Sydney-siders Rachelle and Fay have come together to create the seasons most talked about label, Kahlo. Edgy and directional, the label has already made an impact on the Australian fashion scene. I talked to the girls about their inspirations, and the city that makes them move...
Who are you and what do you do?
KAHLO is Rachelle & Fay, two friends based in Sydney. The two friends originally came together over the desire to create simple yet well made garments that could be worn to look effortlessly stylish. Both have a long history in the fashion industry with Rachelle coming from a background as a stylist and Fay having worked in the industry for some other local labels. It was a very natural progression to move into wanting to design their own garments and the two have great dreams to grow the label both within Australia and internationally.
How did you come to be in fashion design?
Fashion design has always been something that we had always been interested in, but had never studied. Having both come from a background in the industry, it was a means to take our creativity to the next level. Originally KAHLO began with sketches and ideas, from this the potential was quickly realised and the ideas went from sketches to garments to a collection!
Tell us what the future holds for you...
Our Spring / Summer 2011 collection debuts in stores in August which is really exciting . At the moment work has already commenced for our winter collection which we are aiming to make hopefully even better than the last. We are traveling back and forth from Sydney to LA taking inspiration from were ever we can. We have aspirations to see the brand grow and flourish both locally and overseas.
What's…
… your favourite place to shop in Sydney?
Desordre on South Dowling Street. Shannon & Lucy have created an amazing store with a the perfect mix of labels.
... the best winter fashion trend?
Super-cozy, oversized wool coats, capes & ponchos to keep out the winter chill.
... the best coffee in Sydney?
Deli Bottega in Bondi. We are both very fussy about how we like our coffee – they get it right every time!
... the best place to eat in Sydney?
We love Mad Spuds Café in Surry Hills for a good hearty breakfast and Monkey Magic for the best Japanese.
… your favourite Sydney gallery space?
China Heights in Surry Hills – Mark Drew & Ed Woodley have exceptionally good taste when it comes to art.
... the ultimate night out in Sydney?
A good bottle of vino combined with dinner & friends is our idea of a perfect night out. When we are in the party mood, we like to support our friends SLOWBLOW at Goodgod small club.
... your favourite new Sydney band?
Softwar – they are a local Sydney duo signed to Modular Records and have some really interesting sounds. They created the amazing disco soundtrack for the KAHLO SS11 behind the scenes video.