At Sussan, every design has its own a story, and Charlotte knows the detail behind each one. As part of our Quality Assurance team, she's the quiet force ensuring that every fabric, fit and finish meets the highest standard before it reaches your wardrobe.
From live model fittings to fibre traceability, her days are full of detail and dedication. In this edition of For Women. By Women., Charlotte shares what it means to craft clothing that feels as good as it looks—and why confidence begins with care.
Tell us about your role at Sussan; how does it contribute to Sussan's story, and what does an average day look like behind the scenes?
As a Quality Assurance Technician at Sussan, I help ensure our beautiful products are of a high standard and reflect our values as a business.
I look at many different factors of the garment, such as fitting on a model, checking the fabrics have passed our testing requirements and washing the samples to check they wear well. These methods help us achieve the highest quality product we can.
At Sussan, we use traceable fibres such as Australian Cotton, European Linen, and Ecovero. All documentation of these fibres needs to be reviewed to ensure the origin of the fibres is correct and that we have received sufficient documentation to show this.
Each day in the QA team is always different, bringing a new challenge. We fit on our live model on a Tuesday and a Thursday. On these days, I will go into a fit session with my buyers where we will fit the samples we have received this week. During this fit session, each sample is tried on to check how the garment feels to put on and off, and measurements are reviewed to ensure the sample is fitting correctly, as well as looking how the buyers have envisioned. After the fit session, I will sometimes put the sample on the mannequin to ensure it is the best fit, then send my comments to the supplier so they can make relevant changes. The other days of the week usually entail me completing leftover fit comments, fibre traceability, reviewing testing and communicating with suppliers.
I love the phrase 'For women. By women' and feel it gives me confidence knowing the product we craft is thought out thoroughly by the people who will also wear the product.
What's something about your role that would surprise people?
I think the amount of testing we do on every style that comes through the office would surprise people. Each style is tested about 12 times, on average, to check the performance of both the fabric and fit before being made into the finished garment. The QA team requests and reviews all this testing to ensure it meets Sussan's quality standards.
What do you hope women feel when they step into a Sussan store or shop with us online?
I hope women feel it is an easy shopping experience, not high stress or unpleasant. I have experienced many shopping outings where I have come away feeling overwhelmed and deflated, putting me off returning to those stores. As the QA team, we work hard to ensure the fit of our garments is to a high standard so the shopping experience is more enjoyable.
What does 'For Women. By Women.' mean to you in the context of your work?
I love the phrase 'For women. By women' and feel it gives me confidence knowing the product we craft is thought out thoroughly by the people who will also wear the product. There is something special about working with a community of women to help make the best product we can for our fellow women.
What is the best piece of advice you have received from another woman?
To treat people with kindness. My mum has always told me to "treat people the way you want to be treated". A little bit of kindness goes a long way; you never know what other people are going through, and one kind comment could make someone's day.
How has working at Sussan shaped your style or approach to getting dressed?
One thing I have noticed since moving to Melbourne from New Zealand is how much black people wear. I have always loved to dress in colour and prints, and Sussan has helped me continue including colour and print in my wardrobe while living in Melbourne.
What's a small ritual or reset that helps you unwind at the end of the day?
When I finish work, I often like to go for a walk along the Yarra River while listening to a podcast. I am very passionate about food and cooking, so I love to go home and cook a yummy meal to sit down with my housemates and chat about our days. I also love to read a few chapters of my book before bed to help me switch it off for the day. I am currently reading the Harry Potter books for the first time.
This month, our campaign is titled "The Journey Forward." What does "The Journey Forward" mean to you, and how do you see your work supporting this journey for Australian women?
For me, the campaign "The Journey Forward" relates to my work as a QA technician through sustainability and the future of fashion. We can make a difference in the fashion industry by using more responsible fibres and fabrications with reduced environmental impact, prioritising garment quality, reducing sampling, creating thoughtful care instructions for better garment care, and educating our customers about a garment's end-of-life choices. We are helping educate Australian women on these processes and how they contribute to reducing environmental impact.
How does quality assurance play a role in helping women feel confident as they move through their day?
The fit of clothing plays a huge role in whether we feel confident in our outfits. I am constantly working on the fit of our clothes to ensure every woman who buys a Sussan product will feel confident in our clothes. We fit on a live model with every sample we receive to check functionality and ease of wear and fit on a mannequin to ensure the best fit for our customers.
If you could tell the woman wearing Sussan one thing—about your work or why you do it—what would it be?
One thing I would love to tell our customers is that we are all passionate about our product and who buys it at its final outcome. The QA team works on the product from when the buyers brief us on the style to when it goes into the store. We love seeing our clothes out and about on our wonderful Sussan customers and that all our hard work has paid off.
