Esse Studios

What Esse Studios does

Esse Studios (ESSE Studios Pty Ltd) is a privately held Australian contemporary ready-to-wear fashion brand headquartered in Sydney, founded by Charlotte Hicks, who serves as Founder and Creative Director. The company designs, produces and sells women's clothing and accessories organised into bi-annual curated capsule drops called "Editions" — 14 Editions have been released to date — targeting "conscious luxury seekers" who prioritise sustainability, longevity and locally-made provenance over trend-driven consumption. Product range spans AUD $160 entry pieces through to AUD $4,490 investment outerwear, alongside accessories (scarves, bandanas, scrunchies) and gift cards in $100-$500 AUD denominations. The technical foundation is a standard Shopify e-commerce storefront with Google Analytics instrumentation; no proprietary platform, AI features, or advanced data systems are disclosed.

The business operates a hybrid go-to-market model. Direct-to-consumer revenue is generated through Shopify-powered online sales, periodic promotions (including 40% Black Friday discounting), and gift cards. Wholesale revenue flows through a selective network of 15+ premium global retailers, including Net-a-Porter, SSENSE, Harrods, Bergdorf Goodman, Harvey Nichols, Browns Fashion, and OUNASS in the UAE. A rental channel was added via a partnership with RNTR (2022), opening a circular-fashion revenue line without incremental production.

Manufacturing and supply chain are highly localised. 98% of garments are produced in Sydney by a network of more than 10 specialty makers, with key fabric sourcing from a 90-year-old family-operated Melbourne mill; 95% of fabrics are certified to recognised sustainability standards. The brand has pursued B-Corp certification since 2022 and has run a mentorship partnership with Indigenous Fashion Projects since 2020. The company operates with 1-10 employees, has not disclosed any external funding rounds, and remains entirely founder-led and self-capitalised.

Name

Esse Studios

Legal name

Esse Studios Pty Ltd

Website

https://essestudios.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Esse Studios is a privately held Australian contemporary womenswear brand that designs and sells clothing and accessories through bi-annual capsule "Editions" via Shopify-powered DTC e-commerce and a wholesale network of 15+ premium global retailers including Net-a-Porter and Harrods.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Women's Ready-to-Wear Apparel

NAICS

Apparel Manufacturing (315), Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers (458110), Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing (except Contractors) (31525)

SIC

Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300), Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600), Retail-Women's Clothing Stores (5621)

akta.pro primary industry

Luxury & Couture / Small-Batch Cut & Sew (IMAOAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Women’s Apparel Retail (CRAAABAB), Tops & Shirts Cut & Sew (T-Shirts/Shirts/Blouses) (IMAOAEAE), Dresses, Skirts & Tailored Apparel Cut & Sew (Suits/Formalwear) (IMAOAEAF), Outerwear & Cold-Weather Apparel Manufacturers (CRAAAAAI)

Keywords

• Ready-to-wear clothing
• Women's fashion design
• Slow fashion brand
• Capsule collection releases
• Locally manufactured apparel

Headquarters

HQ city

Sydney

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Direct Product Sales (DTC): Esse Studios generates revenue through direct-to-consumer sales of its ready-to-wear clothing and accessories via its owned e-commerce store. Products are priced from $160 to over $4,000, covering categories including dresses, tops, knitwear, trousers, skirts, blazers, jackets, coats, and accessories.
2. Wholesale / Multi-Channel Distribution: Revenue is generated through wholesale relationships with global premium retailers including Net-a-Porter, Harrods, Bergdorf Goodman, SSENSE, Harvey Nichols, and regional boutiques across Australia, US, UK, Europe, and Middle East. The brand supplies its Editions to these retailers at wholesale terms.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Esse Studios designs, manufactures, and sells contemporary women's ready-to-wear clothing and accessories (coats, blazers, jackets, dresses, tops, knitwear, trousers, skirts, shorts, scarves, jewelry) released in curated bi-annual capsule "Editions." Approximately 98% of garments are manufactured locally in Sydney by over 10 specialty makers, and the brand sells through its own e-commerce store as well as wholesale to premium global retailers.

