When I began developing Elevated Luxury Studio (E.L.S), I assumed fabric sourcing would be one of the faster steps in the process.
Instead, it took ten months — not because options were limited, but because very few fabrics met the standard I had in mind. I wasn’t looking for something that simply looked good on a swatch card. I needed fabrics with longevity, structure, the right weight, a refined hand-feel and the ability to hold shape over time. Finding that level of quality takes time, and honestly, it should.
There’s a growing focus on how clothes are made and how long they last. People want pieces that feel good, hold their structure and stay in their wardrobe for years, not months. Some brands are starting to respond to that pressure, but many still aren’t. Maybe that’s why emerging craftsmanship-led labels built on intention and longevity are resonating more. They’re creating what people are actually looking for, and you can feel the difference.
For E.L.S, fabric is the starting point of every design decision. Premium materials are the foundation of both the craftsmanship and the longevity I’m building into the brand. Every fabric is chosen for structure, comfort, durability, and how it will hold up over time. Whether it’s a refined blend or a more traditional fibre, it has to perform. If it doesn’t meet the standard, we don’t move forward.
Building a brand this way takes time, and it should. You can’t rush development and expect longevity. And longevity is the whole point for E.L.S — I’m not trying to design pieces that last a season; I’m trying to make pieces people actually wear for years.
This isn’t about presenting E.L.S as perfect. It’s about being deliberate, choosing premium fabrics, thoughtful construction and creating pieces that hold their structure and feel good every time you put them on.
If it takes longer, that’s fine. Cutting corners now only costs more later — in quality, in trust and in the integrity of the brand.
The reality is simple: the future of fashion isn’t about producing faster; it’s about producing better. And “better” always starts with the fabric.
That’s why sourcing took ten months — because getting it right matters more than getting it done fast, and if I had to do it again, I would.
— Tarryn Candice
