Isabella Charles
| Isabella Charles | |
|---|---|
| |
| Born | 22 April 2001 |
| Died | |
| Alma mater | Queensland University of Technology |
| Years Active | 2020-present |
| Occupation | Fashion designer |
| Website | https://www.isabella-charles.com/ |
Isabella Charles, born 22 April 2001 in Australia, is an Australian fashion designer. She's the owner and founder of her eponymous label, Isabella Charles (Brand).
Early Life
Charles has been obsessed with fashion for as long as she can remember, and she used to dress, and style herself when she was younger, that eventually turned into her starting to make her own clothes with her first sewing machine.[1]
Charles started sewing her own clothes at a young age, creating garments that she felt represented her. During middle and high school in Australia, she quickly realised that she wanted to pursue a career in fashion.[2]
At the age of 15, she showcased several looks at a student runway show, where she was approached by a photographer to shoot the collection. Using these early photos, she published a portfolio on social media as her first public move as a designer.[3]
Charles was later approached by more photographers and stylists, which gave her a strong set of connections within the industry. Her work was later published internationally, and in Australia.[4] Charles also pursued other creative endeavours such as sculpturing, photography, and digital manipulation. Charles' grandparents used to own an ostrich farm when Charles was younger. Her grandmother gave her black ostrich leather that she could use in her work, which has since become another material that is synonymous with her brand.[2]
Career
Charles initially started the brand as a passion project.[5] Charles studied in London during the COVID-19 pandemic. During London's lockdown period, hands-on classes were difficult to come by. It forced her to gain practical experiences by working from home, which in turn made her gain individual characteristics within her craft, that might not have been according to the book.[2]
Charles has worked on collections for Berlin, Paris, and Australian Fashion Week.[6] She lived in Berlin in 2023, where she worked for two brands during her time there, whilst simultaneously trying to work on her eponymous label. Charles eventually moved back to Australia in order to focus on her own brand. She has also interned for fellow Australian designer, Gail Sorronda, whom she still works with till this day. Sorronda was the first person to show her the inside of the industry, and is one of her key inspirations.[2]
She was nominated for the We the Makers Sustainable Fashion Prize in 2025, for her look 'The Hunter' which was created entirely from uncut deadstock leather. It featured a backless asymmetric skirt which could be worn in multiple ways. The leathers used featured goatskin and kangaroo leathers.[7]
Style
Techniques
Her designs adopt unconventional silhouettes, while playing with elements of both femininity and masculinity. Charles loves to mix different fabrics in her garments such as sheer, and leather.[8]
She points out that there's definitely an architectural influence in her designs, and that she's inspired by certain fabrics and silhouettes. With her original concept sometimes evolving into a different design, showcasing her adaptation skills.[9] Charles is an avid user of kangaroo leather that she sources from a local place. The usage of scuffed up, and scarred up pieces gives her pieces a sense of individuality, highlighting the characteristics from the leather. Kangaroo leather has since become a staple in her pieces, and in her collections. Ostrich leather is another type of material that has been used in some of her work.[2]
Themes
Charles' brand explores alternative aspects of fashion, experimenting with avant-garde designs and a nonconformist approach to trends. She uses a lot of dark monochromatic colours and deadstock Australian made fabrics.[10][11] Charles gets most of her inspiration from the middle ages, focusing heavily on gothicism, and religion. She also gained inspiration from nuns, priests, and artists such as Gustavo Doré, which can be reflected in several of Charles' designs.[2]
Collections
Charles has designed and created five collections to date. Two of Charles' collections have been inspired by Dante Alighieri's The Divine Comedy (Inferno&Purgatorio), with a third collection based on the book (Paradiso) is planned.[2]
| Title | Season | Date | Location | Looks | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOLITUDE | 2020 | Australia | 9 | ||
| INFERNO | 2021 | Australia | 6 | Graduate Collection. The first collection inspired by The Divine Comedy. | |
| EPHEMERAL | 2022 | Brisbane Fashion Week | Australia | 10 | |
| REFORMATION | 2024 | Australia | 22 | ||
| PURGATORIO | 2025 | Australia | 24 | The second collection inspired by The Divine Comedy. |
References
- ↑ https://www.theinspiredco.io/isabella-charles-2#:~:text=Since%20I%20can%20remember%20I%20have%20been%20obsessed%20with%20fashion.%20From%20a%20very%20young%20age%2C%20I%20was%20not%20only%20dressing%20but%20styling%20myself%2C%20which%20then%20turned%20into%20making%20my%20own%20clothes%20with%20my%20very%20first%20sewing%20machine.%20I%20loved%20to%20watch%20the%20runway%20shows%20and%20be%20inspired%20by%20luxury%20fashion.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Blog:Isabella Charles Interview
- ↑ https://www.theinspiredco.io/isabella-charles-2#:~:text=I%20was%2015,social%20media%20(Instagram).
- ↑ https://www.theinspiredco.io/isabella-charles-2#:~:text=I%20was%20contacted,wide%20and%20internationally
- ↑ https://www.theinspiredco.io/isabella-charles-2#:~:text=The%20Isabella%20Charles%20brand%20began%20as%20a%20passion%20project%20as%20a%20product%20of%20the%20designer%E2%80%99s%20creativity%20and%20desire%20to%20design%20and%20make%20her%20own%20clothing
- ↑ https://www.isabella-charles.com/about#:~:text=AFTER%20FORMALLY%20STUDYING%20FASHION%20DESIGN%20AND%20GAINING%20INTERNATIONAL%20INDUSTRY%20EXPERIENCE%2C%20HAVING%20WORKED%20ON%20COLLECTIONS%20FOR%20BERLIN%2C%20PARIS%20AND%20AUSTRALIAN%20FASHION%20WEEKS
- ↑ https://www.wethemakers.com.au/vote/#:~:text=Created%20entirely%20from,ethical%20high%20fashion.
- ↑ https://www.theinspiredco.io/isabella-charles-2#:~:text=I%20love%20to%20combine%20lots%20of%20different%20fabrics%2C%20such%20as%20sheers%20with%20leathers%20and%20sequins%2C%20maintaining%20a%20very%20high%20end%20and%20luxe%20look.
- ↑ https://www.theinspiredco.io/isabella-charles-2#:~:text=I%20am%20always,love%20that%20also!
- ↑ https://www.theinspiredco.io/isabella-charles-2#:~:text=The%20Isabella%20Charles%20aesthetic%20is%20bold%2C%20generally%20with%20a%20quite%20dark%20colour%20scheme.%20My%20designs%20convey%20power%20and%20individuality.
- ↑ https://www.isabella-charles.com/about#:~:text=THE%20BRAND%20REFUTES%20MASS%20PRODUCTION%20AND%20VALUES%20HANDMADE%20MANUFACTURING%2C%20WITH%20ALL%20PIECES%20MADE%20TO%20ORDER%20IN%20OUR%20HINTERLAND%20QUEENSLAND%20DESIGN%20STUDIO.%C2%A0%20ALL%20MATERIALS%20ARE%20AUSTRALIAN%20SOURCED%20AND%20PRIMARILY%20DEADSTOCK%2C%20CONTRIBUTING%20TO%20LONG%20TERM%20SUSTAINABILITY%20GOALS%20AND%20REDUCING%20PRODUCTION%20WASTE.
The References section should include well-formatted and consistent citations in either APA or Chicago style, including author-date referencing (i.e. APA style) for in-text citations.
External Links
The External Links section should include external resources, such as photographs of collections and other types of digital documentation.