Product overview

Esse Studios is a contemporary Australian ready-to-wear lifestyle brand offering slow-release seasonal Editions of women's clothing and accessories. The core product portfolio includes dresses (cinca maxi dress, solos dress, nix leather dress, eros fringe dress, vada dress, ryia maxi dress, tove dress, lume dress, cinca halter dress, portia strapless dress, mila dress, cinca crew dress), tops and blouses (organza shirt, tux scarf shirt, lume scarf shirt, cartia wrap top, cinca crew top, varsha lace top, her tee, omnia tank top, nix leather pullover, solos top, aire top), blazers and jackets (alessio blazer, portia duo blazer, modus stripe blazer, alto jacket, synca jacket, classico extend blazer), trousers and shorts (cinch trouser, alto trouser, alessio trouser, portia duo trouser, luki wide leg pants, modus band trouser, meki cocoon jeans, mono shorts, finesa tailored shorts), skirts (solina drape skirt, solos skirt, aria skirt), coats and outerwear (lecca coat, taro trench, bocla teddy coat), knitwear (ria turtleneck, knit tube top, knit high waisted brief), and accessories (cinca fringe necklace, cartia fringe scarf, illi neck tie, gift cards). Products range from accessible basics ($160 for tank tops) to investment pieces ($4,490 for the lecca coat), organized into seasonal Editions including Edition Nine and Edition No.14, plus the AFW Runway collection presented at Australian Fashion Week 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ESSE Edition No.14 Bi-annual capsule release of women's ready-to-wear garments and accessories designed as timeless wardrobe essentials, produced in limited volumes with pieces only recut when guaranteed sell-through is warranted.
• ESSE Edition Nine Seasonal edition release featuring knitwear basics and essential wardrobe pieces designed as future heirlooms to be passed on.
• AFW Runway 2026 Collection Australian Fashion Week 2026 runway collection of 28+ ready-to-wear looks (coats, blazers, trousers, dresses, tops, accessories) revealed and released simultaneously at the MCA, Sydney.
• Bocla Teddy Coat Collarless teddy coat crafted in a rich, textured boucle wool blend with concealed side pockets, priced at $990 AUD.
• Ria Turtleneck Merino wool turtleneck sweater with relaxed slim fit and dramatic high turtleneck, priced at $490 AUD.
• Synca Jacket Sleek, transeasonal faux-leather jacket with drawcord waist and rib-knit neckline, priced at $890 AUD.
• Classico Extend Blazer Longline single-breasted blazer with sculptural peak lapels and signature ESSE pocket detailing, priced at $1,250 AUD.
• Lecca Coat Premium outerwear coat featured in the AFW Runway 2026 collection, priced at $4,490 AUD.
• Nix Leather Dress Leather dress featured in the AFW Runway 2026 collection, priced at $1,790 AUD.
• Cinca Maxi Dress Maxi dress from the AFW Runway 2026 collection, priced at $1,550 AUD.
• Alto Jacket Jacket from the AFW Runway 2026 collection, priced at $1,490 AUD.
• Solos Dress Dress from the AFW Runway 2026 collection, priced at $1,890 AUD.
• Alessio Blazer Blazer from the AFW Runway 2026 collection, priced at $1,190 AUD.
• Cinch Trouser Black cinch trouser from the AFW Runway 2026 collection, priced at $640 AUD.
• Alto Trouser Trouser from the AFW Runway 2026 collection, priced at $1,290 AUD.
• Luki Wide Leg Pants Wide leg pants from the AFW Runway 2026 collection, priced at $750 AUD.
• Solina Drape Skirt Drape skirt from the AFW Runway 2026 collection, priced at $375 AUD.
• Omnia Tank Top Tank top from the AFW Runway 2026 collection, priced at $160 AUD.
• Her Tee Tee from the AFW Runway 2026 collection, priced at $180 AUD.
• Cartia Wrap Top Wrap top available in oyster and black colorways, priced at $295 AUD.
• Cinca Fringe Necklace Fringe necklace accessory from the AFW Runway 2026 collection, priced at $650 AUD.
• ESSE Gift Cards

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% of garments made locally in Sydney, Australia by over 10 specialty makers
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RNTRcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with rental platform RNTR enables ESSE customers to rent pieces from the brand's collection. This supports the circular economy initiative and provides an alternative access model for the ESSE wardrobe.
• Indigenous Fashion Projects (IFP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 2020, founder Charlotte partnered with Indigenous Fashion Projects (IFP), where she mentors First Nations designers as part of the brand's social initiatives and commitment to inclusion and giving back.
• ShopifycoreTechnology or IntegrationESSE's online store is powered by Shopify, which provides the e-commerce platform enabling product sales, payment processing, and order management.
• Hero PackagingminorOthersHero Packaging provides home compostable satchels for shipping, supporting ESSE's sustainable packaging initiatives.
• Pack QueenminorOthersPack Queen supplies fully recyclable boxes for ESSE's packaging needs, supporting the brand's environmental responsibility goals.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Ginger & Smart: Australian contemporary womenswear brand focusing on occasion-driven, feminine ready-to-wear available through premium Australian and international stockists. Comparable to ESSE on product mix and target customer.
• Sleeper: Sustainable sleepwear and ready-to-wear brand with a similar conscious-luxury positioning and stockist presence in premium retailers. Comparable to ESSE on sustainability narrative and selective distribution.
• C/MEO Collective: Australian contemporary womenswear brand with seasonal capsule drops and global wholesale. Comparable to ESSE on product category, Australian origin, and limited-edition release model, but at a lower price tier.

Direct peers

• Khaite: US-based contemporary luxury womenswear brand with strong wholesale at Bergdorf Goodman, Net-a-Porter and SSENSE and a focus on elevated everyday pieces. Highly comparable to ESSE on customer base, channel mix, and aesthetic positioning.
• Toteme: Swedish minimalist luxury label with capsule-style seasonal drops and global premium distribution. Directly comparable to ESSE on slow-release model, minimalist aesthetic, and international wholesale presence.
• Aje: Australian contemporary luxury womenswear brand selling structured ready-to-wear at premium price points through global department stores and its own DTC channel — directly comparable to ESSE on product category, price architecture, and distribution strategy.
• Scanlan Theodore: Australian luxury womenswear brand with a vertically integrated, design-led model and a global wholesale footprint. Highly comparable to ESSE on customer profile, premium positioning, and capsule-style seasonal releases.
• Bianca Spender: Australian contemporary luxury label known for tailored ready-to-wear and special-occasion pieces sold through premium department stores globally. Comparable to ESSE on occasion-driven product mix and price tier.

Broad incumbents

• The Row: Established American luxury minimalist brand selling at Bergdorf Goodman, Net-a-Porter, and its own flagship channels. Comparable to ESSE on aesthetic and minimal-luxury positioning, but at a higher price and scale tier.
• COS: H&M-owned minimalist apparel brand with global store footprint and a similar season-transcending design philosophy. Comparable to ESSE on aesthetic and store-channel reach, but operates at a much larger scale and mass-premium price tier.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/esse-studios

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Esse Studios