Cazinc the Label was founded in 2018 by Australian stylist Carolyn Rowland. The label specialises in affordable, on-trend pieces for all women.
Tell us about Cazinc The Label.
Cazinc The Label is an ethically made fashion brand designed in Melbourne, creating timeless womenswear pieces that are designed to celebrate the female form and finished to the highest standard.
Our garments embody the sophisticated, stylish, confident woman who seeks affordable luxury in contemporary pieces that are thoughtfully designed and intricately constructed.
We believe in classic cuts with a contemporary, urban edge, a style which complements our collections high-end but wearable wardrobe staples. Our customers can mix and match any CTL piece and return to them season after season.
Cazinc The Label has also introduced a range of sustainable production processes, from using bamboo and eco-friendly fabrics for our basics to reusable packaging and reducing the number of units produced to limit waste. The world doesn’t need another fast-fashion brand, which is why we are committed to designs that don’t date and quality fabrics that are made to last.
What inspired you to start Cazinc The Label?
I worked as a fashion stylist for more than 15 years and struggled to find quality womenswear that was timeless but also affordable.
My clients wanted classic, contemporary styles they could mix and match, and keep in their wardrobes season after season. They also shared my passion for slow fashion; quality garments made to the highest possible ethical standards.
So, I launched Cazinc The Label in 2018 with a curated collection of trans-seasonal wardrobe staples designed to work for any occasion and celebrate every figure. Since then, the label has evolved to include sharp, tailored investment pieces and everyday basics but I have remained committed to my original vision: classic cuts, beautiful fabrics and high-quality, sustainable products that are accessible for every woman.
Tell us about your career and background.
I am a fashion designer for Cazinc The Label, director of the company and standing on the shoulders of a professional team who make up CTL.
I am a certified Image Stylist and owned an Image, Styling and Therapy company for over fifteen years, which gave me extremely valuable knowledge around how to run a business which I was able to utilise this when creating CTL. I am also a qualified Neuro Linguistic Programming Master Therapist and have a diploma in Business and Life Coaching, which are all extremely helpful qualifications when running a business day-to-day.
Describe a typical workday for you (if there is such a thing).
This is an interesting question, as there is very rarely a typical workday for me. I always plan everything for the day ahead, but need the behavioural flexibility to go with the flow, like when I receive a phone call at 10am to let me know I will be filming an interview for SBS news at noon!
My days are filled working with our design team, speaking with wholesalers, assisting our team with online sales and styling advice, podcast interviews, meetings with our marketing and website teams and answering copious amounts of emails and interviews like this one. Working in the fickle industry that is fashion, I must always expect the unexpected and this year has definitely shown me how to do that.
Has COVID-19 affected your business? How are you navigating that?
COVID-19 has been interesting for us, but our team tried to embrace the situation we found ourselves in rather than fighting against the inevitable. We worked harder to increase our online presence through channeling our energy into socials and creating visually appealing content whilst also increasing our presence amongst our wholesalers.
We also ensured all our clients received personalised styling and size advice over the phone or via email to ensure our personal touch didn’t disappear just because we can’t currently offer our face to face services.
The CTL team is grateful, even though we had to close our flagship boutique, we were able to accept the challenges of change and maintain the operation of our label during this period.
What advice do you have for those wanting to start a business?
Great question, especially if you are thinking of starting a fashion label. Try to collect as much knowledge about the business area you’re trying to break into is number one. I have been running companies for over 25 years, and I might not be an expert in everything within the company, so my next piece of advice would be to surround yourself with people who you know will support you and make running a businesses easier I do this by employing outstanding people who have a wide range of knowledge, and together we work really well as a team.
It also helps to have financial backing, because when starting a business, you often don’t receive a wage for the first few years, all funds often go back into the business. So being financially savvy or having some funding behind you is definitely essential when trying to start a business.
What’s next for you, and Cazinc The Label?
For me, a holiday to anywhere in Australia would be fantastic!
Not long to go, but with CTL, we are always researching new and innovative ways to improve our sustainability and zero waste policies. Our practices are 100% ethical and we are consistently working on improving our sustainability practices as this can always be improved. For our last collection, we purchased fabric that would have ended up in landfill to make recyclable “deadstock” bags. We are also researching recyclable fabrics made from bottle tops and other recycled materials, as we feel as an Australian business it’s our duty to continuously research and develop ways we can give back to the planet through sustainable clothing!