This just in! St. Agni is one of the newest brands to land at LVRSustainable. Founded in 2014 by Lara and Matt Fells, St. Agni has evolved from solely hand-woven leather accessories to an extensive ready-to-wear selection. For the last eight years, they’ve continuously proven that less is, in fact, more by keeping versatility and longevity at the forefront of any piece they produce. St. Agni only creates designs that are made to last, valuing fair treatment of people and the environment. Get to know more about St. Agni and their latest Resort 23 collection as we ask the owner, designer, and founder Lara Fells a few questions.
How was the idea to create the St. Agni brand conceived?
My partner and I started St. Agni from very humble beginnings. Initially, we started with leather handbags sourced from around the world before we organically expanded to include footwear and ready-to-wear categories.
Our idea was to create pieces without excess, at the time of our launch, embellishment was a trend focus in the market, so I guess we kind of took the opposite approach and really stripped things back.
Can you explain St. Agni’s approach and commitment to sustainability?
Transparency is key.
On our website, we ensure that every garment and St. Agni piece is clearly detailed- what it’s made of; where it’s made; certifications of both fabric and manufacturing partner, are always readily accessible to any consumer ensuring responsibility and accountability.
We carefully consider both the environmental, social, and economic impacts that our business has on the world that we live in. Our pieces are designed to become permanent fixtures within your wardrobe, made to last.
As a brand, we hold a social responsibility to promote slower consumption habits, we carefully analyze the demand of our product, only ordering to meet this supply to keep our stock levels at a minimum.
Material sourcing and the province of our textiles is of utmost importance to us. We carefully consider the impact on the environment and select natural materials that are easily broken down, avoiding the use of synthetics where possible, only using them when the integrity of the garment requires it. We are making a commitment to improve traceability on the fabrics we use, prioritizing yarns that are not only natural but hold a recognized certification. We also ensure the mill where the yarn is woven has a social accountability certification.
Traceability in our supply chain is a big step for us and something we are working towards across our entire supply chain, from start to finish. It is a priority for our team to ensure ethical working conditions across all touch points of the business, meeting industry certifications and agreeing to our Code of Conduct.
What advice could you give to people who want to have a more sustainable wardrobe?
I think focusing on investing in pieces you that you really love, timeless pieces that you know you will want to wear for a long time, that also work with what you already have. It’s important to consider what materials are used and their impact on the environment and to also assure you aren’t overconsuming.
What are your sustainable production goals for the future?
We are always revising this and looking for ways we can improve and do better. The intermediate to long-term goal for the brand is to have a circular ‘Buy Back’ Program in order to close the loop. As a brand, we aim to have 100% natural fabrications in our ready-to-wear garments. Our priority has always been natural fabrics, while more recently exploring certified recycled synthetics.
What were some of your main inspirations behind the new Resort 23 collection?
The collection is inspired by the minimalism of the 90s, with clean lines taking on a new feeling of sensuality, that embraces sophistication. It’s edgier than our previous collections, with waistlines that dip below the hip and cut-outs that reveal hints of skin.
What are some of the hottest trends you’re loving right now?
I’m really enjoying the 90s minimalism trends that are coming through – the use of transparency, low waists, oversized tailoring and lingerie details. There is a nod to sensuality we’re seeing at the moment, and I’m really interested in exploring this further, and seeing how we can keep that sensuality but make it elevated through a St. Agni lens.
