On a drizzly, grey morning in Sydney, Aje helped transport us out of our rainy day slump with an utterly bright and cheerful Resort ’23 collection, titled ‘Sculptura’.
Taking place at the Museum Of Contemporary Art with perfect views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House, models walked the maze-like runway, slipping across each other’s paths with the smoothest of ease.
But more importantly, each face taking to the runway sported an array of the brand’s signature puff sleeves, summer sorbet shades and heaven sent silhouettes. Beauty was kept minimal with a strong emphasis on a lit-from-within glow, thanks to Sunday Riley skincare. And as for hair, O&M opted for a wet-look that boasted slicked back roots and left natural tresses on display.
The collection was sprinkled with a series of abstract floral prints in similar hues, each scattered across a clean, white base as a canvas. And according to the brand’s co-founders, Adrian Norris and Edwina Forest, space played an integral part in the inspiration behind the collection.
Below, marie claire Australia chats with Norris and Forest about Aje’s vibrant and joyful Resort ’23 collection.
What’s on your mood board for this collection?
Edwina: This season, we sought inspiration in the philosophies of iconic and emerging sculptors and how they use the earth as both the canvas and core of their art. There were a number of artists, but we were especially drawn to the the vivid hues found in the vast landscape art installations of Christo and Jeanne-Claude, the undulating hills of Maya Lin’s Storm King Wavefield, as well as Marlene Knudsen’s sinuous stoneware.
Tell us about the new collection.
Edwina: Resort 23, which we titled ‘Sculptura’, encapsulates a place where art, the body and nature entwine. It is an exploration of the inherent interplay between form and space, manifesting through a myriad of tonal textures, vibrant colours, hand-painted prints and unexpected shapes that appear across minimal and maximal silhouettes alike.
What does showing at AAFW mean to you?
Adrian: AAFW is a unique opportunity to showcase Aje’s Resort collections in Australia, whilst amplifying these collections and the essence of Aje to our international community.
Do you have a standout moment or memory from AAFW?
Adrian: Opening fashion week in 2019 was a significant milestone for us as a fashion house. With the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House as our backdrop, the show was an opportunity to begin setting the stage for international expansion while inspiring Australian customers at the heart of our brand.
What Australian designers throughout history do you look up to or have inspired you and why?
Edwina: For a long time it felt that our geographical isolation cast us out of the fashion eye and accordingly, many Australian designers tried to replicate that which was happening abroad in order to be globally acknowledged. The result being that the design sensibilities of many Australian designers became sadly similar, or appeared to have been already ‘seen’ abroad. Today, there is a great set of unique Australian designers, each of us standing proudly in our own design code, whilst flying the Australian flag high around the world, and that to me is very inspiring.
Summarise the Aje woman in a few words:
Edwina: Effortless. Strong. Raw. Beautiful.
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