Japanese fashion has - and always will be - a
huge inspiration to me. There is just something so fun and free about it, a kind of
playfulness and
not-so-serious attitude that isn't as prevalent - with the exception of some designers of course (Jeremy Scott, Moschino) - in Western high fashion. So whenever I discover a Western design house (like
Alice McCall) that captures this same kind of spirit, it's always a breath of fresh air.
New York brand
Sretsis is my latest Western fashion discovery that blends the playful and kitschy with structure and complexity. The brand, whose name is
"Sisters" spelled backwards, was started by middle sister and Parsons School of Design graduate Pim Sukahuta, along with her eldest sister Kly (who does marketing) and youngest sister Matina (who designs the accessory line for the brand.) The summary on their website best describes what Sretsis is all about:
"Sretsis’ collections read like an adventurous autobiography
as they take inspirations from those around them and what captures
their flight of fantasy at a certain period of time, turning them into
design manifestations on fabrics. Sretsis also offers a modern twist
on classic elements and clichés through proportional adjustments
and carefully crafted materials, but never with direct reinterpretations.
Besides trademark whimsical prints, Sretsis proudly boasts
progressive textile development, always steering towards constant
avant-garde experimentations. Techniques such as embroidery
and appliqué are given facelifts and mischievous wits,
achieving fresh yet elegant perspectives."
I first discovered Sretsis through one of my favorite Japanese model,
Rola's, blog. I also began to notice that other Japanese fashion figures I follow on instagram, like
Kiko Mizuhara, are fans of the brand as well. Looking at Sretsis' designs, it's easy to see why they so easily and nicely fit in with the next-level styling and aesthetic of Japanese fashion. The spring/summer 2015 collection
"The Runaway Rum" in particular seems to take much inspiration from this East/West connection also, as this clip from the collection overview shows:
"Welcome to the electrifying world of Sretsis Spring/Summer 2015 “The Runaway Rum” a dazzling collection of misfit rock-stars taking center stage. Drawing inspiration from the eighties youth rebellion movement, Japanese-Anglo anime ‘Lum Invader’ and ‘Jem and the Holograms’, and synth-pop club kid’s attire made relevant with MTV. This season Sretsis takes you on a West Coast road trip, with “Neon Tropical”, through the streets of Sunset Boulevard complete with fancified street wear, onto downtown L.A. with glam-o-rama cocktail dresses fit for a pop-rock princess."
