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The blissful beaches of Byron Bay have had their turn of celebrity acolytes over the past few years. The serene beauty of the region makes it easy to see why Hollywood has gravitated towards the languid lifestyle. Yet, when a taste of the Northern Rivers may be a far stretch, one internationally lauded has garnered a reputation for bringing the decisively neutral and intentionally minimal aesthetic to the masses.
For the uninitiated, we’re referring to St. Agni. (Which is a label you should waste no time in acquainting yourself with). Each piece in the brand’s considered collections permeates with unfiltered ease and understated glamour. With a bias towards skin-sculpting silhouettes—done so in soft knits, stretched jersey and sheer cotton, the brand has become beloved the world over.
A slew of celebrity placements, including on their perennial poster girl, Kendall Jenner, has catapulted the humble design studio to a well-deserved spot in fashion’s lexicon. Now, St. Agni is cementing its status as a must-know emerging talent by expanding its offering on leading e-tailer, NET-A-PORTER.
Despite launching onto the luxury fashion online conglomerate in 2017, the label is only just now stocking an exhaustive array of apparel, including footwear. A step in the right direction, we say.
In celebration of the announcement, GRAZIA spoke with St. Agni’s co-founder and designer, Lara Fells about the label’s 2023 highlights and the sartorial staples to stock up on to see you through summer. Our conversation, ahead.
GRAZIA: Congratulations on launching into Net-A-Porter! Tell us about that journey.
LARA FELLS: Thank you so much! We have been working with Net-A-Porter since 2017 and our Resort ‘24 collection is when we expanded our offering into ready-to-wear, alongside footwear. Net-A-Porter is one of the world’s largest leading retailers with such a curated assortment of brands so it has been a huge milestone for St. Agni to be a part of this.
GRAZIA: The announcement is an exciting way to end 2023. Talk us through the year’s highlights as a brand.
LF: 2023 has been an amazing year for St. Agni. We showcased our Resort 24 collection at Afterpay Australia Fashion Week earlier this year, which was our third Australian show to date. We’re also finishing the year strong and expanding our domestic retail footprint by opening two new domestic doors before Christmas.
This year, as always, we have really focussed on refining everything that we do and this will continue to be a focus for the entire team as we enter the new year.
GRAZIA: St. Agni has played an important part in reviving 90s minimalism and supermodel off-duty style. How will the brand evolve in 2024?
LF: We have been working on some very exciting projects for 2024, and our first collection of the year will experiment with elements of colour, which is an evolution for St. Agni.
90s details will remain prevalent through our collections, as our design studio is influenced by this era and exploring ways it can intertwine with the relaxed Australian lifestyle, bringing a Resort feel. Wardrobing for us is essential and we’re excited to continue expanding into new categories.
GRAZIA: Selling on Net-A-Porter feels like bringing a piece of Byron Bay to the world. Why do you think there’s such an appetite for the Australian aesthetic?
LF: I totally agree with you! More Australian brands are being recognised globally and I truly believe this is because the designs are underpinned by a relaxed Australian feel, which is so sought after.
GRAZIA: For new customers, what pieces make the perfect St. Agni capsule wardrobe?
LF: For me, it’s always tailored pants, I am wearing the 90s Panelled Pants on repeat, a classic versatile blazer (Belt Detail Blazer), a basic tank, go-to sandals (Mio Slide) and a little black dress to wear from day to night (Linen Square Neck Mini Dress).
GRAZIA: What products are on your festive wish list from Net-A-Porter?
LF: The perfect post-beach or bath robe, a LOEWE candle and a sculptural piece for the home (or studio!)
