One of my favourite Australian designers at the moment is Karla Spetic, I've had my eye on her for a few seasons since her SS10 collection, but she had started her namesake label 2 years earlier in 2008 when she threw herself into the deep end at RAFW, having graduated just 2 years prior to that. She studied at the prestigious Sydney Fashion Design Studio at TAFE (with previous alumni now big name Aussie fashion designers) followed by a good grounding in retail space running & what actually sells through 18 months work with the team operating The Graduate store in Sydney's The Strand Arcade.
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| Karla Spetic SS10 |
Reading interviews it seems the Croatian born but Sydney based designer (she came here aged 10 as a refugee) has a pretty organic creative process, yet is hard-working, persistent & obviously super-talented. It was the combination of beautifully cut, simple designs in a gorgeous colour palette with the dynamic graphic prints she employs that caught my eye. Similarly her SS11 collection 'Centre' using photographic prints to depict the iconic Australian outback & a colour selection inspired by that which was fresh, eye-catching and easy-to-wear.
Currently out is 'Borderlands' AW11, drawn from her everyday burbs' surroundings & shown in four prints: Yellow House, Front Porch, Suburb and Factory. The predominantly pale palette is taken from the exteriors of the older terraced homes which she noted mix-matched with vibrant teals, brick reds, mustard yellows & lilac pink. The collection has a wintery edge with leather-backed patterned skirts & tops, yet is also completely wearable.
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| Karla Spetic AW11 |
Now quickly to her next collection, SS12, which recently showed at RAFW which I cannot wait to see in the flesh - clean-cut silhouettes, bold use of colour and pattern and a collection that is completely interchangeable and wearable for a wide range of ages to a wide variety of occasions: from casual to (maybe creative) office to party & special occasion. Can you tell I'm frothing much? Much of her inspiration came through her research of interiors as she recently moved house; the patterns from Portuguese tiles she discovered; and for the first time through the work of Venice Rish intricate jewellery is pieced throughout the collection, engraved glass & sterling silver that complement the pieces perfectly.
Ah, the evolution. Definitely my fave collection so far (and this is only a snapshot). My picks:
- tiled skirt w. orange feature
- white cut-out shirt
- apple green long-sleeved shirt
- choc cut-out dress
- dress to the right, so beautiful w. that necklace too!
For interviews with Karla Spetic see:
Official Page:
(also source of images, as well as Vogue)
Facebook Page:
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