Commonwealth Studio

With over 15 years of experience working alongside visionary founders including Ralph Lauren, Nili Lotan, and Erik and Sasha at Buck Mason, Tess Sullivan has developed a rare ability to connect business strategy, product development, and creative storytelling to build brands with lasting relevance.

Over the past two years, Tess has brought this experience to her consulting practice, partnering with brands to refine their point of view, identify untapped business opportunities, develop compelling product, and bring their stories to life through thoughtful creative direction and styling.

Brand Strategy

I’ve always believed that a great brand is one you can recognize instantly, even with the logo or label covered up. I work with brands to define what makes them distinct and where they have the potential to go, from refining brand positioning and identifying untapped business opportunities to shaping product strategy and creative identity. The goal is to build a clear, consistent brand story that informs and impacts every brand decision.

Design Direction

I believe in making timeless clothes that are meant to last. My expertise lies in balancing emotional, exciting newness with a strong foundation of iconic, brand-accretive core styles. I work with brands to develop a distinct product point of view, from identifying opportunities within an assortment and establishing signature styles to seasonal concept development, silhouette, fit, fabrication, color, and design direction. The goal is to build cohesive, commercially successful collections that strengthen brand identity, create customer loyalty, and deliver pieces worth coming back to season after season.

Creative Direction

I believe great creative direction is about more than making beautiful imagery. It's about telling a story that feels unmistakably true to a brand. My expertise lies in translating a brand's identity into a distinct visual world, from campaign concepts and art direction to photography, casting, styling, and content strategy. I work with brands to create compelling, cohesive imagery that captures their spirit, connects with customers, and tells a story worth remembering.

Let’s Work Together

If you are interested in working together shoot me a message to get the conversation started or email me direction tess@commonwealth-studio.com