Melbourne has quietly become one of the most interesting cities for independent fashion, and Scarlet & Sam is its latest export worth knowing. The label, founded by designer Samira Nasution, operates at the intersection of architectural precision and Australian ease — producing pieces that look structured on the hanger but move with the body in ways that feel almost weightless.
The brand’s spring collection, now available for pre-order, is built around what Nasution calls “the un-shirt” — a hybrid between a crisp button-down and a kimono, cut from Japanese cotton-silk voile with a dropped shoulder and an asymmetrical hem. It is the kind of garment that defies easy categorization: too refined for beachwear, too relaxed for office dressing, and entirely at home in both contexts depending on how it is styled.
As Australian fashion continues to gain international attention — buoyed by the success of labels like Christopher Esber, Albus Lumen, and Anna Quan — Scarlet & Sam represents a distinctly Melbourne sensibility: independent, design-led, and stubbornly resistant to the fast-fashion tempo that dominates the industry’s conversation. It is a brand built for the women who dress for themselves, and that, perhaps, is its most exportable quality.
The label has found particular traction with women who have aged out of trend-driven dressing but are not yet ready for the understated minimalism of their mothers’ generation. Nasution’s silhouettes — soft tailoring, elongated proportions, hidden pockets — offer a third path: clothes that feel modern without being trendy, considered without being severe.
Scarlet & Sam operates on a pre-order model that minimizes inventory waste — customers order four weeks ahead of production, and Nasution’s small Melbourne atelier produces in exact quantities. This approach has allowed the brand to grow sustainably without the discount-cycle burden that plagues traditional wholesale brands. Prices range from $180 for a shell top to $650 for a fully lined coat, positioning the label in the contemporary-designer tier that Australian brands like Aje and Dion Lee have popularized.
