CULT BUY: The coat specifically designed for Australian winters.

When Tabatha Brixton was made redundant from a corporate fashion role, she decided to do something a little bit different.

She was tired of always carrying her long winter coat around on her arm. She also felt like there were no coats in the market targeted at our Australian winter, which, in comparison to much of the world, was pretty mild.

Enter Allora capes: Brixton’s own line of women’s wool and cashmere capes.

A post shared by Allora Capes (@alloracapes) on May 5, 2017 at 6:14pm PDT

The beautiful woollen creations are designed to work with a layered outfit – they’re warm but careful not to overheat, sizeable without being chunky.

Despite being made in Melbourne, don’t for a second think Brixton shies away from creating a coat with a pop of colour.

They come in black, light charcoal, bisque, poppy and ink, graded in sizes 6-18 for a perfect fit.

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And despite how pretty the capes are, there’s a more important factor to their charm: they’re accredited with Ethical Clothing Australia.

“I believe in utilising the skills and talents available here in Australia and I only work with makers who ensure their workers rights are protected,” Brixton writes on her website.

“By purchasing an Allora cape you are not only buying a well made piece for your wardrobe, you are also supporting the Australian fashion industry and local manufacturing.”

A post shared by Allora Capes (@alloracapes) on Apr 15, 2017 at 6:59pm PDT

Make no mistake, the capes don’t come cheaply. They retail for anywhere between $479-$499, which – for most of us – is a lot of money.

But there’s a reason for that. In an era of fast fashion, sometimes we need to step back and pick up one piece that’s ethically created and will last us years. It’s better for the Australian economy and better for the environment.