ESSE Studios is an Australian-based ready-to-wear lifestyle brand for women who approach style with intention. The brand creates enduring pieces that speak volumes about the wearer: she is modern, empowered and effortlessly balanced between masculine and feminine aesthetic codes. Rooted in a philosophy of mindful consumption, ESSE embraces the “quality over quantity” ethos. Each slow-release Edition is designed to build upon the previous collection, allowing for a timeless, transeasonal wardrobe that evolves with purpose. Founded by Charlotte Hicks, who brings over a decade of experience designing for leading global fashion houses, ESSE Studios was born out of a deep frustration with the excess and waste prevalent in the fashion industry. Her vision is a return to the essence of dressing: considered, sustainable and crafted to last. Her latest collection is a continued exploration of artful, refined minimalism — ESSEntials for the gentlewoman’s wardrobe. We sat down with Charlotte to get to know the woman behind ESSE Studios.
The name “ESSE” comes from the Latin word for “to be.” What does that concept mean to you, personally and professionally?
The lines between personal and professional are undeniably blurred. For me, it’s about authenticity — staying true to yourself. It’s about the power of presence and inner confidence. I named the brand ESSE to continually channel this essence. It’s both my purpose and ESSE’s — to cultivate a world where our woman can nurture her inner strength, feel empowered and become the best version of herself.
What is the philosophy behind ESSE Studios, and how does it differentiate from other brands in today’s fashion landscape?
The philosophy is layered, but at its core, it is to design with purpose — pieces that are intentional, enduring and made to make women feel like the best version of themselves.
Designed by a woman, for women, ESSE is about more than just fashion. It embraces the tension between restraint and indulgence — elevated essentials alongside artful escapes. I like to stay grounded in thoughtful design that offers power, strength and sensuality, while remaining timeless and versatile. It’s a world built for the modern gentlewoman — quietly powerful, and entirely her own.
Who or what are your constant sources of inspiration — whether from fashion, art, architecture or daily life?
I am constantly inspired by the women around me — women of style and substance who do it all with grace and authenticity. Women who are equal parts masculine and feminine.
It’s also an immersive, multi-sensory experience for me — sometimes it’s a scent, a sound or something visual: objects, jewels, interiors or art. It all feeds my soul and helps cultivate the world of ESSE Studios. It might be the echoing sounds of Melanie De Biasio, a deep Bossa Nova beat, a vetiver scent, a Christofle silver object or a brutalist sculpture.
Your collections feel both minimalist and deeply considered. How do you strike that balance between simplicity and substance?
For me, minimalism is never about absence — it’s about intention. Every detail must earn its place. I’m drawn to restraint, but I’m equally focused on creating pieces that feel rich in thought, purpose and emotion. It’s a daily practice and a constant refining process: paring things back without losing depth. I think that’s where the substance lives — in the cut, the fabric, the silhouette and how a garment makes you feel. Quiet, but never empty. Understated, yet undeniably present.
ESSE Studios is known for its commitment to conscious, seasonless fashion. How do you define sustainability in your work?
For me, sustainability starts with intention. It’s about designing with purpose, not just producing for the sake of newness. At ESSE, we take a seasonless approach — building collections that evolve slowly and seamlessly over time, rather than being bound to fleeting cycles. Sustainability is also about emotional longevity. If a piece is truly considered — crafted with integrity, versatile and made to last — it becomes something you return to, season after season. That’s the kind of relationship with clothing we want to encourage: one of care, value and respect. That said, sustainability as a whole is incredibly complex. Once you begin to unpack the environmental and social impact of every garment, it truly becomes a Pandora’s box. We’re on an ongoing pursuit to manufacture ethically and to source the most responsible, low-impact fabrications available. There’s no perfect solution, but we’re committed to progress over perfection — with transparency and intention guiding every step.
How do you ensure that pieces remain timeless, yet feel relevant and fresh?
It’s about anchoring each piece in strong, enduring design principles — refined tailoring, quality fabrication and thoughtful proportion. Timelessness, for me, comes from a sense of restraint and integrity. To keep things feeling fresh, I focus on nuance — subtle shifts in silhouette, unexpected fabrications or a new tension between masculine and feminine. It’s a quiet evolution rather than reinvention. I also trust my instinct — I know my woman. I know what she needs: pieces that feel relevant to her life now, but are built to endure. It’s that balance — between present and lasting — that guides every decision.
In a world that’s constantly shifting, what do you hope people feel when they wear ESSE?
I hope they feel grounded. Like they’ve come home to themselves. ESSE is designed to offer a sense of quiet strength — pieces that don’t overpower, but empower. There’s an ease to the garments, but also an intention behind every cut, every fabric, every detail. I want women to feel like the best version of themselves when they wear ESSE. I get the most joy when I hear, “ESSE is my reliable go-to — without fail.” That trust means everything. In a fast-moving world, I want ESSE to feel like a pause — something that allows you to move with confidence, clarity and a deeper connection to your own sense of self.
What have been the most valuable lessons and surprising challenges you’ve encountered since starting ESSE Studios?
One of the most valuable lessons has been learning to trust my instincts. In an industry that moves fast and often chases noise, holding firm to a slower, more intentional path takes conviction. But staying true to the vision — refined, restrained and purpose-driven — has proven to be the most rewarding. The challenges are constant, and often unexpected. From navigating supply chain disruptions to the complexity of scaling sustainably, it’s taught me resilience and adaptability. But the biggest surprise? The emotional connection. Hearing from women who tell me “ESSE makes me feel like myself” — that’s the part that keeps me going. It reminds me that thoughtful design, when done with care and clarity, has the power to resonate far beyond the garment.
What gaps in the fashion industry were you aiming to address with your brand, and how do you feel you’ve filled them?
ESSE was born from a desire to create space for clarity, substance and longevity in a landscape that often feels saturated and overstimulated. I saw a gap for clothing that was deeply considered — designed with intention, not excess. Pieces that felt elevated yet grounded, relevant yet enduring. Essentials, yes — but with an artful edge and a quiet point of view, sometimes subtle enough to be just for her. I wanted to slow things down. To offer a seasonless wardrobe built around versatility, refinement, and true purpose — clothes that support a woman’s life, not distract from it. Also, in a world that places so much value on outward validation and visibility, I want ESSE to be about inner satisfaction — about how the clothes make you feel, not what others think of you. In many ways, I think ESSE has become that quiet alternative. A brand women return to when they want to feel composed, strong and wholly themselves.
What are your hopes for the future of ESSE Studios and the fashion industry as a whole? What advice do you have for a consumer who wants to start making more conscious fashion choices today?
My hope for ESSE is that we continue to grow with intention — building a world that offers women confidence and a deeper connection to what they wear. I want to keep evolving consciously, artfully and creatively — always staying true to the woman we design for. More broadly, I hope the fashion industry embraces intention — that we move away from urgency and overproduction, and towards longevity, transparency and emotional connection. All to encourage a deeper sense of value in everything we create. I’d also love to see more open conversation around the business of what we do — finding the beauty in both the art and the science. For consumers wanting to make more conscious choices: start with awareness. Ask questions — about where and how something is made, and whether it adds lasting value to your wardrobe. Buy less, but better. Slowly curate a wardrobe that works for you, with pieces that work together, so you actually wear everything that’s in there. Trust your instincts. And invest in pieces that make you feel like the most elevated version of yourself — not just in the moment, but over time.
