marieclaire.com.au (^) | 89
CAREER
BRIGITTE MACGOWAN
AND DESLEY MAIDMENT
State of Escape
It is physically impossible to walk through Toorak or
Mosman without seeing someone carrying a State
of Escape bag. Even after seven years, the brand’s
founders Brigitte MacGowan and Desley Maidment
still get a kick seeing their bags in the wild. “We still
get such a buzz,” says Maidment, 45. “It’s a huge
compliment and one we never take for granted.”
Since taking over Australia’s most affluent
suburbs, the brand’s unique neoprene tote has also
gone global. Having partnered with international
retailers Lane Crawford, Neiman Marcus, Incu and
Bassike, State of Escape is currently stocked in Asia,
Europe and the US. Fans include style queen Olivia
Palermo, comedian Celeste Barber and Hollywood
legends Naomi Watts and Isla Fisher. Their
signature Escape bag has evolved over the years
with new styles, different colourways and even
a men’s range (sold in Japan).
Despite their world domination, State of Escape
has stayed true to who they are – and in true Aussie
style, haven’t developed a big head. “We’ve worked
very hard on the quality of the craftsmanship. We
produce each and every bag by hand to order in
Sydney; even after all these years the process has not
changed,” explains creative director MacGowan, 46.
The attention to detail is what sets the brand
apart, not to mention the product’s functionality.
“The most consistent feedback we get is from
customers saying they had no idea how much they
needed a bag like ours in their life,” says Maidment.
LIZZIE AND
GEORGIE RENKERT
We Are Kindred
Standing backstage at Mercedes-Benz Fashion
Week Australia in a flurry of hairspray, paisley
fabric and runway-ready models, Lizzie and
Georgie Renkert are pinching themselves. The
sisters, who launched the label We Are Kindred
in 2013, list fashion week as the highlight of
their year. “To see all the hard work come together
is so rewarding. Fashion week is the one time of
the year we get to show what we do in its entirety,”
says Georgie, 37, who showcased the brand’s
Boheme Heart resort 2020 collection alongside
Lizzie in May.
“The new collection uses a lot more natural
fibres, and introduces duck-egg blue, soft mustard
and paisley to our colour palette. We want to wear
all of it, which is always a good sign,” adds Lizzie,
- With its trademark floral prints and feminine
designs, We Are Kindred has become a staple on
the fashion scene and built a loyal following over the
past six years, including Aussie Insta-royalty Elyse
Knowles, Jennifer Hawkins and Erin Holland. They
have more than 58,500 Instagram followers, are
stocked in 60 retail destinations around the world
including Farfetch online, Bloomingdale’s in Dubai
and even Cherry Red in Mudgee. Their iconic Lotus
design has a constant waitlist and has been recut
every season to meet demand, in new colours and
styles. “It’s a one-of-a-kind dress, and people just fall
in love with it,” says Lizzie of the Lotus’ popularity.
As they prepare to open a store in Sydney’s
Paddington and plan their expansion into
the US, the sisters say knowing their customer
is the secret to their long-hard-slog success. “We
know who the Kindred girl is and we design with
her in mind,” explains Georgie. And those girls
just wanna have fun. “You can’t take fashion too
seriously. We want our customers to feel amazing
when they wear We Are Kindred. It’s like having a
good hair day; you’re just a nicer person,” says Lizzie.