Stefani Papadopoulos By Stefanis – Wine Time With Mitch

Stefani always visualised her own fashion brand and freely admits that her eponymous label is now her “official boyfriend” and also her adopted child. “I am a single parent,” she tells Australian Life with a laugh.

“It is all about the business right now. I have used all of my savings for this business as I am totally self-funded. Every single cent I make, I put back into the business. We are in the early stages but hopefully building a dream,” she explains.

That dream is By Stefanis, launched in 2024 — with her collection created as a considered capsule of timeless Australian-made craftsmanship that sees garments stand the test of time. Her inspiration is her now 84-year-old grandmother who lives in Cheltenham in Melbourne’s south-east.

“She was a dressmaker and a sewer and I used to spend so much time dressing up in her clothes and shoes and pretending I was a fashion designer,” she says.

She is the furthest thing from a fashion pretender; she lives and breathes the industry. After studying Fashion Design at RMIT (fellow alumni include icons like Toni Maticevski and Akira Isogawa), she worked for Cotton On and Country Road before biting the bullet.

“During my honours year at uni, I was sewing in my bedroom during COVID and it made me look at things differently. Everyone felt a bit crap about themselves wearing sweats all the time. Dressing up is an art form and I wanted women to wear and feel wonderful local fabrics and quality on them again,” she said.

By Stefanis was born.

“I have learnt a lot setting up a business. I had the design down pat, but setting up marketing and finance was a real challenge for me. I would always go to business networking events to learn from people who had mastered their skills. I still do today. I used to dread marketing and it is now something that I have had to learn to love. It has helped my business,” she explains.

Everything is made in Brunswick in inner Melbourne by a family-owned business — CGT Manufacturing. The team also has a showroom in bayside Beaumaris, which also serves as Stefani’s base for her side hustle as a creative and styling consultant.

“I have always heard stories of the rag trade in Australia. It was my inspiration. The magic of the rag trade in Australia has disappeared. There are such outstanding makers in this country and I cherish the amazing relationship I have with my manufacturers. I cherish the hour’s drive to have that personal relationship and to keep everything in your home country,” she proudly exclaims.

Naturally, it also enables Stefani to seek the tick of approval from her grandma.

“I remember when I first got samples and took them to my grandma and she cried. She is very proud of me. She loves watching from the sidelines and seeing me have success. It is such a proud moment when you get to share things with your family. She is proud to have been my inspiration.”

The ’80s styles created by her grandma, and now with a modern twist, are the focus of the current trans-seasonal collections. The gold vintage buttons are a nod to the clip-on earrings many women wore, while the pearl details highlight the heritage of pearls to Australia and the pearl jewellery that our mums and grandmas would wear on special occasions. Early in his life, Stefani’s dad dived for pearls.

“I want people to know that Australian-made fashion should be an important part of our fashion industry. Quality and limited drops of beautifully made clothes in Australia is something that we should all have in our wardrobes that are classic and timeless,” she says.

Off the rack, sizes range from 6 to 16, but the brand’s DNA is about size inclusivity and Stefani caters to all sizes.

“People might think I am delusional, but I have the fire in my belly to turn up every day and keep producing quality Australian-made. I’m dreaming big to turn the brand into something special at home.”

At 28 years of age, 2026 is all about business growth for By Stefanis.

“I have a lot more clarity, values, and understand what customers want to see and what we are designing. The first year was learning and the second year is: ‘we know how to show up’,” she laughs.

After a recent pop-up store in Melbourne, a replica in Sydney is next on the runway to growth, with the goal of a standalone boutique in five years.