Esher Rae is my fashion label. The name comes from a pivotal moment in my life- meeting my current partner and fiance, Jasper and choosing to change careers and pursue fashion. The “Esher” part of the name is named after the street near Jasper’s home when we were first dating as reaching it always filled me with joy and anticipation. “Rae” is short for my name, Renae, which means “reborn” and also echoes a “ray” of light. I later learned that Esher is also believed to mean “happy” in Hebrew, which felt beautifully fitting.

Speaking of fit, all Esher Rae items are designed and mostly made by me (a 5’2″ petite), for women 5’4″ and under who often find that standard clothing doesn’t quite suit their proportions. I make adaptations to clothing items—like higher armholes, narrower shoulders, shorter sleeves or hemlines, higher necklines, and smaller-scale prints—to flatter petite bodies (curves included!). That said, many pieces can also be worn by taller women—skirts may sit a little higher, and separates, accessories, and shoes are versatile for all heights.

I work mainly with natural fibres like cotton, linen, and leather. My leather pieces—especially shoes—are designed and embroidered by me, then handcrafted by my talented shoemaker friend in Bali. I love creating modular design features like removable collars, adjustable wrap pants, and convertible bags to allow for greater versatility and personal styling.

Rather than following trends, I like to stick to a Spring-based colour palette which then ties each piece together, across collections allowing items to mix, match, and layer with ease. I also bring in hand-painted motifs, original illustrations, and embroidery—adding small artistic details that make each piece feel unique.

Below are some examples of recent collections. I hope you enjoy.

Hope Fashion Collection 2024-2025

Inspired by change and transformation, I originally chose moths and skulls as the main symbols for this collection as I wanted to illustrate the shadows that accompany change, not just the positive side of change- as every transformation brings both loss and renewal. Moths are mostly creatures of the dark after all, though this means they can often add an element of surprise to a dark space or uncertainty so they are both dark and light at the same time. Yet, they are also drawn to the light, a reflection of hope itself- the pull toward something brighter, even in the midst of darkness. True to my brand, this inspired me to infuse the collection with brightness, using white as a symbol of clarity, transition, and new beginnings as well as choosing to use the Speiredonia Spectans (Granny Cloak) moth which is a beautifully colourful moth with his rich brown and bright purple and pink hues.

The Hope Fashion Collection was in the Runway for Emerging Designers as part of the Queensland Arts And Fashion Festival held in May 2025, click here to view the runway pictures with more of my collection.

Click here to discover more of the making of the hope collection and follow @EsherRae on instagram for more behind the scenes footage and stories about the collections I make.

Photography by Rosella Shoots, as part of the Queensland Arts and Fashion Festival, 2025

This next collection is inspired by my most recent pregnancy and breastfeeding journey, with clothing, art and accessories that celebrate the changes that happen to women not just physically but also emotionally when they enter motherhood. It will continue with some of the themes from the previous Hope Collection as Hope is a very big part of pregnancy and birth but will use some stretch fabrics like ribbed jersey as well as motifs of flowers as symbology, particularly the lotus as a representation of the “blooming” and opening that occurs during birth and motherhood.

Be sure to check the Exhibitions and Events page to find out when the collection will be released though see image below for some of the items from Bloom that have been styled with the Hope Collection including the pink breastfeeding friendly dress that I am wearing during my pregnancy.

Photography by Rosella Shoots, as part of the Queensland Arts and Fashion Festival, 2025