Witchery will launch its next designer collaboration ‘Towards a Sustainable Future’ in early November, partnering with Australian sustainable fashion label KITX by Kit Willow.
The new collection utilises Willow’s experience in sustainability, bringing naturally derived fabrications such as hemp and cotton. According to the Department of Primary Industries (DPI), hemp requires less irrigation water and use of agricultural chemicals than other fibre crops.
The collection also continues Witchery's investment in Better Cotton, which the brand said is sourced through a system of mass balance and is not physically traceable to end products.
Speaking on the collaboration, Witchery MD Simon Schofield said KIt Willow has been on the brand’s radar for quite a while.
“Kit's been on our shortlist from the very beginning when we started to think about looking at collaboration seriously,” Schofield said. “So the design team made a shortlist of all the people that they admired, and Kit's name was on there right from the outset.
“We tried to look for people where there was a synergy in aesthetic between their brand and Witchery to make that kind of collaboration. And I think that sophisticated sexiness I think that Kit brings particularly to our resort collections really spoke to us as a Witchery brand.”
Schofield also noted Kit’s sustainable designing, which he said was another reason for the collaboration.
“We're at the beginning of our journey, both as a brand and probably as part of a bigger group,” Schofield said. “So it was really exciting for the design team to spend time with Kit to really speak and absorb all of that from her.
“Our design team have completely immersed themselves in the world of KITX and have loved learning from Kit to produce a collection that is on-trend and continues Witchery’s journey to integrating more sustainable design practices into our business.”
Willow also spoke on the collaboration, where she outlined the key stages in the 18-month collaboration. This started with understanding scope and engaging with Witchery’s sustainability team, which led to an “inspiration” dossier, “to then illustrating designs and briefing our pattern maker and toiling first sets in house at KITX atelier.”
“Once we had toiles, we then fitted within the Witchery head quarters over 5 to 6 fit sessions until we were happy,” she said.
“I really enjoyed working with the Witchery team and found them to be really open to introducing new processes, particularly when it came to sustainability, which is extremely important to me.”
Willow noted that her two greatest goals are to both empower women through the clothes they wear and to influence the fashion industry to create more consciously.
“Our collaboration with Witchery is an exercise into achieving just that,” she said.
“Together we have created a collection of timeless, chic designs to last many lifetimes and we have considered the environmental impact of the materials in this collection.”
The new range includes functional designs through Kit’s attention to detail, including corsetry, bias cut panels and flexible belt detailing.
Corozo Nut Buttons were used in the detailing of select styles; Corozo is the fruit seed of the Tagua Palm. Being a natural material, the buttons are biodegradable.
The collection also features undyed cotton care labels and garment hanging tape, zippers made with recycled material, as well as swing tickets made from 100% recycled card.
Launching as part of Witchery’s SS22 campaign, the 25-piece collection includes dresses, jumpsuits, skirts, pants and tops as well as a silk scarf featured in the collection’s ocelot print and a gladiator style high-heel arriving in two colourways.
The Witchery x KITX Capsule Collection will be available online and in-store, and at select David Jones concession pads from November 4.