Dress Code: What A Creative Wears to Work

Andrew Simpson has built a career out of clever design.

The Sydney-based creative is the founder and director of Vert Design, a firm dedicated to crafting products with meaning.

Over the last 16 years, Andrew has worked on innovative projects such as recycled eyewear, reusable coffee cups made from leftover coffee husks and fitting room hooks revitalised from ocean plastics—the latter of which you’ll find in Country Road stores across the country.

Here, we speak to Andrew on where he draws inspiration in design, and how that extends to his everyday style.

Can you tell us about Vert Design and your role?

“Vert Design is an industrial design house that is primarily focused on the development of new sustainable materials and meaningful design outcomes for them. I am the Design Director here.”

Describe a typical day for you.

“My role is in design leadership and business development. Most of my day is spent either working with clients to better develop their briefs or with my design team on the creative and technical outcomes. It involves lots of hand drawing and time in the workshop prototyping new designs. My days often see me moving from board meetings to a factory visit to being hands-on in a workshop or building site—it is a very enjoyable variety.”

Where do you draw inspiration from in both design and fashion?

“I am very interested in meeting people's needs with products and my own needs with fashion. When thinking about the nature of human needs, we can break them down into functional, emotional and cognitive needs. This is where I find the most inspiration: looking at people as a whole and as complex individuals and designing products that help remind them of the better version of themselves.”

How would you describe your personal style?

“I would describe my style as pragmatic masculine. The variety of the work I do means my clothing needs to keep up with the rigours of the day but also allow me to arrive at meetings looking professional. In my wardrobe, there is very little difference from the workday to the weekend.”

What was the first Country Road item you ever bought?

“I think like a lot of Australians, my first Country Road item was a duffle bag which I still have and love. However, my favourite piece is my black Verified Australian Merino Crew Knit—it is the most versatile item in my wardrobe and can comfortably take me from the boardroom to the workshop or a gallery.”

What makes a good work wardrobe?

“My day is full of the need to make creative decisions, so a good work wardrobe functions like a uniform—the fundamentals stay the same with the ability to slowly evolve the core items as I change.”

Name a staple item in your wardrobe you couldn’t do without.

“12 years ago I designed a leather jacket and had a local tailor make it for me out of dark brown Italian leather. I have taken it around the world to 19 countries—it has saved my skin in motorcycle crashes and sudden snowstorms while getting better with age.”

Can you talk a little about the ocean plastic hooks you worked on that are now in Country Road stores—how did they come to life?

“The hooks came out of a project looking for meaningful outcomes for marine plastic. I worked for some years collecting and processing plastic collected on beaches around Australia to the point where we developed a commercial model where we can buy the plastic from collectors to help fund more collections.

The hooks use a controlled marbling technique created by mixing two or more colours of plastic in a hot moulding process. The design both highlights this material while functioning as a hook—the large end stops hangers from sliding forward and the load of the clothes is supported by a metal insert.”

What are you currently working on?

“Everything from fine glassware to literal nuts and bolts. We are working on new AI-enabled technology hardware as well as timber boats. It is very varied and exciting.”