Spotlight: A_C

About Tessa

Melbourne-based fashion designer and entrepreneur Tessa Carroll is the founder of not one but two sustainable brands, A_C Official and The Common Good Company. Founded in 2018, A_C is a luxury ethical accessories label that develops ranges using innovative non-leather textiles and donates to carbon sequestration projects through an impactful Social Enterprise model. With an emphasis on transparent supply chains, the business is built with the circular economy top of mind and offers repairs, a recycling buy-back program as well as plans to eventually offer a market-place for pre-loved A_C items. Late last year A_C was the first Australian brand to market with a new collection using Cactus leather, a super sustainable and multiaward winning alternative to leather that looks just like the real thing. In October 2022 she again pushed the boundaries with the launch of ‘Sankalpa’, a collection using Sileather, derived from silica sand, and cactus leather.

A _C

Tessa Carroll is on a mission to bring sustainable alternatives to the world of fashion through her accessories brand, A_ C. We catch up with her and find out more.

Tell us about A_C and your journey creating the label

A_C Official is a Melbourne-based accessories brand producing timeless modern classics with innovative plantbased leathers. The journey from concept to construction has been a long and challenging one but that can be expected since there has been no one ahead of us to carve the path.

We launched this brand to serve the market who recognises the need to safeguard our future, buying sustainably and avoiding environmentally damaging textiles such as animal and plastic leathers. This means we operate somewhere amongst the textile innovation and technological innovation space, disrupting the industry one handbag at a time.

The path to production is exciting and incredibly rewarding. It provides purpose to product and I really feel like we are making a difference in the retail industry by mitigating climate change through the raw materials we produce with.

What is the ethos behind the brand?

To put it simply our intention is to create a bag that can return to Earth the same way it came. I believe it is not just the consumer’s responsibility to purchase consciously, but in fact the designer’s responsibility to produce carefully. It is no longer enough to avoid causing damage to the Earth, we need to be actively trying to reverse it. Every item we produce is carefully thought through from pre-production to it’s end of life plan. If it is not biodegradable, we ensure it is 100% recyclable.

We are a proudly vegan brand and the A in our brand stands for Ahimsa. This is of Sanskrit origins, meaning ’no harm’. We apply this to the treatment of animals, people and planet. The C in our name refers to the Collective; this is not a movement exclusive to us. It requires the sum of all people to make changes to their everyday lives.

A_C is very focused on ethically and sustainably produced products, which is refreshing to see in the accessories industry, tell us about your products and what makes them so unique.

Since inception we have worked in the Textile Innovation space, first to market to offer handbags made from plant based fibres such as pineapple leaves and cactus proteins. Despite this, we set out to produce fashionable, timeless pieces that are as durable as they are seasonless. There is little point in designing fast fashion styles which need to be replaced once the trend is over, in fact, that is quite the opposite of producing sustainability

What does a day in your life look like?

I start my day with either a yoga session, a walk or a swim. I like to be up before dawn and be at my desk by 7am - that’s my competitive nature! My day and schedule varies as I work with suppliers and consultants all over the world and their timezones need to be accounted for. Some days I can start at 7am and finish at 7pm as the UK are just starting their day! I usually meditate around 1pm instead of getting a second coffee - I find it really helps me to find focus.

Lastly, what’s next on the horizon for A_C?

We have just released the first collection made of Silica Sand. It is 100% recyclable and backed in recycled cotton. We are also already sampling with a patent protected plant-based leather which I can’t disclose yet however 2022 is shaping up to see some major developments in international distribution and some exciting collaborations.

ac-official.com @a_c___official

A_C Claudia Cactus Leather Shopper Tote Black. $479 ac-official.com