Our Story
A Balance Worn.
Our work is a considered response to the story of a land out of balance. We transform the fur of the invasive Australian fox, a beautiful material reclaimed from necessary conservation work, into objects of conscious luxury. Each piece we create is a tangible entry in a new chronicle, one that turns a destructive legacy into an object of enduring purpose.
For generations, a traditional almanac has been a guide for those who live and work on the land. It is a annual chronicle of a landscape in harmony, offering knowledge of the seasons and the natural cycles of the year.
We chose the name 'Almanac' because our work is a modern response to that harmony's disruption. Each piece we create is an entry in a new story, one focused on a considered act of restoration.
The Imbalance
The European Red Fox was introduced for recreational hunting. Today, its population is estimated at over 1.8 million. This single species is a primary cause for the extinction of at least 13 native mammals and remains a key threat to more than 75 others. Their adaptability and efficiency as predators have inflicted catastrophic damage on Australia's unique and vulnerable wildlife.
Reducing their numbers is not a choice, but a conservation necessity for the survival of our native species. This is the stark reality of modern conservation in Australia.
The Source
Our work begins on the front line of this effort. We partner directly with the farmers and private landholders who act as the stewards of the Australian landscape. Across the country, their necessary work is carried out to protect both their livestock and the native wildlife that shares their land.
By creating a market for what was once a waste product, Almanac Australia provides a tangible return for their efforts, helping to fund the continuation of this vital conservation work. Without this intervention, what is a beautiful and valuable natural material, is left to decay where it falls. We exist to intercept this waste.
The Craft
In a world of disposable, petrochemical-based textiles, we are trying to provide a considered alternative. We reclaim this wild material and, in partnership with Australian tanners who share our commitment to sustainability, we honour it through meticulous, hands-on craft. Every pelt is transformed with artisanal skill into a high-quality, enduring garment that tells the story of its origin. This is the antithesis of fast fashion. It is the creation of a modern heirloom, born from a unique Australian story.
Our Promise
We believe true conservation requires respect, both for the native species we must protect and for the wild animal whose life is taken in that defence. The most profound way to honour it is to ensure that nothing is wasted.
A Note from the Founder
My life has always been guided by a deep love for wildlife. I grew up exploring the Aussie bush, fascinated by the interconnected nature of our unique ecosystems. This passion has taken me to remote parts of the world and more recently, to Canberra for my Master's in Biodiversity Conservation.
Through my travels, I came to understand the depth of this connection. For millennia, this continent’s delicate balance was actively maintained by First Nations peoples, the original custodians whose ecological knowledge is woven into the land itself.
The disruption of this ancient stewardship is the context for the new, accelerated stories of loss I began to hear. Campfire tales in Kakadu of quolls that no longer visit. The wailing call of the Bush Stone-curlew; a sound I first found beautiful, then heartbreaking when I learned I should have grown up hearing it in Victoria, had foxes not rendered the species critically endangered in that region. My studies have given me the framework to balance the emotional weight of these losses with a reasoned, scientific approach, teaching me to apply creative thinking to these intensely complex problems.
I wanted to do something tangible, something that felt like an act of service for the wildlife that has enriched and directed so much of my life. Almanac Australia is my considered response.
To do this concept justice and to truly honour the material, I had to start from scratch. I went to Paris and, in broken French, knocked on the doors of artisans, asking them to teach me a craft that is fast disappearing. They opened their workshops to me with kindness and warmth, and I began the humbling journey of learning everything from how to sew a button to the traditional art of furriery.
I have debated including my story here, because this project isn't about me. It’s my attempt at a pragmatic contribution to a more hopeful future, and an act of reciprocity to the land and the wildlife that have shaped me.
Thank you for listening,
Emma Sinclair
Founder, Almanac Australia