rodarte for opening ceremonyIt is a simple case of life imitating art with Rodarte; their clothing conjures up of images of ethereal princesses and happily-ever-afters and their rise to fame is one that reads very much like a fairytale.
A tale that begins in a land far far from here- Pasadena, California to be exact.
It was here that Kate and Laura Mulleavy, the quirky cool sisters behind the American brand, were born to liberal parents. There were no evil witches in their story; no prestigious fashion schools on their resumes and a definite absence of penthouses or lofts in New York City . Instead we have a Mexican mother who teaches them how to sew and years at University of Berkeley; Kate graduated with an art history degree, while Laura focused on English.
After graduation the sisters moved back in with their parents and buried themselves in books on couture and design, taking breaks to watch horror movies for inspiration and raise money for their own label. In 2005, armed with a suitcase holding a collection of 10 dresses, the sisters headed to New York and showcased their collection to a handful of fashion retailers and editors to critical acclaim.
The sisters’ attention to handcraft and details-thanks to their mother’s sewing lessons, whose maiden name is Rodarte- - alongside their knowledge of art, history and textiles is what garners them accolades and fans.
They have had my heart for years. Yes, to be exact i fell in love in 2008 , the year Japanese Manga characters inspired their Autumn/Winter 2008 collection filled with dresses in black, white, and bloodred. It was amazing. Totally showcasing their talent as artists. I heart them cuz they are quirky and fun. And more importantly, i think they show that you can come into fashion from an entirely different background and still be able to hold your own!
