Melbourne-born, UNIEK offers a curated range of pieces designed to empower women to take on the shifting demands of modern life in the post-2020 world.

Founded by Katherine Gracey, UNIEK is the result of her own experience searching for adaptable loungewear that was not only beautiful to wear but that also resonated on a more personal level. She was inspired to create a sustainable and inclusive loungewear label for women who often feel unseen or unrepresented by the existing offering.

In sizes ranging from 6-16, the first capsule is made locally from 100% organic, sustainably sourced cotton. Manufactured in Melbourne using Australian-knitted and dyed GOTS-certified organic cotton, UNIEK’s five-piece capsule collection is cut for a slightly oversized, relaxed fit.

Signature knife pleats create tailored structure and movement in the crew neck sweater, hoodie and track pant. Both long and short sleeve tees are cut for a relaxed, boxy fit. Four colourways of Onyx, Parchment, Glacier and Slate can be effortlessly mixed and matched.

The Australian label produces classic, timeless fashion designed to last. UNIEK celebrates every goddess and all of her wonderful differences. Their clothes are designed to champion women and to help them feel their best, most confident and most organically beautiful selves.⁠

ABOUT THE FOUNDER

Founded by Katherine Gracey, UNIEK was born after almost four years as Head of Marketing at Mercedes Benz Australia and New Zealand. Gracey was inspired to create a sustainable and inclusive loungewear label for women who often feel unseen or unrepresented by the existing offering.

“I believe that we are at our individual best when we feel at ease and comfortable in our own skin. The idea behind UNIEK is to celebrate that uniqueness through design that champions quality and simplicity,” says Gracey.

“We’ve created a tightly-edited and hard-working collection that blends effortlessly within a modern wardrobe, but also upholds the values I hold dear: crafted sustainably and ethically by local makers, and designed with inclusivity at its heart,” she continues.

Applying a fashion lens to classic lounge pieces, UNIEK’s first capsule collection was designed by Joshua Cappellari, who joined the label after a two year stint working in London for Welsh designer Julien Macdonald. He explains the design intent behind UNIEK’S first collection was to create wearable garments that were functional yet elevated, incorporating details that don’t compromise the silhouette or effortlessness of the pieces.

“When starting the design process, I like to think of the customer; what does she like? What’s her life like? Where is she wearing the pieces? And most importantly, how do they make her feel? I loved the idea of using tucks and pleats that create depth and interest. We’ve been mindful to ensure these details complement the design, not distract or over power them,” says Cappellari.

“Given the current state of our lifestyle, versatility is a key theme—these are pieces that can easily be dressed up or down; for example the hoodie works perfectly loosely tucked into a long silk skirt, or pared with the matching track pants and slides for a more casual feel,” he continues.

“Women especially are multitasking more than ever before, so it’s natural for us to gravitate towards garments that enable us to live freely and effortlessly, but that don’t compromise on our sense of personal style. That’s why every last detail, from the step hem on the long sleeve tee to the locally embroidered tonal logo on each piece, has been considered for a subtle but confident impact,” says Gracey.

UNIEK taps into the convergence of loungewear as one of fashion’s key category leaders in 2020, (Business of Fashion predicts the trend is set to continue in 2021) and the issues of sustainability and ethics within the industry. Our increased interest in health and wellness is expected to persist beyond the pandemic, and the casualisation trend that was already in motion before COVID-19 and that accelerated throughout 2020 is likely to emerge as a dominant fashion force in 2021.

Meanwhile, between February 2019 and February 2020, searches for sustainability related terms and themes rose by 110% in Australia, and online searches in Australia for “ethical” fashion pieces have increased 67% over the past three months.

“We’ve just come out of a year of transformational change in the way we live our lives, and I think it’s brought with it a sharper focus on our personal values,” says Gracey.

“I want to ensure all women feel seen and understood through UNIEK, regardless of their age, size or background. What we need today is to be at ease,” she continues.

UNIEK’s first capsule range launched on 28 April 2021 exclusively from uniekcrew.com, with more curated drops of styles and colours expected within 2021.