Garb with Aura - Dressed for ritual and ceremony
The System is a design studio in Abbotsford, Melbourne.
The System is a “sometimes” food. We make heirloom garments for weddings, ceremonies, and other days that carry weight. The System is a garment making practice that explores the traditional making methods of archetypal garments while attempting to create non-traditional make methods for reimagined archetypes.
Bespoke commissions are the lifeblood of the brand, as in sacred trade, The System sees collaboration and human connection as the real reason for everything we do.
For I shall paint thee in textiles.
Not for pleasure alone
What is the system
what is the process
how do I get the garb?
The bespoke Process
One · Dialogue
We begin by talking. About the day, about you, about the garment already forming in your head. I listen and I draw. Nothing is decided here except whether this is a partnership worth making.
Two · Design
Hand-drawn silhouettes and illustrations, in my own hand. Three fabrics sourced and presented. A second conversation to land the final drawing. This is where the thing becomes specifically yours.
Three · MAKE
Measurement in the studio, then pattern and first toile made by hand. Four fittings, with the garment evolving between each one. The longest phase, and the most physical.
Four · Deliver
Final finishing, hand-pressed, and collected in person at the studio in its own garment bag.
Bespoke commissions
Individually designed through a deeply personalised process, construction by the designer using traditional materials.
The System is a slow fashion practice
Every commission is different, the design development and production of your clothing is personalised and the outcome is a result that feels like an expression from deep within.
The outcome is a reflection of our dialogue in design and an authentic expression of many convergent ideas.
Frequently asked questions
Do you only make wedding dresses?
The System never intended to make wedding dresses but as an exploratory garment making practice, weddings and other ceremonial garb offer the perfect cultural need for dress people using traditional techniques and fine textiles. The system is a highly skilled enterprise that has the audacious capacity to try anything. We make ceremonial and formal clothing — gowns, suits, coats, corsetry, and combinations of those. If you need two pieces, or something for a partner, that's quoted alongside.
How long does a commission take?
Projects usually take a minimum duration of Twelve weeks, from the first conversation to collection of the pieces. Complex work takes longer. and schedule sometimes requires projects to run at a slower pacing.
If your date is closer than twelve weeks, ask anyway as compressed timelines are sometimes possible, at a surcharge.
How far in advance should I get in touch?
Most commissions are booked eight to twelve months out in advance. If you need a faster turn around please get in touch and we can discuss what's possible.
What does the process actually involve & whats included?
Two design calls, personal in-person measurement session and four garment fittings all in The System's Atelier in Abbotsford studio. In-house the work we do is: illustration, fabric sourcing, pattern-drafting and drapery, calico toiles, garment construction and finishing. You'll see the garment become itself.
How does payment work?
Across four milestones: a deposit to begin, then payments after the establishment of the design, before the commencement of the final project, and a final payment on delivery. The first deposit is non-refundable and holds your place in the studio calendar.
Do you take on work outside Melbourne?
Yes this is possible but fittings happen best in the Atelier in Abbotsford, Melbourne, Australia. Travel is possible for some commissions. They are arranged and quoted for case by case.