One of our featured brands here at Paddington Store, and a true crowd favourite, is Australian-based brand Status Anxiety. 

Status Anxiety create well-considered personal accessories designed from their Sydney-based studio and handcrafted from premium, ethically sourced leather. They have been producing high-quality leather goods since 2004 and In 2017, the brand opened its first flagship store in the wonderfully named Sydney suburb of Paddington.

Now a well-known brand in Australia, New Zealand and beyond, Status Anxiety represents itself with ethicality, sustainability and quality, packaged in a minimalist aesthetic that remains accessible, inclusive and down to earth.

As a brand with which our values align and our customers love here at Paddington, it was a no-brainer to start off our Journal series with a quick fire interview with Status Anxiety Founder and Director Will Sked.

Tell us a bit about your journey -  where did you begin designing bags and wallets?

I fell into it really. I’d always been into design but with what I saw as a gap in the market it made sense to move in that direction.

What inspired you to start your own brand?

My father had always instilled an entrepreneurial spirit in us kids and it excited me to grow and cultivate a business – particularly in such a dynamic and creative industry.

What’s your favourite colour?

Burnt orange

Are you a dog person or a cat person?

Definitely dog.

Would you call yourself a hunter or a gatherer?

Bit of both really but love the hunt. The chasing down of something I’m after really excites me.

How did you come up with the brand name ‘Status Anxiety?’

Status Anxiety is the anxiety we can all feel when we compare ourselves to those around us… how we’re measuring up or ‘doing in life’. It’s usually measured by our career, whether we own or rent our house, the car we drive, our looks, the list goes on and on.  The name really resonated with me as I’ve always personally valued real-ness (if that’s even a word) and being comfortable enough to do what you want with your life rather than chase the approval of others. As a brand we’re about worrying less on measuring up to others’ perceptions, not taking ourselves too seriously and reassessing real value in all areas of our lives.  The brand is about simplicity, and over delivering on the goods we create.

What are the most important elements to you in your design work?

Consistency is everything. People know us for who we are and what we create, even though we’re always making new things we always want them to be distinctly Status.

Have you spent much time in New Zealand? If so, what was your favourite place to visit here?

Love NZ. Wanaka is a favourite, so beautiful and great to visit all year round!

If you could design a bag specifically for your New Zealand customers, what would that look like? Hopefully with an interior slot for a pair of jandals (not thongs) and maybe big enough to carry a pavlova – our national desert ;).

 Haha, it would probably have a kiwi embossed on the front of it or something. 

If you could have a Status Anxiety popup store anywhere in the world, where would you open it and why?

 New York. It’s my favourite city in the world and often frequented for inspiration.

Throughout your many years of product design, which one are most proud of?

 Last Mountains.  It’s a classic everyday bag which I love seeing out in the real world.

What advice would you give to anyone thinking of launching their own design brand?

 Be prepared for a lot of hard work and to be a jack of all trades!

Shop all Status Anxiety here.