Arabella Ramsay’s eponymous Australian clothing label channels a feminine, vintage aesthetic with a charming, youthful edge. Colour is a constant; vivid fabrics and bright, bold patterns are a staple in every collection. There is no single fabric allegiance. Each range brings new experiments in technique and material: leather, silk, wool, crochet, jersey, lace, soft suedes, worn denims, 70s vintage, upholstery trims, French and liberty cottons and old-world techniques such as pleating, crochet, appliqué, quilting, beading, embroidery and patchwork. Such traditional crafts are subtly customised, a rarity in an industry often cloned by mass market fashions. Rare fabrics are carefully sourced, and together with handicraft methods the result is a fusion of antique and contemporary, a glam folk fashion aesthetic in vintage-inspired shapes and youthful cuts. Arabella’s hands on approach to design means that she is implicit in every stage of the design process. Says Arabella, “I love discovering old fabrics on trips to country towns to scour antique shops there. Vintage fabrics often have more life and they aren’t afraid of colour or prints. |