Noble Label is an up-and-coming fashion brand born out of Sydney, and made in Sydney.
Founders and sisters, Jessyme and Courtney Noble, have designed timeless wardrobe pieces that can be worn many ways (take the reversible Clementine Dress), with the mission of being Noble in their method.
Making in limited runs out of Sydney suburb Marrickville, Noble have become a popular local-made brand with fast sell-outs of their most popular Clio Wrap Top and Clementine Dress. They source predominantly deadstock material located in Australia, New Zealand, Italy and the United States, as well as from fabric wholesalers who have an accredited and ethical supply chain.
Tell us about Noble Label.
Noble Label is a collection of versatile, classic and timeless womenswear made locally and resourcefully.
Run by myself and my sister Jessyme, the name Noble came naturally as it is our last name, but it is also fitting for our mission, to be noble in our method. We make locally and use predominantly deadstock fabrics, or fabrics that have a minimal impact on the environment.
What inspired you to start Noble Label?
We started Noble Label almost four years ago. At the time I was running an online vintage business and Jessyme was working on a clothing project. We decided to bring our mutual interests together. Working previously in vintage clothing was a benefit as we could see what pieces customers wanted to see more of – a classic pair of cream trousers, wrap tops and trench coats were always in high demand, but were difficult to find. So we decided to make our own using deadstock fabrics and a small team of local manufacturers in Sydney where we live.
Tell us about your career and background.
We’ve both had many different jobs, retail, communications, teaching and e-commerce. I think all of these different jobs have helped us immensely in starting our own business – particularly working in fashion retail for many years whilst juggling studying. Retail has given us both that customer experience and fashion business experience.
Describe a typical work day for you.
We have a fairly relaxed approach when it comes to the business of Noble. The first order of the day is getting back to customer emails and messages. Our customers really shape our business, and we love receiving feedback and what they want to see from us next.
Around lunch time, we usually take a trip to visit our manufacturers, pattern makers or fabric wholesalers – almost everything to do with Noble is in the same hub, it has enabled us to build strong relationships and ensures that any hand that helps in the making of Noble is properly paid and working conditions aren’t compromised to get products out the door.
What advice do you have for those wanting to start a business?
We are at a pivotal point where shoppers and brands alike are re-evaluating their practices and purchases. As online shopping increases, brands and customers are able to have a more direct relationship with each other, so understanding what the customer wants as a business is much more accessible. As a young brand, we’ve seen how customers react when we post a photo of our makers at work or our deadstock fabric warehouses we visit. For us transparency is key, and our customers rely on us to be responsible, both socially and environmentally. For us, producing locally is a great way to access that kind of transparency customers are looking for.
How has COVID-19 affected your business?
When the pandemic hit we definitely feared what would happen to our business, but very quickly we started to see a surge in people supporting local and small businesses. We have really appreciated the ‘support small’ love!
What’s next for you, and Noble Label?
We are currently working on the next phase of Noble with the approach in mind of less is more. Whilst we love the design process and showing new pieces, we are mindful of not producing too much. Being noble in our process means thinking about the future in the long term rather than focusing on the ephemeral consumption of fashion.
For more on Noble Label, please visit https://noblethelabel.com.
