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Luke Sales and Anna Plunkett of Romance Was Born continue to remind us that some of the greatest Australian fashion moments are those that weave dreamy tendrils of fantasy with the familiar kitsch of Australiana with their Resort ’23 collection Done Zone at Afterpay Australian Fashion Week. Inspired by the reef paintings of iconic artist Ken Done, the brand presented the show at Done’s own gallery down in The Rocks, decked out in the colourful works of Done (all sold, too, to lucky punters) and an underwater-inspired set with knitted coral.
Before the first model even turned the corner, the sense of nostalgia was heavy in the air as soundbites from Muriel’s Wedding played over the speakers. And then the clothes came…
Suddenly, the Muriel’s Wedding cues made sense. This was high fashion on Hibiscus Island. This was the tizziest night of nights at Lassiter’s Hotel in Erinsborough. Rainbows of sequins and hand-sewn beads reinterpreted the paintings of Done into a dazzling world of glitz, including an exact replica of Done’s Tiger Lady painting on the back of an evening blazer. Iridescent cocktail dresses were given exaggerated ruffles perfect for the local Blue Light Disco along with Carmen Miranda-esque gowns. It was camp, it was colourful, it was a wardrobe to perfectly match your West Coast Cooler or Bacardi and Coke.
According to Romance Was Born co-founder Luke Sales, working with Done has been a lifelong ambition for both he and fellow designer and founder Plunkett. “This collection is something we have wanted to do for ages,” Sales tells Grazia. “So it’s a dream come true! I think there are lots of ideas we have had over the years if we ever worked with Ken so it has been really quite organic and easy to piece a collection together”
Comparing the work of the two brands – Done himself has long had a line of clothing that showcased his artistic aesthetic – it does seem almost inevitable that the two would eventually collaborate on something. Perhaps more surprising was why it hadn’t happened until now. According to Sales, the Done’s rich archive of work is one he and fellow designer Plunkett have barely begun to excavate with this show.
“The one and only iconic Ken Done is forever an inspiration,” says Sales. “There are so many aspects of Ken’s work we could draw influence from. It feels like we have only really skimmed the surface. There is definitely a Club Tropicana vibe and an 80’s Australian vibe we can’t seem to avoid.”
But below the froth and the frills of the show was a reminder of what has made Australian fashion such a strong player on the global field in the past. The balance of fun frivolity with the heritage of fashion as a craft underpins Romance Was Born’s work. It was what made the works of Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson so magical (who have, by no coincidence, both collaborated with Romance Was Born), made House of Merivale an icon of their era and Morrissey Edmiston such an unforgettable duo. Romance Was Born continues a well-respected tradition of irreverence.
