TDF Talks @Mercedes me With Amanda Briskin-Rettig

TDF Talks @Mercedes me

Over the last fortnight, we have been hosting weekly conversations at the Mercedes me Store Melbourne.

For our first event, Lucy spoke with the inspiring founder of Australian accessories labels A-esque and Mimco, Amanda Briskin-Rettig.

Today we share a follow-up chat between the pair, where Amanda reflects on starting and building both her businesses, the shift to manufacturing locally in small runs, and why she’s doing social media her way.

This podcast episode is live NOW – find us on Apple Podcasts, download Overcast for bonus pictures and links, or listen below!

28th June, 2018

Handbags from Amanda Briskin-Rettig’s Melbourne-made label, A-esque. Photo – The Design Files.

A-esque studio details. Photo – The Design Files.

Unique designs from the made-in-Melbourne label. Photo – The Design Files.

Amanda Briskin-Rettig founded Mimco in 1996, when she was in her early twenties. With $5000 in savings, she developed just six handbag samples. She sold the brand 11 years later, for a reported $45 million.

After a little time off, Amanda launched A-esque in 2012, a totally different accessories label, with a focus on local manufacturing. A-esque design and make everything out of their Richmond atelier. It’s a very different proposition to Mimco, but A-esque has carved a distinct niche for itself in the Australian accessories market. In 2016 A-esque expanded with concessions in David Jones, which has been incredibly successful, and they’re also stocked by global department store Lane Crawford, in China and Hong Kong.

Today, we’re thrilled to share this chat with Amanda, as she shares her journey from Mimco to A-esque, and why local, small-batch production is now her priority. Most inspiring of all, we hear why Amanda is committed to going it her own way, as market competition rages and the retail sector continues to undergo seismic shifts.

Links + Further Reading

This marks the first episode in our second season of podcasts! Check out season one here.

Amanda Briskin-Rettig founded A-esque in 2012.

The super successful businesswoman was the first guest in our four-part series of conversations at Mercedes me.

Before A-esque, Amanda co-founded wildly popular accessories brand Mimco.

We ran an A-esque studio visit feature in 2016.

You can check out A-esque’s latest designs on their Instagram.

A podcast of our second TDF Talks @Mercedes me, with Joost Bakker, will be released next month!

There are still a few tickets available for our final live event with Tim Ross on July 31st. Find out more here.

See photos from the first two events on our Facebook page, or watch some highlights on our Instagram Stories here!

Mercedes me is a collaborative space in Melbourne’s CBD, where café culture meets Mercedes-Benz lifestyle. Stay up to date with their varied program of events by following @mercedesmestore.melbourne.

More Podcasts