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SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA: A few kilometres away from KitX’s two-storey, sandstone studio and atelier on Oxford Street, the sustainable luxury fashion brand’s founder Kit Willow takes to the podium at the Sydney Opera House’s Bennelong restaurant to accept the award for the “Sustainable Designer of the Year” at the 2023 Australian Fashion Laureate.
Anyone who knows Willow’s work will know that industry recognition by her peers is not a measure of her success. Nor, is it a validation of her dedication and covenant to making sustainable fashion a luxury commodity.
Long before the phrases ‘supply chain visibility’ or ‘circular economy’ became a regular in our lexicon, Willow has been championing—and realising—luxurious design-centric fashion within a considered, transparent and circular framework.
But, here at the 16th Australian Fashion Laureate Awards, Willow’s ambition does not only feel palpable, but one that resonates with the industry as a whole. ‘No more excuses’ is the sentiment discerned around the room, as the extent of KitX’s sustainable practices are articulated to the legions of Australian fashion creatives, dignitaries and leaders gathered under the sailed roof of Sydney’s harbour marvel.
For the uninitiated, KitX’s eight-year existence has rejected the (now outdated) doctrine that sustainable clothing must compromise on style. Their mission is three-fold; rewild, renew and rehome. Consciously sourced materials, obtained either from enterprises practising regenerative farming processes or recycled textile waste, are then crafted into flattering, feminine silhouettes underpinned by a sensual edge.
Yet, taking it one step further KitX has introduced a solution to increase circularity through its KitXchange initiative: a marketplace-style program for pre-loved KitX pieces to be purchased or sold.
With Willow herself the ultimate testament to the power of longevity in sustainable fashion. It’s an ethos embedded into the very fabric of the brand, with the ‘X’ in KitX representing the future. This award may be one of recognition, but it’s also proof of the marathon Willow ran to encourage the industry to genuinely upheave and rewrite outdated processes.
“Fashion is a tough road,” Willow said in her acceptance speech. “But, it’s a very exciting one… and to come back a second time [the designer is previously designed under the label Willow] with the sole purpose of creating with a conscious vision where we do make change and being able to make that happen is the only reason why I’ve done label #2.”
The Australian fashion industry mightn’t be there yet as a collective, but if we follow the path paved by the “Sustainable Brand of the Year” incumbent, we may be close, soon.
After the event, Willow sat down with GRAZIA to discuss the steps we need to walk together to ensure a sustainable industry, the significance of the award, and why the path we must walk to reach the future of conscious fashion is long, winding, yet within reach.
GRAZIA: What does it mean to be recognised as an industry leader by your peers?
Kit Willow: Feels like a big hug of support and acknowledgement, I am extremely grateful by the industries recognition, as sustainability and carving a new model to prove conscious creation is a viable business has been my goal and I’m very grateful for the people who have contributed and believed in supporting this vision and execution
GRAZIA: Sustainability has been a pillar of your brand since its inception, how does it feel to have consciously made clothing become so prevalent?
Willow: If I have played some small role in this movement then I feel extremely proud and this was one of the goals in starting KITX, to inspire change we need to see in fashion.
GRAZIA: Luxury and sustainability are the DNA of KITX. What do you have to say to naysayers who don’t believe these two things can co-exist?
How can it be luxurious to poison drinking water and soil health and add to the ever-increasing synthetic fibre landfill? To me luxury is about considered creation from soil to farmers to the feeling on the skin we wear, so everyone wins and in turn, we lengthen to respect and love the garments we wear
GRAZIA: KITXCHANGE encourages a circular model of fashion, one inherently more sustainable than just adapting your supply chain. What other measures do the Australian fashion industry need to encourage as a whole to be more inherently sustainable?
Willow: One very simple silver bullet is to say no to virgin nylon and polyester, as its basically fossil fuel fashion accelerating carbon emissions, when washed releases micro fibres into water ways hurting marine life and never breaks down when discarded. Furthermore, closing the loop on circular fashion and sourcing material from discarded fashion
GRAZIA: What do you hope to leave your consumer with through your clothing?
Willow: Pieces she loves to wear and be empowered in and feel feminine and chic and ease of wear and care to encourage high-frequency wear and love
GRAZIA: The X in your brand name represents the future; are we there yet?
Willow: Nowhere near, a huge opportunity exists in supporting solutions that bridge the circular gap, where virgin nylon and polyester become as expensive to the pocket as they do to the planet and landfill does not include fashion waste at the rates we’ve seen in the last 20 years.
Check out our other interviews with the winners from the 2023 Australian Fashion Laureate.
