Whimsical Wonders

Being the first Australian label to be at the MET museum exhibit for ‘Camp: Notes on Fashion’, a matching jacket and skirt with heart motif made from plexiglass and even worn by Miley Cyrus from their 2015 Coogee Couture collection, the name, ‘Romance was Born’ injects a spirit of joviality and exuberance. It immediately transmits an upbeat and gleeful vibe. This design house from the ‘land down under’ by Anna Plunkett and Luke Sales dawns upon a dramatically inclined storytelling act with their mesmerizing designs. Their intricately designed patterns and mostly, whimsical silhouettes transport a fantastical and mythological aura. Making a detour from the Land of Oz and entering the sophisticated boundary of Paris, ‘Kinda Couture’ was their style of revamping the signature couture into a quaint and vibrant fairytale.

The brand name ‘Romance was born’ is both beautiful and unique. What is the tale behind this fulfilling title?

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We started the brand 14 years ago. When Luke and I (Anna) graduated from College we entered a competition called ITS#4. We had a badge that Luke’s cousin had bought from China Town in Sydney that said: “Romance Was Born” with holographic stars and hearts around it. We happened to love the phrase. It was both dreamy and mysterious… The competition, somewhat, pushed us to create this brand.

What is the story that made your entrance into the fashion world? Have you two known each other before starting the brand?

We studied and met at East Sydney Technical College. It was a really exciting time for us, studying and being so creative, it felt like the sky was the limit. We shared similar interests in music and fashion and dreamt of making costumes for some of our favourite performers. We first worked together while costumes for Karen O for her Sydney tour. And from that moment, we were so inspired to keep making fashion together. We had a lot of support from the local fashion industry that really pushed us forward to continue the brand.

Your clothes always lure one into a dramatically inclined story-telling act. What is the inspirational pull that drives you into creating such finesse?

We have always felt that we want to make clothes that create an emotional response for our customer. We love the trait of storytelling and creating nostalgia. We want our clothes to have lives of their own.

Do you have any favourite piece from your own archives and why is it significant?

There are different reasons for the designs we love. But, one piece that I really love is a crochet blanket dress from our “Doilies and Pearls” show in 2009. Cate Blanchett wore it to a red carpet event in Melbourne, and it was at such a raw time in our career that really cemented for us that what we were doing was actually being noticed and celebrated. For a long time, I think people just thought we were crazy kids making crazy things, but when you get someone like Cate validating your brand, it takes it to another level.

Artistic collaboration is seen as an integral part of your designs. Are there any specific artists or works that have deeply inspired you to create such quintessential designs?

It was a very unconscious decision to start working with artists in the beginning. I lived around the corner of an art gallery that showed the works of Australian artist Del Kathryn Barton. We felt like Del’s works could be translated into textile designs in the most amazing way, so we worked up the courage to meet and ask her. Now, she has become one of our best friends and also creative mentors. We have been so lucky to have her in our life to share our journey. All her works sum up the idea of how art can transport you and pull you right in. She is one magical woman.

How does it feel to be the first Australian design house to be included in this year’s MET museum? Can you unfold for us the story and inspiration behind the iconic shimmering suit?

This has been an extremely huge honour. When we received the email from Hamish Bowles and the MET team, our hearts skipped more than a beat. The day we heard back about it being in the show, it was a highly shocking and exciting feeling of accomplishment. There are so many pieces in the show that we have loved and talked about between ourselves. So, it's just so incredible to be amongst some of our all-time favourite pieces.

Your collections have been worn by style mavericks like Cate Blanchett, Nicki Minaj, Karen O, Natasha Khan, Miley Cyrus. Who would you love next to wear your adornments?

We have always dreamt of Bjork wearing our pieces. Also, there are many inspiring women that we love to dress like Tilda Swinton, Anna Wintour, Chloe Sevigny, and Jacinda Ardern, the New Zealand Prime Minister. I am very interested in supporting the next generation of girls that are doing really amazing and inspiring things like Greta Thunberg and Millie Bobby Brown.

You work as a duo. Does it, in any way, hinder the creative ideas of each other?

We are very lucky to have each other to work with, I think it would be a challenging job to work solo on a brand. We share a lot in common, but at times, we do have some different ideas about certain things. We solve it out by talking and working it out in the best approach possible.

What has been the most exciting project that you have designed or worked upon till date?

We were asked to make some custom pieces for a magazine shoot with Cate Blanchett a while ago. It was just after we had just done costumes for the Sydney Theatre Company that Cate commissioned us. She and her husband were the Creative Directors. It was so exciting to make dresses for Cate, I think it’s still one of our favourite things to this date.

What more should we expect from this exuberant fashion house?

Last July, we showed our first “kinda couture” collection in Paris Couture Fashion Week. We are looking to show more designs in Paris. It has been our dream. We are taking small steps in that direction. We really believe there is a place for ‘Romance Was Born’ in international fashion. We just need to get there.