Authentic Leaving Behind What You Know For What You Stand For
Cathryn Wills established Sans Beast in June 2017, after a career spanning close to
30 years in the Australian fashion industry.
The late 80’s saw time in retail at Benetton, followed by various roles at Palmer Corporation, before gaining a BA Fashion at Melbourne’s RMIT. A substantial chapter at Country Road then followed, where Wills worked in knitwear, eventually becoming Knitwear Design Manager across the men’s and women’s divisions.
Post leaving Country Road, Wills pursued a freelance design career for a number of
years, before finding her niche at Mimco, joining founder and former owner Amanda
Briskin (-Rettig) in 2004. Wills went on to the role of Creative Director post the sale
of the business, and in 2010, expanded her creative remit to encompass the
commercial leadership of the brand, as Managing + Creative Director.
After living and breathing the world of leather handbags + accessories for over a
decade, Wills adopted a vegetarian diet in mid 2015 - going vegan 18 months later -
and progressively recognized a disconnect between her professional role and her
ethical stance on animal welfare and the environment. Through further education,
Wills saw the need to change her consumptive and creative path, eventually
resigning from MIMCO in early 2016.
In establishing Sans Beast, Wills has dedicated herself to building a design led,
quality brand, with compelling visual + written storytelling. The brand sources
responsibly manufactured, non-leather materials for the collection + manufactures in
an ethically run, family owned factory in Southern China. Sans Beast is PETA
accredited vegan + donates to animal sanctuary, Edgars Mission with every
purchase made on the website.
Insta: @sansbeast
Website: sansbeast.com