Sibley: Behind the brand

Interview with Sibel Stening - Founder of Sibley

Did you always know you wanted to work in fashion?

Growing up i was always surrounded by fashion to some extent, no one in my family was in the industry but my mum and grandma followed what all the designers were doing and my sister was really interested in fashion too. So when i was about 14 my mum bought me a sketch book with stencils and mannequins and it all began from there. My goal was then to go to design school in NYC which i had plans to full-fill in 2020 after school but unfortunately covid hit so i stayed in Sydney and studied a business degree instead.

How did the Idea of Sibley come about?

The idea of Sibley began when i would steal my mums clothes for nights out with my friends. She has such a beautiful wardrobe and some of the pieces are over 20 years old but are still in such amazing condition. It made me consider how often today quality is overlooked in the fashion industry as brands attempt to keep up with trends. So i wanted to create really high quality garments with the goal that one day your daughter will steal your Sibley pieces in 30 years time.

What was the first thing you did to start your brand?

The first thing i remember doing to start the brand was probably choosing the name which was a nickname my mum has called me since i was young, so nicely ties into the inspiration of the brand. And then creating all the small branding details like the the logo which i had to do quickly otherwise i felt like i would never get past those small details.

What are you most proud about with Sibley so far?

I am so proud everything is made only a 20 minute drive from my house. Australian made was something that was so important to me from the beginning. To support essentially a dyeing trade here in Aus. It means the world to me that we support local businesses on shore.