Ericaamerica

ericaamerica is an Australian Menswear label started by Erica Wardle and Lucas Bowers in 2001. The label won the prestigious Mercedes Start Up Award in its inaugural year. ericaamerica is known for its sharp technical cuts and classical old world style which has been referred to, by critics, as "uber masculine".A two page feature in Who Magazine stated: "With "olden-day and modern-day styling," their clothing also has the power to transform." [Ambrose,'Dark Designs,ericaamerica design menswear with a power to transform'.Who Magazine,2004]

The label presented the first all menswear individual collection show in the history of Mercedes Australian Fashion Week, and was the first Western Australian label to do runway at New York Fashion Week in September 2005. in the same year the label launched its first range of clothing for women: "Dressage by ericaamerica". An instant hit both in Australia and overseas the line was a featured show on the UK Vogue website and is now stocked in stores around the world.The female collection is the antithesis of the male range celebrating all that is feminine,"When ericaamerica pull off their show. they're taking us back to tea parties and secret gardens." [Adam Ant meets Alice through the looking glass.CoolChiq blogspot.Friday May 6th 2005]

Designers Erica Wardle and Lucas Bowers were trained in theatre costuming, bespoke millinery and fine arts respectively and bring to their clothing a background in theatrical costuming, dance costuming and a variety of other art practice.The label is still continually engaged in these projects having created costumes for the show "Bio Kino: The Living Screen" by internationally renowned Bio-art collective SymbioticA. The duo most recently designed the costume, for the latest performance surgery of renowned artist Orlan. ericaamerica also has a strong reputation as a favorite among bands and musicians.

In 2005 Lucas Bowers received the Western Australia Citizen of the Year award, in the category of Syd Donovan Youth Arts. In 2007, the duo were also chosen for inclusion in the Who's Who of Western Australia publication, the state edition of the National Who's Who in Australia.

External links

* [http://www.ericaamerica.com.au Official Website]
* [http://www.vogue.co.uk/shows/photos/default.aspx?showID=2551&type=show British Vogue]
* [http://www.symbiotica.uwa.edu.au/info/info.html SymbioticA]

References

# [http://www.who.com/who/magazine/article/0,19636,7401040628-654714,00.html Who Magazine] 'Dark Designs ericaamerica design menswear with a power to transform' Melanie Ambrose, June 17th 2004.Time Inc.
# [http://coolchiq.blogspot.com/2005/05/adam-ant-meets-alice-through-looking.html CoolChiq] 'Adam Ant Meets Alice Through the Looking Glass' May 6th 2005. CoolChiq blogspot.