Making a sustainably-conscious foray into the fashion industry is no mean feat. But, with the volley of do-good designs and admirable ethics woven into the very fabric of ZURII, Patrice Gibbons is a woman who has achieved just that.
The pillars of ZURII are longevity and luxury, two key facets in many of our most-cherished leather goods. Railing behind the slow fashion movement, Patrice has ensured ZURII stands as a sustainable and ethical adornment to the sartorial scene, with a bi-continental edge. We’re contemplating human-pretzeling ourselves into one of Patrice’s weekender bags on her next stint to Spain – that is, where these accessories are brought to life in a family-run atelier after their Australian inception.
We chat to Patrice over sangrias and sexy spaniards* on everything ZURII, revolutionising fashion and a jet-setting lifestyle…
*didn’t really happen, but one can dream.
For those who haven’t seen your accessories, how would you describe ZURII’s overarching aesthetic?
Our aesthetic is best described as classic, understated glamour. Our pieces feature sculptured, architectural lines and modern shapes, with butter soft hides in classic tones. In three words, classic, elegant, chic.
Building a fashion empire doesn’t happen overnight. Run us through the story of ZURII’s inception…
ZURII was born out of my frustration at not being able to find the perfect handbag. I knew exactly what I wanted, but I couldn’t find it anywhere. It had to be luxurious, well-made, leather, high quality, all of the obvious things. But I also wanted to it to be ethically-made. Knowing who made my bag and that they had good working conditions and were well paid, was really important to me. On top of that I wanted the brand to have a giving back component. If I was spending good money on a bag I wanted that purchase to also be making a positive impact in the world. Basically I wanted a Gucci bag with a Thank You Water story.
Despite searching high and low, I couldn’t find a bag that met all three criteria.
One or two, yes, but not all three. In a moment of madness I decided to create it.
What other brands/designers have you looked up to or drawn inspiration from throughout the process of crafting ZURII?
Thank You is one brand I am constantly impressed with in terms of the way they have incorporated their socially responsible ethos into the brand. From a fashion perspective, I love Outland Denim as a stand out slow fashion label and on the other end of the spectrum, everything about the classic style of Givenchy.
How does ZURII stand as a proponent to slow fashion?
ZURII is built on the understanding that good things take time, wine, food, careers…and leather goods. That means limited edition collections, so there is no excess stock that ends up in landfill. Each piece is handcrafted by a small team of artisans we work closely with. We take pride in having full visibility of our supply chain.
Slow fashion is in our DNA because right from the start my focus has been to create beautiful pieces that also make a positive impact in the world. Two birds.
One stone.
In your opinion, what does the Australian fashion industry need to do in order to create a more sustainably conscious sartorial playing field?
I would really like to see the conversation around ethical fashion move forward from a discussion focused largely on the environmental impact of fashion, to include the human impact. As a consumer I want to hear labels talking openly about who makes their pieces and the conditions they operate in. Do they have a safe working environment? Are they paid a living wage? It’s a conversation we need to have. Why? Because if something looks too good (read cheap) to be true, it usually is. Someone, somewhere is paying the price and it’s almost always the worker at the bottom of the supply chain who can least afford it. Right now it can be hard to know if a brand you love is ethical. It’s easiest to assume if they are not shouting about it, they aren’t. I’d like to see a playing field focused on visibility and clarity.
We can imagine it would be like choosing between children, but what is your favourite piece from ZURII’s current collection and why?
You’re right it’s tough to pick a favourite. I love different pieces for different occasions. For example I adore The London Weekender as my carry-on luggage and I use the Paris Petite Pouch everyday when I’m running out for a coffee and just want to take the essentials (card, phone keys).
But if I have to choose one, it’s the Manhattan Clutch. Why? It’s the combination of style and functionality in one piece. I love that I can keep my phone in the external pocket under the flap, which saves constantly going in and out of the main part of the clutch. The detachable wristlet and shoulder strap also make it really versatile. I call it my dinner to dance floor bag. Stylish and chic in a wine bar at the start of the night. By the end of the night I’ve always snuck the shoulder strap out so I have two hands free for dancing. There you go…a very personal reason why it’s my favourite!
How large is the team behind ZURII?
We are a small team bringing a big dream to life.
Your bags are handcrafted in a family-run atelier in Southern Spain. What kind of effect does this have on the feel and quality of ZURII accessories?
It means we can put a very high level of care and attention to detail into every piece. Multiple pairs of hands add their skill and years of experience into each piece as it comes to life. When you pick up a ZURII piece you can see this quality and detail straight away, and we are very proud of that. We also use the highest quality leather hides to continue the well-made, luxurious feel that is synonymous with a ZURII piece.
Do you often travel between Australia and Spain? Which country holds your heart?
Yes, I’m a big believer in touch and feel, so for me it was really important to be in Spain to choose each colour, the hides, the zips, the lining, and everything else that went into the Estilo collection. Each collection takes multiple trips to bring to life.
As a passionate traveller, I wouldn’t say one country holds my heart. It’s actually my passport that does. It’s the adventure of travelling that I love the most.
What do the fashion arenas in Australia and Spain have in common? And how do they diverge?
I’m constantly amazed by the wide array of fashion you can find no matter where you are. For me, Sydney is all about colour, while Melbourne is classic neutrals. I find Barcelona more akin to Sydney and Madrid more like Melbourne. But there is variety and individuality in every city. My favourite thing about European fashion is how far ahead it is of our colours and styles. My last shopping trip in Spain felt like a sneak peek into the year ahead. I remember the first time I saw the shade of pale pink in our Manhattan Clutch. I was everywhere then and it’s only just reaching us now.
Where can we find you on your ideal ‘day off’? (If there’s such a thing)
Somewhere that required a passport to get there! My ideal day off involves laying by crystal blue water, reading a book or a newspaper and sipping a cocktail. Oh, that sounds like heaven.
How would you suggest for budding fashion designers or students to get involved in the slow fashion movement?
Get curious. Start asking questions about your favourite brands and educate yourself. The more you actively look for brands that support slow fashion, the more gems you uncover. Ask if their production practices are ethical? If you can’t find the answers, jump on social media and ask them. That is the beauty of Instagram today, you can have a conversation with brands.
What’s next for ZURII?
Exciting times ahead! I currently working on our next collection, designing, dreaming and planning.
