts at home, currently doing kundalini yoga with Kimilla I’m on day 1 of her 10 day transformation program. I also signed up to Fluidform pilates at home. I’m trying to use this time at home to get into routines of being more active everyday than I usually would. I’m also jumping on the trampoline and playing tag with my 2 kids and playing the Homecourt basketball app with them. I’ve been enjoying walks around my streets and in nature when I get the chance.
Are you reading a great book or do you have a favourite podcast?
I’m halfway through Three Women by Lisa Taddeo, which I started reading over the summer holidays and was really enjoying, I find it hard to carve out time to read a book when I’m not away on holidays, between fitting in work and having the kids here 24/7 but that will be my next goal to get back in to it. I have been reading to the kids a lot and just finished The Midnight Gang by David Walliams which I enjoyed and so did my 6 year old daughter. I chop and change podcasts depending on what I feel like listening to but if I’m cooking alone I find it’s a good time to listen to one.
What about food. Are you cooking or are you addicted to a particular snack at the moment?
I’m cooking a lot, mainly pasta, Japanese curry, mexican or soup. I have also been quite into making these gf/vegan brownies.
Are you motivated to 'dress' for the day or are you repeating outfits? What are your go-to pieces?
Each day feels a little different in terms of getting dressed depending on the weather and if I have any Zoom meetings. Last week I talked at the Legacy Summit via zoom and put on the Blanca Blouse and some lipstick which made me feel brighter. This week I had a FaceTime photoshoot for Harper's Bazaar which was interesting, so I put on Suit Trousers, the Prudence Shirt and the Celeste Blazer. The rest of the time I’ve been enjoying being comfortable and cosy, I’ve been wearing the Nora Skirt a lot and my merino rib skivvies.
Have you been pleasantly surprised by engaging in something you normally wouldn't?
I think generally just slowing down and prioritising things I’ve been meaning to for a while like meditating. Also staying more connected to friends through Whatsapp groups.
What songs are you really feeling right now?
Go to my Spotify playlist here.
Stay well, from all of us at Arnsdorf X
March With Us
On Friday, September 20th, the world marches for climate action. All ages, colors, shapes and sizes standing as one in the defense of our planet. As a company founded on ethics and sustainability, we call upon you, our community of fellow change makers, to join us at the march. Standing together side by side and taking steps towards a better world we know we can make a difference, not only on Friday, but all days.
In Melbourne, the climate strike begins on Friday at 2pm in Treasury Gardens. Whether you're attending alone or with a group, have the day off work or are sneaking out of the office, we invite you to march with us, the Arnsdorf team. If you're not in Melbourne, we encourage you to find and participate in a strike near you.
A color representative of so much life and beauty on earth, we'll all be wearing green for the strike, and we welcome you to do the same. Meet us by the fountains of St. Patrick's Cathedral on Albert Street at 1:45pm. Let's stand up for what matters, together.
Not Just For Hippies
Hemp is an obvious choice for Arnsdorf due to the low environmental impact it has throughout the cultivation process. We use hemp across a range of different styles including our Margot Skirt, Mira Trousers and Sigrid Dress. We'll be introducing a variety of hemp blends over the coming months with some of our core pieces being updated with a hemp, cotton and spandex blend. It provides a good weight that holds shape and also has that bit of stretch for comfort.
Our Open Letter of Thanks
In the last days and hours of 2018, we’ve been reflecting on the year that was and we are now excitedly anticipating the new year.
Vogue Australia's Guide to Sustainable Fashion
A letter from our designer, Jade Sarita Arnott.
To our community of women,
The Rana Plaza collapse in Bangladesh, which claimed 1,138 lives and injured 2500 more due to unsafe working conditions had a big impact on me personally. It happened 5 years ago today when I was living in New York and still during my time away from the industry. The devastation of the tragedy and enormity of it sent shockwaves across the globe. It was at that moment I decided if I was ever to be part of the industry I had walked away from it would mean I would need to have full transparency and control over the working conditions of the people involved in making my designs. From this realisation came the foundations of what would be the relaunch of Arnsdorf, in which we decided we would not outsource our ethics, but instead bring the manufacturing process in-house. We decided not only to show you ‘who made your clothes’ during Fashion Revolution week (which is such an incredible initiative that we are proud to be a part of) but to always provide you with this information for each and every garment we make. We also decided to provide you with full transparency of the labor and material costs for each garment as well as the entire supply chain, including where our materials are sourced from. A year ago we were working on the samples for the first release collection. The team consisted of myself and Gemma Cahill, who I employed 2 days a week to sew the samples in our tiny garage studio in Keele St, Collingwood. We had one industrial straight stitch, a cover stitch machine, buttonhole machine and overlocker machine. I did all the cutting by hand while Gemma sewed the pieces together as we listened to endless podcasts. One year on Gemma and I both work 5 days a week in the factory which is now 4 times the size and in Easey Street, Collingwood. Gemma is now our Production Manager and we are joined by our fellow team of machinists Annie, Thi and Thi Ca and will soon include an in-house cutter. We now have 4 straight stitch machines and a keyhole button machine and an industrial sized cutting table and electric cutter.
Although we have grown considerably in the last year we remain a tight knit team. We enjoy each other's company and share knowledge on a professional level, as well as snippets of our personal lives. I feel so honoured and grateful to know and work alongside these incredible women daily. Together we are part of this fashion revolution that is beginning throughout the world. We are at a turning point in history, where each of us individually as well as collectively are deciding what type of world we want to live in. Is a $5 t-shirt more important than the safety of the lives of those who are working to produce it? In Bangladesh garment workers are paid as little as 43 cents an hour for 12-14 hour days, 7 days a week. In our factory in Melbourne, our machinists receive above the award and the same wages as other skilled workers in Australia. I want to thank you for all of your support over this last year of our relaunch. It is because of your ongoing support that we can provide our workers with a safe and happy environment in which they are respected and appreciated while doing meaningful work. They are part of the bigger vision of transforming this industry and preserving the craftsmanship and skills of this art. Thank you for valuing the quality and care in which we create each one of your products. We are in the final stages of our Ethical Textiles Clothing Australia certification, and look forward to what the next year holds.
Best,
Jade Sarita Arnott
Arnsdorf founder and designer