As designers, it’s tough to make your mark in the world’s convoluted fashion pack. These days, every man and his dog lays claim to a fashion label, and it seems they’re all starting to meld into one another. Thankfully, every now and then a mad design collective sticks their head out of the hogwash and demands attention with loony garb that is disparate from anything the fashion world has ever seen. Enter Anna Plunkett and Luke Sales of Sydney fashion label Romance Was Born, whose only occupational hazard is the fact that they’ve dressed Deborah Harry, Lily Allen, Karen O, and Cyndi Lauper, but haven’t yet got their paws on Bjork. 
    It’s only a matter of time. After two odd years, the design team has already been heralded by fashion deities like John Galliano and Belinda Seper, collaborated with acclaimed Australian artist Del Kathryn Barton, and shown their John Hughes-inspired Weird Science collection to a roaring crowd at Rosemount Australian Fashion Week. With a pinch of zany, a peppering of spandex, and a lashing of eccentricity, the only ingredient left is a sense of humor, and they have that in droves. 
    “The sense of humor thing isn't premeditated to be crazy or gimmicky or anything,” explain the Romance loving couple. “We are really just doing what we think rules, and also it’s [the collection] saying maybe the industry needs to be less serious. Ideas for our collections usually come from a long time talking/joking about different ideas.” Previous ranges have championed runaway clowns, mockery of Australian paraphernalia, and for this label, wearing pipe cleaners on your noggin is standard procedure. Unsurprisingly, this accidentally-on-purpose mindset has led the design duo to receive accolades from another Sydney fashion rebel, Ksubi, and can now be seen in their New York store as well as a plethora of fortunate stockists worldwide.

romancewasborn.com

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