ericaamerica Summer 2014

ericaamerica is an Australian Menswear label designed by Erica Wardle and Lucas Bowers. ericaamerica is known for its sharp technical cuts, historical references and unorthodox blend of sheer cheek and arch elegance.
The label took off nationally in 2002 after hitting the catwalks as part of Australian Fashion Week in Sydney and winning the Mercedes Start Up program – a national competition to find new fashion talent. The label gained ongoing international recognition as a regular at AFW, successful catwalk appearances at L'Oreal Fashion week in Melbourne, and at New York Fashion Week. In 2005 the label presented the first ever menswear only individual collection show at Mercedes Australian Fashion Week.

Dedicated to blurring the lines between fashion and art the label has also exhibited installation and fashion inspired artwork in galleries and museums around the globe. The label have also created work for other artists, from renowned French performance artists Orlan and bio-art group Symbiotica to musicians like Perry Farrell and Nick Cave.

With backgrounds in technical pattern drafting, costuming, illustration and graphic design the duo take pride in self sufficiency - creating and overseeing every element of their productions from the garments to the accessories, the props and graphic design.

This new collection for 2014, titled 'The Defectors' draws on historical reference, Native American culture, experimental textiles techniques and handmade details to tell the story of a tribe of soldiers who have defected from an imaginary war to live in the woods and the wild. In the process they have created their own blend of Western and Native American cultures, expressed in the collection through a range of clothing that pushes the boundaries of menswear with a strong sense of style and elegant force.