For over 80 years, Sussan has been celebrating the spirit of Australian women. In our “For Women. By Women.” series, we shine a spotlight on the remarkable women behind the brand, driving creativity, design, and inspiration.

Introducing Katie, the creative force behind Sussan Sleepwear. With a passion for empowering Australian women, Katie shares her journey as a Sleepwear Buyer, blending creativity and analytics to bring designs to life. Here, Katie reflects on her role and the inspiration behind the new (and very merry) Mini Me collection.

How does your role contribute to the world of Sussan?
I love my role here at Sussan. There is something special in knowing I am helping Australian Women get a better night’s sleep through our carefully considered silhouettes and fabrications. As the Sleepwear Buyer, I have the privilege of working with our amazing team to bring our designs to life, from original concept to finished garment production. There is no better feeling than seeing our styles selling in-store! I get to work closely with the Planning and Quality teams, ensuring each style is always analysed with our customers in mind in every decision.
I love that my role is both creative and analytical, reviewing current trends and sales data daily to ensure our future ranges represent what our lovely customers want to buy. I love approaching each day with a positive and curious attitude to help motivate and empower my team to create the best possible product for our customers.

How long have you worked at Sussan? What excites you most about your role?
My fashion career started in the Sussan office in 2015 through an internship while studying at RMIT. I immediately fell in love with the industry, the brand, and the buying role. I was lucky enough to be offered a position within the company, working across Buying and Planning for two years. Fast forward seven years to February 2023, and I am back to the brand where I found my passion for the product development life cycle and learned my foundation skills. Each day as a Buyer is exciting – whether reviewing sales from the previous day of trade or receiving a parcel from one of our suppliers with new developments and fabrics. I love the fast-paced and rewarding environment!

What does ‘For Women. By Women.’ mean to you?
What a privilege it is to be a part of such an iconic Australian brand. I feel so lucky to be surrounded by the most talented and inspiring women who empower me daily. To me, ‘For Women. By Women’ means working together always to keep our customer front of mind, understanding exactly what she wants to feel and look great in.

How do you incorporate the values and lifestyles of Australian women into your designs?
Our versatile product offering is tailored to the busy lives of Australian Women. ‘For Women. By Women’ means we understand our customer because we are her! She is always at the forefront of every decision made each day. We are committed to ensuring she feels the best when wearing Sussan to tackle her fast-paced day ahead.

What have been some of the biggest learnings in your role over the years?
Working in a fast-paced and exciting environment as a fashion buyer, I’ve learnt the importance of setting personal boundaries. Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is important to avoid burnout and achieve a long and rewarding professional career.

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing women today?
Women face so many challenges every day. I am so inspired by all the amazing mums juggling a career, motherhood and everything in between!

How do you unwind at the end of the workday?
There is nothing better than slipping into my favourite PJs and slippers at the end of the workday. I love sitting on the couch with my fiancé and our two fur babies and sipping a cup of English Breakfast tea to unwind.

Who are the women you are inspired by?
I feel so lucky to be surrounded by incredible women every day. My gorgeous Mum has always inspired me and influenced my career today. She taught me the importance of hard work and determination, always encouraging me to follow my dreams and to believe in myself.

What’s the best advice you have received in your professional career?
Lead with kindness, listen with fascination, stay curious, and never stop learning.

We launched the very cute and covetable Mini Me sleep sets this month. Can you tell us about the design process of this collection?
So much love, thought, attention, and detail went into the design process of our Mini Me Limited Edition collection.
Soft fabric choices for delicate young skin, comfortable fits for growing bodies, and safe trims have been our key focus when designing this range just in time for Christmas gifting.

What inspired the exclusive prints and colour palette of the range?
Inspired by all things Summer and festive cheer, our exclusive prints complement the collection’s vibrant and engaging colour palette. We have worked in two exclusive floral prints, with a fresh solid aqua tone adding a sense of calm amongst the brights.

This month, our campaign is Make the Season Yours; what is your favourite Christmas morning tradition?
Only six Mondays until Santa… but who’s counting?! I love everything about Christmas – the precious family time, the excitement of gift-giving, the food coma after all the delicious meals. My favourite Christmas morning tradition involves a special breakfast with my loved ones, with Christmas carols playing, of course!