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170:'s Curator of Fashion, Glynis Jones listed ericaamerica's Victoriana parade as one of her ten favourite Australian Fashion Week shows of the last 15 years. Later that year the label created another Australian Fashion Week first when they released their "Viva Le Incroyables" collection, not on the runway, but in the form of a short film screened at the cinema of The
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works not only with garment but with custom made furniture, machinery, decorative objects and the development of new textiles techniques. Both
Looking Out (John Curtin Gallery, 2008) and the Linden 1968 exhibition (Linden Centre For Contemporary Arts, 2008) saw the ericaamerica team create interactive three-dimensional installations completely in sepia tone.
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Ericaamerica's gallery oriented work has seen the pair employ a multiplicity of disciplines. With a focus on immersive installation and diorama inspired work with a strong reference to the world of museums and the naturalist science of the
Victorian period, the label creates "human taxidermy" that
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for their inaugural showing in the United States. 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.
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Ericaamerica's reputation for theatrical catwalk shows gained prominence with the presentation of their 2003 runway collection "Revival" which saw them "dubbed the fashion prodigies from the west" and according to critics, set a new tone for menswear presentations where the "models tread the black
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Since 2006, when the label last showed at the L'Oreal
Melbourne Fashion Festival, the pair have focused almost entirely on alternative methods of presentation, for their collections. "We decided we wanted to start showing our world in a more arts based way. The traditional catwalk just seemed so
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to fashion ericaamerica "have bridged the divide between art and fashion. Their exhibitions of new designs, which they show on both in art galleries and catwalks around the world, present a whole art experience". The label has featured in numerous group and solo exhibitions including: Fashion
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Designers Erica Wardle and Lucas Bowers were trained in 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 practices. Erica Wardle studied costume and millinery at the
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The pair have also embarked on a series of artistic collaborative initiatives with other well known contemporary artists. The label is still continually engaged in these projects having created costumes for the show "Bio Kino: The Living Screen" by internationally renowned
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is an
Australian Menswear label started by Erica Wardle and Lucas Bowers in 2001. ericaamerica is known for its sharp technical cuts, historical references, and "unorthodox blend of sheer cheek and arch elegance" which has been referred to, by critics, as "uber masculine".
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Moments, Art
Moments Gallery, Bondi (2006) Viva Le Incroyables, Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Melbourne (2004) Mine Own Executioner, Mundaring Arts Centre (2003) Graphicalogistics, Touring nationally, (2001) Art in Bloom,
194:"Recognised internationally as a cult fashion label, ericaamerica has also been garnering attention in the art world." By turning their attentions to installation based artwork and other forms of expression not
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The 2004 "Victoriana" collection was the first ever all men's individual runway show in the history of
Australian Fashion Week. The show exhibited the boldest work to date from the duo. In a 2010 interview with
112:(WAPAA) and worked with performance groups Chrissie Parrot Dance Company and Skadada early in her career, opening her first store as a fashion designer at the age of 19. Lucas Bowers studied painting at the
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in 2002. The label's reputation as an innovator was quickly established, with fashion magazine
Australian Style noting "ericaamerica is re-inventing menswear with a focus on garment cut and construction"
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School of Art and worked as a graphic designer before moving into fashion. The pair established ericaamerica in 2001, winning the nationwide
Mercedes Benz Start Up Award and debuted at
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award, in the category of Syd
Donovan Youth Arts. The duo were also chosen for inclusion in the Who's Who of Western Australia publication, the state edition of the National
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203:(2002) Looking Out, John Curtin Gallery, Western Australia (2008) and Innovators 4: Linden 1968, Linden Centre for Contemporary Arts, St Kilda Victoria (2008).
174:. The movie was also distributed as a limited edition DVD. This began a growing practice by ericaamerica to explore new ways to present fashion based work.
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catwalk like evil dandies of a new fashion millennium" Slender suits were tailored with custom made textiles, a feature the label has come to be known for.
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The label has released nine commercially available collections, and is known for its commitment to releasing collections with a strong thematic focus.
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The Age, Thursday, 13 November 2003, Janice Breen Burns, "Fashion Weeks evil dandies and baby dolls set scene for 2004" Melbourne, Victoria, pp.8
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The juxtaposition of historical garment reference with contemporary sub-cultural influences is a consistent element of an aesthetic described by
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In 2005, after debuting it at the Spring/Summer Australian Fashion Week shows ericaamerica took their "Wanted" collection to
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The West Australian, Wednesday 20 May 2009, Pip Christmas, "The Fine Art of Cave Dwelling" Perth, Western Australia, pp. 3
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The West Australian, Wednesday 20 May 2009, Pip Christmas, "The Fine Art of Cave Dwelling" Perth, Western Australia, pp. 3
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Ericaamerica suit on display at the Western Australian Museum as part of the "ericaamerica: A Cave of Wonders" exhibition
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WA Today, Wednesday 20 May 2009, Daile Pepper, "Nick Cave collides with Perth fashion force" Perth, Western Australia
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The West Australian, Friday 5 June 2009, Ric Spencer, "Exploring Nick's Cave" Perth, Western Australia, pp. 7
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The West Australian, Friday 5 June 2009, Ric Spencer, "Exploring Nick's Cave" Perth, Western Australia, pp. 7
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The Australian, Wednesday 30 June 2004, Simone Pitsis, "Flexible Fashion Flashbacks", Sydney Australia, pp.10
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The label presented the first all menswear individual collection show in the history of Mercedes
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261:'Dark Designs ericaamerica design menswear with a power to transform' Melanie Ambrose. Time Inc.
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Schilo, Dr Ann, Looking Out, "More Than Just A Frock", 2008, Publisher: John Curtin Gallery,
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Dugal, Seema, Oyster Magazine, Issue 86, May 2010, "Frockstars at Powerhouse Museum", pp. 86
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Farren, Dr Anne, Looking Out, "ericaamerica", 2008, Publisher: John Curtin Gallery,
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Laurie, Victoria. "Hello ericaamerica", The Weekend Australian, 12 March 2005, pp.13
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Nicholas Ricciuti, "Home Grown: ericaamerica", Burst Magazine, Autumn Winter 2007
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http://linden.casparfairhall.com/artists/ericaamerica.php
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