Esther Riley
Weaving Creativity, Community & Sustainability
Esther Riley’s creative journey began at the young age of four. Her passion for theatre and fantasy was sparked through ballet, where she first fell in love with costumes, dress-up parties, and wearable art. Looking back, Esther believes that clothing is more than just fabric - it’s an extension of identity, a way for people to stand out in a crowd, almost tribal in nature.
This passion only grew stronger throughout her school years, fueled by what she calls her “secret weapon”, her mum’s sewing machine. Her time at Cashmere High was particularly formative, as the school’s annual Wearable Arts production provided an outlet for her creativity. Esther not only took part in these productions as a student but continues to support the next generation by serving as a judge for the event to this day. This spirit of giving back to her creative community is woven throughout her journey.
Though Esther pursued ballet until high school, her artistic energy ultimately found its true home in clothing design. Initially, Esther’s creative instincts led her to ARA, where she studied fashion design, and found a community she loved. She thrived in an environment filled with like-minded individuals and discovered a love for patternmaking, which she likens to working with geometry in both two and three dimensions.
One of her passions is creating beautifully crafted dressing gowns and delicate undergarments—what she describes as “dressing gowns for your parlour and delicates for your chamber.” She enjoys designing garments that don’t rely on zippers, buttons, or Velcro, instead focusing on creating pieces that fit naturally without modern fastenings.
When considering launching her own label, Esther felt that adopting a more masculine brand name like Hugo Boss would help her be taken more seriously in the industry. She was drawn to the idea of playing both male and female roles within the brand and found the concept of remaining "invisible" as a designer appealing.
During this time, Esther began visiting local clothing manufacturers to collect fabric offcuts. She was pleasantly surprised by their enthusiasm for sustainability, as many were eager to see their discarded materials repurposed into something new. This commitment to sustainable fashion inspired the birth of her brand, Vince Meat a name rooted in medieval times, where "Vince" represents the craftsman repurposing materials, and "Meat" symbolizes the fabric scraps transformed into beautiful garments.
Esther launched Vince Meat with a launch party at her mothers home an experience that was as exhilarating as it was exhausting. Selling the bulk of her collection on the night, proving the success of her designs, and encouragement of her friends and family. The immense workload of designing, producing, planning, and executing a brand launch singlehandedly seemed unsustainable. This realisation sparked her next venture: Walk Lightly
Walk Lightly emerged as a collaborative platform for local fashion designers, offering a support network to ease the burdens of independent design and production. Through her own experiences, Esther recognised that many talented designers were struggling in isolation, some even disappearing from the industry entirely. She began reaching out to those she followed on social media, proposing a collective effort to share resources, reduce burnout, and create a more sustainable path for emerging designers. Initially, some were skeptical as fashion designers are often seen as "lone wolves" but Esther’s vision proved successful. She organised a well-received fashion show at The Tannery, featuring several young, local designers.
Now, Walk Lightly has a store inside The Terrace Arcade, showcasing work from multiple talented designers. For Esther, the store provides much-needed visibility, professional validation, and a physical space where independent designers can be seen. Beyond running the store, she has given Zero Waste talks to ARA students and is working to connect emerging designers with experienced seamstresses at local manufacturers, emphasising the invaluable insight they can offer.
All of this, Esther has achieved while raising three young children; Olive, Hugo, and Otto. Family is central to her life, yet she refuses to let motherhood stifle her creativity. Instead, she embraces a "free-range" approach to parenting, weaving her passion for design and fashion into the spaces between motherhood. For Esther, staying engaged in the fashion scene while raising her children isn’t just about maintaining her career, it’s about laying the groundwork for future opportunities, keeping her creativity alive, and ensuring she remains connected to the industry when the time comes to dive in fully once again.
Esther Riley is more than just a designer, she’s a force for sustainability, community, and creative resilience. Through her unwavering dedication to her craft and her fellow designers, she’s not only shaping garments but helping shape the future of local fashion.
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