Trimäpee: Reveling in Reinvention
We’ve all seen Australian labels either flourish or fall, and many have reinvented, learnt from their shortfalls and grown into industry benchmarks, having focused on their development as a brand and identity. It was at the long-gone Sydney menswear boutique Picket Fence where I purchased a Trimäpee piece from their very first, ‘The Circus’ collection. Even at this early stage you could see their collective, unique thinking. As a costume designer I am constantly drawn to young, fresh and conceptual clothing that borders the realms of creative expression when worn.
As you will often hear me boast, Melbourne is the perfect playground for young, developing designers, artists and craftspeople. It was here in this labyrinth of laneways and alleys where Peter Strateas and Mario-Luca Carlucci met, both from their own individual design disciplines. In their own words, every season they work organically toward a conceptual theme, drawing inspiration from anything creative – music, art, film, literature; avoiding anything stylistically ‘on-trend’.
In recent years, their Prostitution Institution and God’s Mistakes collections have also contributed to the Melbourne ‘noir’ landscape of opposing texture and shading. A piece from any one of these collections can keynote any wardrobe and catch the eye of an envious onlooker.
During Melbourne Spring Fashion Week 2009, the boys unveiled their new, inspired S/S 2010 ‘Damaged Disposition’ collection, using silks, “feather weight” cottons and modals creating a comfortable collection, wearable in the Australian heat. The silhouettes are flowing and oversized, some pieces utilising a fascinating combination of fabrics, textures and treatments. Offset with classic tailoring, the overall style is expressive, elegant and unique – something we’ve come to expect from each collection.
In the near future we can expect a new range of footwear and accessories, and a small range of eyewear to compliment this ever-changing label, quickly becoming a benchmark amongst long-established Melbourne brands.
Trimäpee is available from The Milk Shoppe Gang, their Online Store or a soon-to-be-launched QV store location in Melbourne’s CBD.
Photographer : Lizette Bell @ KHM | Models: Dan Z @ FRM, Sophie W @ Chadwick
