Leadership With Impact
Founder, CEO, and award-winning sustainability advocate, Vanessa Bell unites fashion and agriculture through legacy-driven design. Her capsule collection is crafted in Italy from 100% Australian Merino wool, reflecting her global mission to restore natural fibres as the gold standard of sustainable luxury.
Vanessa Bell’s early work in heirloom baby blankets and the Fashion to Farmer podcast form an enduring part of her legacy. These stories now continue alongside her media presence, global advocacy and keynote speaking. In 2025, Vanessa received Gold in Fashion & Textiles and Silver in Agriculture & Farming at the Women Changing the World Global Awards hosted by HRH The Duchess of York. Through the Fashion to Farmer podcast, keynote speaking and global media engagements, she continues to bridge industries and reshape the conversation around sustainable luxury.
"I walk with clarity. I choose with purpose. I create with legacy in mind."
The Origin Story
What began as a collection of hand-knitted baby blankets has grown into a globally recognised knitwear label, committed to restoring provenance and reshaping the future of ethical fashion.
Vanessa's career began in high fashion, working with global houses including Valentino, Armani and Dior. Inspired by her great-grandmother’s knitting and a Merino blanket passed down through generations, she recognised wool’s power to carry both legacy and meaning. In 2017, she launched a collection of heirloom baby blankets using Australian-grown Merino wool. These early pieces laid the foundation for a luxury brand defined by craftsmanship, care and climate leadership.
More Than Fashion
This is not fashion for the moment. This is fashion with meaning, created with courage, driven by innovation, and grounded in integrity.
Our Ethos
At Vanessa Bell, the guiding belief is simple: create sustainable, generational pieces that honour the land, the fibre and the wearer. The collection is designed to stand the test of time. We do not need more of the same, we need better. Thoughtful design. Responsible production. Lasting elegance.
Landfill, incinerators and plastic clothing continue to harm our environment and our health. None of us want this. Yet we still seek beauty, refinement and self-expression. At Vanessa Bell, we offer a way forward, one that pairs style with integrity, and luxury with environmental responsibility.
A Return to Fibre
Sustainable fashion begins at the source. Every Vanessa Bell garment is founded on natural fibres, regenerative farming and refined craftsmanship. The brand was born from a singular belief: Merino wool holds the key to a more conscious, elegant future. Soft, strong and fully biodegradable, it offers luxury without compromise and performance without harm.
Grown in Australia, Crafted in Italy
Vanessa now grows superfine Merino wool at Emu Creek in Walcha, New South Wales, Australia, a property renowned for its excellence in fibre production. The wool is grown using regenerative practices, restoring soil health and protecting biodiversity.
While the current capsule collection is made using RWS-certified yarns from Tollegno 1900 and Lanecardate, the long-term vision is to craft future collections utilising wool grown under the Vanessa Bell banner.
Each garment is made in Italy by Maglificio Pini, a family-run atelier known for its expertise in ethical knitwear production. Vanessa chose to manufacture in Italy to honour generations of technical knowledge and to preserve the tradition of fine craftsmanship. These partnerships are essential to the brand’s heritage and its commitment to responsible business practices.