Romance Was Born, a Sydney-based label that celebrated its 20th anniversary last year, opted out of the traditional runway at this Australian Fashion Week. Instead, designers Luke Sales and Anna Plunkett visited Melbourne Design Week, collaborating with Cultivated—Cult Furniture’s sustainable furniture refurbishing program. Together, they curated an exhibition featuring recycled pieces adorned in the brand’s signature elaborate style. “It was an exciting project,” Sales shared over Zoom from a sunny Australian morning. “This is something we’ve always aspired to do—we had an incredible show for our 20th anniversary and chose to focus on [Design Week] this time.” Fans of the brand can rest assured that their seasonal collections will continue.
This season, the collection drew on the designers’ broad interests and unique location. Operating from their studio in the Powerhouse Museum Sydney, they have access to a wide range of historical textiles, including traditional French lace and Art Deco wallpaper designed by Auguste Thomas, which inspired the collection. This blend of modern and antique elements was reflected in bias-cut dresses crafted from vintage Italian bedspreads—featuring capes or sleeveless designs, feathered trims, and evening gloves. More contemporary items included an embellished denim pencil skirt with a flannel, or a mod mini dress paired with contrasting coral tights.
Sales explained, “The collection was shot in the [Powerhouse Museum], and we selected garments that complemented the furniture,” pointing to an embroidered patchwork jacket with a fuchsia feather collar, which subtly coordinated with an upcycled couch. The vivid world-building evoked the essence of a silent film enhanced by modern technology. While this might seem cheesy, Sales and Plunkett intentionally embrace a playful, extravagant design approach: “There is kind of a weird humor in what we do.”
