RIISE is Australia’s leading platform for responsible fashion, offering a carefully curated selection of high-quality, ethically made products. More than just a marketplace, RIISE blends e-commerce, a physical boutique, editorial storytelling, and film production to make sustainability an essential part of modern living. Their mission is to show that choosing consciously doesn’t mean compromising on style—it’s about elevating it.
RIISE: Redefining Sustainable Style
We had the pleasure of speaking with Sara Bell, Founder & CEO of RIISE, to learn more about their vision, the evolution of ethical fashion, and how they are setting a new standard for sustainability in the industry. Read on for an inspiring conversation about the future of fashion, legacy, and the power of thoughtful consumption.
Can you share a bit about RIISE and the vision behind your brand? What inspired you to focus on conscious fashion?
RIISE is a sustainable lifestyle platform based out of Sydney, Australia. We have an e-commerce website, a brick-and-mortar boutique, an editorial offering and a film and TV production company. Everything we do is anchored in sustainability.
We curate beautiful products that are also environmentally-friendly, to position these as the new objects of desire. We want to show audiences around the world that living a beautiful life that’s in sync with the planet is not only possible but can be elevated, exciting and effortlessly chic.
I’m a genuine lover of fashion and have always enjoyed the creative outlet that putting together a look provides. At the same time, I’m cognisant that the fashion industry is a key contributor to environmental damage. It’s not about not consuming but about consuming well.
There are so many incredible developments in sustainable fashion, it’s a constantly moving picture and one that inspires me endlessly: from the use of bio-based materials to regenerative practices, there are so many amazing brands demonstrating that luxury and sustainability can very much co-exist.
Sara Bell, Founder & CEO of RIISE
How do Australian consumers perceive sustainability in fashion? Have you noticed any changes in their purchasing habits or beliefs regarding sustainable products in recent years?
Australians have an international reputation for being active and outdoorsy. Our country is known for its beaches, rainforest and stunning natural scenery as well as exciting city life with world-class bars and restaurants. Living a life that’s in sync with our surrounds is very much embedded into our daily lifestyles.
Australian consumers are beginning to shop with their values and choose to purchase from brands that are taking actionable steps to be more sustainable. It’s becoming a more important purchase driver and has resulted in many local labels pivoting towards using natural fibres, attaining sustainability certifications, eliminating unnecessary plastic packaging or reducing waste in their production processes.
Post-pandemic, consumers are more aware than ever before about how their daily habits can create real change.
How do you see the role of ethical fashion evolving in the future, and what role does RIISE hope to play in that change?
Legacy is often associated with luxury fashion houses—brands that have withstood the test of time and remained enduring in an ever-changing world. We believe that the new legacy is caring for our planet. Like a treasured family heirloom passed down through generations, this earth will be beautiful and abundant for all successive generations to come.
Sustainability is the new luxury; ethical fashion brands will continue to lead this new movement and set the tone for all others to follow suit. We are optimistic that this will set a benchmark for the entire fashion industry and create an impetus for all parts of the industry.
RIISE hopes to be a beacon for this new standard, supporting the brands transforming our futures and becoming the number one destination for sustainable style.
RIISE envisions a future that is decarbonized, circular, and regenerative. How do you ensure the brands you feature align with these values?
Each brand we feature is individually vetted across the supply chain to ensure it adheres to these principles. For us, sustainability is not an afterthought. It’s the reason RIISE exists.
When you engage with us and purchase with us, as well as obtaining the things you desire, you’re making a choice that goes beyond trends – it’s a choice for a decarbonized, circular, and regenerative future.
We favour brands that use natural, renewable and biodegradable materials; who reimagine waste through upcycling or recycling; who innovate; who have visibility over their supply chains or implement responsible and resourceful initiatives (like using renewable energy or attaining third-party certifications); who have consideration for a product's end-of-life cycle and take steps to keep items in circularity; and brands who make products that are biodegradable or compostable.
RIISE blends luxury with sustainability—how do you balance these two aspects, and how do you communicate this unique value to your customers?
Before RIISE, ‘sustainable fashion’ had a certain look—it was a genre and there was a specific stereotype around it. It was ‘green’, ‘eco’, muted and, to be honest, not overly thrilling, elevated or progressive.
RIISE aims to show that choosing what’s better for the planet does not need to come at the expense of aesthetics. We balance luxury and sustainability by intersecting with the quiet luxury movement, which is based around timelessness and understated elegance. It favours high quality pieces over trend-driven moments.
All RIISE pieces are now curated through this lens and have been selected for their ability to withstand the test of time both in their aesthetic and construction. We prefer interesting design features and natural fibres/regenerative materials that showcase exceptional creativity and craftsmanship while still leaning into the joy of getting dressed.
We communicate this unique value to our customers through a visual language that embraces optimism, creativity, joy, quality, honesty and empowerment. We use beautiful and alluring aesthetics to draw people into the topic of sustainability and show them that it’s something they will enjoy caring about. Our visuals show how amazing it is to live a life that’s in sync with the planet.
ASK Scandinavia is proud to be part of RIISE’s offering, with our collection now available online at RIISE and in their Sydney boutique.