STATE OF ESCAPE
Practical travelinspired designs that transcend seasons
Founded by friends Brigitte MacGowan and Desley Maidment, Australian fashion label State Of Escape was launched in 2013. The name was inspired by their love of travel, and according to Desley: “We pride ourselves on refined craftsmanship, with all our collections continuing to be made locally in Australia after eight years. The beauty is in the simplicity.”
It’s this belief in simplicity that makes its bags truly classic. “Our aim is to create timeless, considered pieces that transcend trends and seasons,” says Desley. “Every creation is designed to afford longevity and versatility.”
Since then, State Of Escape has been steadily expanding its stockist, selling at Selfridges in London, Lane Crawford in Hong Kong, and On Pedder in Singapore. It also counts stars like Naomi Watts and Olivia Palermo as fans.
The brand’s signature is the Escape tote, known for its lightweight build as well as uncomplicated design, making it compatible with any outfit. It also offers generous storage space, making it the perfect bag for the gym, weekend staycays, a trip to the beach or even carrying baby essentials.
As part of its sustainability evaluation process, the brand has a dedicated team that makes recommendations. “Some already actioned plans include new compostable packaging, including recyclable tags,” says Desley. “There’s a commitment to local sourcing of components, with further plans for improvement in fabric compositions containing biomaterials.”
With the travel restrictions, more people are rediscovering their own hometowns instead of flying overseas for vacations. Desley knew that the brand had to “reimagine [customers’] concept of mobility”. As a result, the new Compass belt bag was born. The hands-free design can be styled in various ways: around the waist, as a cross-body, over the shoulder or around the neck. Its small structure means you can only carry the necessities, making it the “perfect creation to offer independence for the adventurous”.